Can I use the OV-chipkaart to get from Schiphol to the center by train?
According to amsterdam.info, there is a direct train from the Schiphol airport to the Amsterdam central station (Amsterdam Centraal).
Since I am going to buy the OV-chipkaart to use public transport after I get to the city, I was wondering: can this card be used for the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal too?
Best Answer
You can use a pay-as-you-go OV-chipkaart to travel by train in the Netherlands (including between Schiphol and Amsterdam CS) but you will need to activate it at a NS vending machine and to have at least €20 credit (boarding fee) when “checking in”. Anonymous pay-as-you-go cards are also available from NS vending machines for €7.5.
It's fine to use pay-as-you-go from Schiphol to the centre since you can probably use up the remaining credit during your stay in Amsterdam but it's a bit of a hassle on the way back if you don't plan to come back to the Netherlands (from Amsterdam CS to Schiphol, the fare is only €4 so that's €16 remaining on the card, plus the €7.5 to buy it in the first place, so that's €23.5 tied into the card on top of the actual fare).
However, you cannot use the trains with a day pass from GVB (if that's the 24-hour card you mentioned in the comments) as it does not cover NS trains. Although it is technically also an OV-chipkaart, you cannot use it for pay-as-you-go either. For a one-time visit, the best option is therefore to buy a single-use OV-chipkaart from NS to go back to the airport. You would therefore use two different RFID cards, one for the GVB network and one for NS trains.
For more details on the OV-chipkaart system, see also OV-chipkaart or GVB day pass for within Amsterdam travel?
PS: There is also something called a Dagkaart that can be loaded on a regular OV-chipkaart but that's something else entirely. You get unlimited train travel on the NS network for one day for €50.80 (second class).
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How do I get from Schiphol Airport to city Centre?
A direct railway line connects Schiphol International Airport with Amsterdam Central Station, and is the fastest and most convenient form of transport to the city centre. Amsterdam airport trains depart from Platforms 1 and 2 under the airport main arrival plaza day and night every day of the week.How do I get from Schiphol Airport to the train station?
Catch the train at Schiphol to travel directly to many destinations in The Netherlands. The NS train station is located directly below the terminal building. Take the escalator or lift downstairs and board the train. The train gets you for instance to Amsterdam Central Station in 14-17 minutes.How much is the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central?
TAKE THE TRAIN The Dutch National Rail (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) offers trains from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station in an average of 14-17 minutes. This option will cost about \u20ac5.50 per person with a \u20ac1 surcharge for disposable tickets.How do you use an OV-chipkaart on a train?
When boarding a bus, tram, metro or train, hold your single-use chipcard or anonymous OV-chipkaart in front of the ticket reader. The green light and beep signal indicate that your card has been read. When you get off, hold your card in front of the ticket reader once again to check out.AMSTERDAM AIRPORT TRANSIT GUIDE // 4 ways to get from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to the city center
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Images: Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio, Karolina Grabowska, Andrea Piacquadio