Public transport in Amsterdam - paying with OVpay, fares and passes

You can check in and out with a contactless debit or credit card (Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard or Visa) or a phone or watch with Apple Pay or Google Wallet. You do not need to register or top up, and the fare is debited from your account. I amsterdam lists debit cards from ABN AMRO, ASN Bank, bunq, ING, Knab, Rabobank, RegioBank, SNS and Triodos as working.

Always check in and out with the same card or device, and take your card out of your wallet so the reader does not pick up another card. If you check in with your phone, check out with your phone. A free MyGVB OVpay account shows your journeys and fares.

The OV-chipkaart is being phased out and replaced by OVpay, but in October 2026 it still works:

• An anonymous OV-chipkaart can still be used for now. You can sign up on ov-chipkaart.nl for a reminder before your card expires.
• A student travel product (studentenreisproduct) or an NS season ticket still requires an OV-chipkaart for the time being, because OVpay does not yet support all season tickets and travel products of every operator.
• Leftover balance on an old card can be refunded through ov-chipkaart.nl.

If you are new, start with OVpay (bank card, phone or OV-pas) unless you need one of the products that still runs on the OV-chipkaart.

If you prefer a separate travel card, the OV-pas costs €6 and is valid for five years. You load it with travel credit, which you can top up through your MyGVB OVpay account or set to top up automatically from your bank account when it falls below €10. GVB requires at least €4 of credit for a GVB journey. You can order it in the GVB webshop (delivery in five to ten working days) or buy it at GVB Service & Tickets and some shops.

• Pay as you go on GVB: €1.16 base fare plus €0.217 per km. Children aged 4 to 11 and people aged 65 or older pay €0.77 plus €0.143 per km.
• GVB Max: when you travel with OVpay (bank card or phone), GVB charges at most €10.50 per day, however much you travel on GVB. Nothing needs to be activated.
• GVB 1-hour ticket: €3.40, valid for one hour from first check-in on GVB lines in Amsterdam, Diemen, Duivendrecht, Amstelveen, Uithoorn, Schiphol and Weesp. You must still check in and out each time.
• Day and multi-day tickets (1 to 7 days) give unlimited GVB travel and suit visitors; there is a reduced day ticket for children aged 4 to 11.

If you forget to check out, you are charged a €4 boarding fee rather than your actual fare. GVB's missed check-out page explains what to do.

If you commute daily, a subscription can save money. GVB offers discount products (GVB 10%, 20% or 40% Korting) and an unlimited monthly pass for all GVB metros, trams and buses (GVB Vrij), both cancellable monthly and linked to your bank card or OV-pas. Randstad Noord Vrij covers almost all day and night lines of several operators in the Noord-Holland region and Almere, but not NS trains. The OV-chipkaart version of the regional pass has not been sold since 1 March 2026 (except business passes from employers). GVB's season ticket advice tool compares options based on your trips. Ask your employer whether it provides a business travel product or a commuting allowance.

• You may take a bike on the metro and tram 26 outside rush hours. Bikes are not allowed Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 and from 16:00 to 18:30; you need a bike supplement ticket.
• Night buses run across the city; a single night bus ticket gives 1.5 hours of travel on GVB night buses.
• Missed or double check-in: if you checked in twice (for example because your wallet held both a bank card and an OV-chipkaart) or forgot to check out, you can correct trips made with OVpay at zelfregelen.ovpay.nl.
• GVB customer service: 0900 8011 (usual call charges) or WhatsApp 06 83 09 91 89, Monday to Saturday 8:00 to 19:00.
• Check the GVB app or website for planned works and diversions, which are frequent around big events and track renewals.