Netherlands Best transport for an adult and child

martindow

eDicky said:

The OV Chipkaart initial cost is not redeemable, the card expires after several (10?) years. Value needs to be added for its use, normally at a machine in stations, the price of every journey being deducted as you tap in and out of the tram, bus or train platform. Inspectors occasionally board and read all passengers' cards. For residents and regular visitors it is (or was) convenient and economical but if it's just the single trip that you're making you would have to compare it to alternatives regarding costs and convenience. I've never heard of the HTM pass that you mention.

If I'm not mistaken Dutch people are now able to use their bank debit cards instead of the OV Chipkaart, but these are Maestro or V-Pay and UK-issued cards are probably not accepted. Others may clarify this, it's been a few years since I was a regular visitor to the Netherlands.

According to the Dutch railways website, acceptable debit cards are limited, but you can use any Visa or Mastercard credit card to touch in and out.  You need one card per person of course.

https://www.ns.nl/en/customer-service/payment/ovpay.html

eDicky

martindow said:

eDicky said:

The OV Chipkaart initial cost is not redeemable, the card expires after several (10?) years. Value needs to be added for its use, normally at a machine in stations, the price of every journey being deducted as you tap in and out of the tram, bus or train platform. Inspectors occasionally board and read all passengers' cards. For residents and regular visitors it is (or was) convenient and economical but if it's just the single trip that you're making you would have to compare it to alternatives regarding costs and convenience. I've never heard of the HTM pass that you mention.

If I'm not mistaken Dutch people are now able to use their bank debit cards instead of the OV Chipkaart, but these are Maestro or V-Pay and UK-issued cards are probably not accepted. Others may clarify this, it's been a few years since I was a regular visitor to the Netherlands.

According to the Dutch railways website, acceptable debit cards are limited, but you can use any Visa or Mastercard credit card to touch in and out.  You need one card per person of course.

https://www.ns.nl/en/customer-service/payment/ovpay.html

That's interesting info, and thanks for the link. It appears to apply to all modes of public transport except OV-fiets (bikes). This would remove the need for visitors such as the OP to invest in an OV Chipkaart, if any contactless Visa or MasterCard debit or credit card can truly be used - doubts remain with the mention of checking with your bank to make sure, I wouldn't expect a UK bank CS to give any definitive answer.

I now recall reading a year or two ago that Dutch authorities were working to remove the anomaly that only Maestro and V PAY cards issued by Dutch banks were acceptable by many shops and services, including supermarkets.

maman

Thanks for the information about cards. Pre Covid (before uk caught up) I found many cashless places like cafés in the Netherlands.

Not sure what interests you @eDicky but we really liked Leiden. It's like a miniature Amsterdam in terms of canals and lots of interesting history about those who sailed on the Mayflower and birthplace of Rembrandt. It's a small city and we walked everywhere.