If you’ve ever lived in the Netherlands, you’ll be familiar with this feeling; rushing up to the train, digging through your wallet to get your yellow (or blue!) chipkaart, only to find the verdomd thing isn’t there.
Well, no more missing trains as a result, good folks! Say goodbye to last-minute card disasters, because by the end of this year, you’ll be able to check in with your very own bank cards, reports Het Parool.
One less card in the wallet
In December of this year, the NS will launch a new method of payment, called OV-Pay, across the country.
The NS has been trialling this new method of payment in Lelystad Station since March 2021. Apparently, the trial run has been successful, and now the service will be available in all major stations, such as Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.
READ MORE | Getting a cheap Dutch train ticket: 7 tips for the best deals
OV-Pay will enable public transport users to check in and out of trains using bank cards and will rule out the need for the OV-chipkaart completely.
Finally, we say, because we are tired of having so many different cards all the time.
No more minimum balance
There’s more to benefit from than just having one less card. A notorious, and annoying, aspect of some OV-chipkaarts is the fact that you need a minimum amount loaded onto the card to even check-in.
Without a personalised OV, even if you have €15 on your anonymous card, don’t even think of checking in.
According to the NS, your measly €15 is getting you nowhere, and you’ll need minimum €20 to check in for your train journey, no matter how short or far the trip. 🙄
READ MORE | 7 ways you can level-up your Dutch life with a personal OV chip card
With the new system, passengers will be able to check in and out of trains without requiring a minimum balance on their cards. The card will be debited overnight, and, if payment happens to be unsuccessful, the card will be blocked from making any further travel until the charge goes through.
The only issue with OV-Pay is that the system cannot tell yet if you have a discount or subscription loaded onto your OV-Chipkaart.
So, for now, those of us with handy discounts will have to stick to using our Chipkaarts.
It took y’all long enough
Though we surely appreciate the new initiative, we can’t help but think; dear NS, it took you long enough.
READ MORE | Public transport in the Netherlands: the complete guide
The Netherlands, it seems, is a bit late to this whole bank card-checking-in thing. Passengers have been able to check in using bank cards on London trains since, em, 2014. And, in Nice in France, this has also been possible since 2010.
Thanks, NS! While we’re celebrating how much easier things are about to get, let’s not forget the fact that train tickets are about to get more expensive.
On a side note, we’ve been able to check onto most buses and trams in the Netherlands with our bank cards for some time now.
No more OV-Chipkaart by 2024
As the NS rolls out the use of OV-Pay, it also has other plans; to scrap the use of the Chipkaart altogether.
By 2024, the Chipkaart will be replaced with something else; the OV-pass — sounds… similar.
What do you think of this payment method? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
I think they should keep the OV card for kids to use or people who don’t want to have to dig out their debit card every time.
Also, how will they check if a person has checked in or out using the debit card?
I don’t like the idea of taking out my bank card at a busy station. Also, what about foreigners? You don’t expect someone from outside Europe to use their bank cards and have to pay extra charges, right??
Wait. If the chipkaart is phased out entirely, what about kids? They generally don’t have bank cards.
I think it is only good for tourists, or use in bus tram and metro , but not NS because we mostly use discounts on NS, so if the OV-pay does not accept the discounts it will be mostly useless , unless they solve it.
If they don’t recognize the discounts, the OV-pay will turn to a side needs, for example if you forget your OV or you don’t have enough money on it.
But in general it is good that they finally trying to catch up with technology and leave the old use of cards behind
Actually, I’m totally fine with the use of OV card and don’t want to take out a bank card a few more times a day. Indeed, it should remain available for kids.
I am uncomfortable about handing my bank to anyone with an electronic reader – I am thinking particularly of the people doing surveys on behalf of NS – so will be sticking with OV chipkaart as long as possible.
Everything in one .makes stealing easier for thieves . Bank card and traveling in one . For me not needed .
I think you avoid the problems that may cause in your review. Lost bank cards, fraud, skimming, all the things that criminals need your card visible to exploit will be there for the taking. Also no dispute or take first and refund later. This is a move more for NS than the consumer and you should be more impartial and look at both sides.