Yes, you can tap your own contactless bank card or phone on every tram, metro, bus and train in the Netherlands. The system is called OVpay, it has worked nationwide since 2023, and it charges exactly the same fare as the old OV-chipkaart. You do not need to buy anything.
There is one catch, and it is expensive. Dutch transport requires you to tap twice — once when you board and once when you get off. Miss the second tap on an NS train and €33.30 comes out of your account the next day. Most visitors only find out when the bank statement arrives.
What a missed tap-out actually costs
| Where you forgot | What you are charged | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| NS train | €33.30 | Yes, via OVpay website |
| Tram, metro, bus | €4.00 | Yes, same process |
| Correct tap-out, Schiphol to Centraal | ~€6.00 | — |
| Correct tap-out, city tram journey | Distance-based | — |
The charge is not a fine. When you tap in, the system reserves a boarding fee — €20 on trains, €4 on buses and metro — and refunds the difference when you tap out. No tap-out means no refund calculation, so you keep the worst-case fare.
How to get the €33.30 back
It is reclaimable, and the process is genuinely simple — but nobody tells you it exists.
Find the charge on your bank statement. It will carry a reference beginning NLOV. Six hours after the journey, go to the OVpay website, enter that reference number and the amount, and select the station where you failed to tap out. The excess is refunded to your account within about five days.
Do this before you fly home. It is far easier while you still remember which station you were at.
American Express does not work
OVpay accepts Visa and Mastercard, both debit and credit, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay and smartwatches. It does not accept American Express, Diners Club, or older Maestro cards.
If Amex is your main travel card, this matters on arrival. You will reach the gates at Schiphol and find your card rejected. Bring a Visa or Mastercard as backup, or load one into Apple Pay before you fly.
Same card in, same card out
Tap in with your phone and out with the physical card and the system cannot match the journey. You are charged as though you never tapped out. Pick one card or device per trip and use it consistently.
Related warning: take the card out of your wallet before tapping. If two contactless cards pass the reader together it may charge the wrong one, and then your check-in and check-out are on different cards without you realising.
Changing operators means tapping again
This one catches people on the Schiphol run. The train into Amsterdam is NS. The tram you take afterwards is GVB. Different operators, so you tap out of the train and tap in again on the tram. There is no automatic transfer.
The same applies moving between cities: NS to RET in Rotterdam, NS to HTM in The Hague. Each leg is checked in and out separately.
Do you still need an OV-chipkaart?
Almost certainly not. The anonymous OV-chipkaart stopped being sold on 1 July 2026, and the whole system retires at the end of 2027. Existing cards still work for now, but there is no reason for a visitor to buy one.
The exceptions are narrow: you would rather load cash than link a bank card, or your foreign card is repeatedly rejected by the readers. Note that refunds of the deposit and unused balance generally require a Dutch bank or postal address, which makes leftover credit effectively unrecoverable for tourists.
For the exact card prices and top-up amounts, see our Amsterdam OV-chipkaart price breakdown.
When a pass beats tapping
OVpay charges the standard per-journey fare with no cap and no multi-ride discount. On a heavy sightseeing day — four or five tram rides around the centre — a GVB day pass works out cheaper.
If your trip includes Schiphol plus day trips to Keukenhof or Zaanse Schans, the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket bundles the airport train with regional buses that OVpay charges separately. And if you are visiting two or more paid museums alongside your transport, the I amsterdam City Card usually beats buying transport and entry tickets individually.
Arriving at Schiphol
The train from Schiphol Plaza to Amsterdam Centraal takes 15 to 20 minutes and costs around €6 with OVpay in 2026. Tap the pink and blue OVpay gates at Schiphol before boarding, then the gates at Centraal on arrival. Both taps, or it becomes €33.30.
If you are landing late, travelling with a group, or staying somewhere the tram does not reach easily, a pre-booked private transfer removes the whole question — fixed price, driver waiting, no gates.
Getting around beyond the tram
Amsterdam is small and flat, and the canal ring is genuinely walkable. For the parts that are not, a guided bike tour covers ground the tram network misses, and a canal cruise reaches parts of the city no line goes near.
For the full network map, ferry routes and night services, see our Amsterdam public transport guide.
Amsterdam contactless payment: FAQ
Can you use contactless in Amsterdam?
Yes. Tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard, phone or smartwatch on the OVpay readers on any tram, metro, bus or train. The fare is identical to the OV-chipkaart and no card purchase is needed. American Express and Diners Club are not accepted.
What happens if you forget to tap out in the Netherlands?
You are charged a fixed correction fee: €33.30 on an NS train, €4.00 on a tram, metro or bus. It is reclaimable — find the NLOV reference on your bank statement, then submit it on the OVpay website from six hours after the journey. The refund arrives within about five days.
Does Apple Pay work on Amsterdam trams?
Yes, on all GVB trams, metro and buses, and on NS trains. Use the same device for tapping in and tapping out — mixing your phone and physical card across one journey breaks the fare calculation and triggers the missed check-out charge.
Do I need an OV-chipkaart as a tourist in 2026?
No. The anonymous OV-chipkaart has not been sold since 1 July 2026 and the system retires at the end of 2027. OVpay with your own bank card does the same job at the same fare, with no deposit and no leftover balance to reclaim.
Is OVpay cheaper than a day ticket in Amsterdam?
Not always. OVpay charges the standard per-journey fare with no daily cap. If you expect four or more tram rides in one day, a GVB day pass is cheaper. For one or two journeys a day, tapping is simpler and costs less.
How much is the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal?
Around €6 with OVpay in 2026, for a journey of 15 to 20 minutes. Tap the pink and blue OVpay gates at Schiphol Plaza before boarding and the gates at Centraal on arrival. Missing the second tap converts the fare into a €33.30 charge.
