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ACCESS NL > Relocating to the Netherlands > First three months > Transportation Netherlands > I am a student. What is the student OV-chipkaart?

Transportation Netherlands

I find it difficult and expensive to park my car in many major cities. Is there a way for me to park my car easier and cheaper?

There is a severe lack of parking space in most big cities in the Netherlands. In an effort to reduce congestion, many cities have a park and ride scheme (P+R- locaties). The driver parks at an organised, out of town location and then finishes the journey via public transport to the city centre. ANWB (the Royal Dutch Touring Club) lists all park and ride schemes in an area. This scheme is very helpful to many people for finding a parking space more quickly as well as for spending less on parking fees. You find the parking space via the routeplanner of ANWB on https://www.anwb.nl/verkeer/routeplanner?displayType=instructions.

Each city in the Netherlands has a Municipal Parking Department for all affairs related to parking such as parking permits. Please contact your municipality for further details.

Are there any subscriptions to travel cheaper by public transport?

Subscriptions are available for a particular route, for a discount outside rush hours, for unlimited travel by train or by other means of public transport as well. If you don’t know which subscription fits best, you can use the information on the Dutch Railroads (Nederlandse Spoorwegen – NS) website. It is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands: www.ns.nl/en/season-tickets .

It is highly advisable that you drop into a service counter and ask for help when deciding which subscription would be the most adequate for your situation. For more information visit the NS website.

What is the OV-chipkaart?

The smart-card system, the OV-chipkaart (chip card used to pay for public transport), is the form of paying for public transport. OV stands for openbaar vervoer (public transport). It resembles a bank card and contains an invisible chip and must be topped up before the start of any journey. The OV-chipkaart can be used on public transport all over the Netherlands.

For further details visit the website of the OV-chipkaart and select ‘English’ at the top right corner of the site to change the language: www.ov-chipkaart.nl .

How does the OV-chipkaart work?

The OV-chipkaart ( chip card used to pay for public transport ) must be purchased before you travel. To find a point of sale nearby visit the following website: https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/en/service-points-finder

This address finder is very useful to find out where all specific OV-chipkaart services are located because services differ from location to location. Additional credit can be loaded onto your OV-chipkaart at vending and add value machines or at OV-chipkaart service points.

Cards must be validated at both the beginning and the end of a journey, by holding the card up to an OV-chipkaart reader. You can find them in various parts of the buses and trams. The card readers for trains are located on the platforms or at the entrance of the station. At the start of your journey, hold your OV-chipkaart up to the screen. The sound and light signal indicates your card has been read. When disembarking, check out by holding your card up to the screen. Checking in and out is also required when you transfer from one form of transport to another, except when you transfer from train to train.

When using trains, you always need to have at least a certain minimum credit on your card to be able to check in. T he boarding fee can differ from one transportation company to another. The latest information can be found on https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/en/travelling-on-balance

When you check out, the boarding fee will be refunded and you will be charged for the number of kilometres you travelled. If you do not check out, you will pay the full boarding fee. If you fail to check in or buy a valid ticket, you face a fine plus the fare for your journey.

What types of OV-chipkaart are there?

There are three different types of OV-chipkaart (chip card used to pay for public transport) to choose from:

• Personal OV-chipkaart: this card is intended for the frequent traveller. To apply for a personal OV-chipkaart, you can pick up a paper application form at the counters for public transport companies or apply online at the Ov-chipkaart.nl.
• Anonymous OV-chipkaart: designed for the infrequent traveller, this allows the holder to travel immediately, once you have added money to your card . It can be purchased at sales devices in stations, newsagents, supermarkets and public transport companies’ counters.
• Business OV-chipkaart: the business OV-chipkaart. This card is offered to employees of companies by business card providers. If you have a business OV-chipkaart and have a question, please contact your business card provider. The contact details can be found on the front of your card.

How can I find out which tram, bus or train I need and the departure times?

Via the website 9292.nl /en , you can plan your journey from door to door. All options, bus, tram, train, metro and ferry for your journey are given here. 9292 provides a helpful app in English. Bear in mind that most information in the public transport system is announced in Dutch.

How can I go to the railway station or from the railway station to my destination?

There are several ways to travel to and from the railway station:

• By bus, tram or metro
• By bike or moped
• By car (shared or rental)
• By taxi or shared taxi

For more detailed information about this topic, please visit: NSinternational.nl/en/to-and-from-the-station.

It seems that everybody is biking in the Netherlands. Where can I buy a bike for myself?

All cities have one or more shops that sell and repair bikes. For a tweedehands fiets (second-hand bike) you can search online or visit one of the online auction pages such as Marktplaats.nl.  Bike shops often have second hand bikes too.

I have hardly any knowledge of biking. How can I learn to bike?

There are several bike schools all over the country that offer fietslessen (bike lessons). Most of them are called ‘ fietsschool’   or ‘ fietscollege’  (bike school).

Can I travel by public transport if I don't have an OV-chipkaart?

It is possible to travel by public transport without OV chipcard. You can pay wireless with your bank card (pin pass) or mobile phone  if you don’t have any discount or subscription. This applies to all buses,  trams, trains  a  metros in the Netherlands. If you travel by train you can only pay with your bank card or mobile phone if you are travelling 2nd class and don’t have a subscription. More information is available on https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/en

Alternatively most of the train companies operating in the Netherlands offers the option to purchase your ticket online (e-ticket). For instance NS, the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands, offers not only the option to print your e-ticket but also to download it on your smartphone. For this you will need the ‘NS Reisplanner Xtra app’.

What kinds of tickets are available for the train?

For the train you can use either paper cards or the OV-Chipkaart ( chip card used to pay for public transport )  The main tickets available are:

• Single ticket
• Return ticket
• Day travel card for the train
• Day travel card for all public transport (called Holland travel ticket)
• Bicycle day travel card
• Rail runner (cheap ticket for children aged 4 to 11 accompanied by an adult)
• Group ticket off peak hours (single ticket)
• Joint discount ticket off peak hours

You can find an overview of available tickets on https://www.ns.nl/en

Should you experience a delay of 30 minutes or more, you might be entitled to a refund.  Read more about this on the website of the Dutch Railways .

What is the minimum age to ride a moped in the Netherlands?

If you want to ride a brommer  or snorfiets (moped), you need to be at least 16 years of age. You also need to have a bromfietsrijbewijs (moped driving licence). A driving licence for a car is category B, for a moped is category AM. If you have a driving licence category A or B, you can ask to add category AM when you renew your driving licence. You don’t need to pass an exam for this.

What kinds of bikes are available?

The most common type of bicycle is the omafiets  (grandma bike). However, you will see a lot of other types of bikes, including the following: stadsfiets (city bike), sportfiets (sport bike), elektrische fiets (electric bike), bakfiets (cargo bike), and mopeds.

Grandma bikes and city bike  are most often used for everyday trips, including going to school and/or work, and running errands around town while a sport bike is a more convenient bicycle for longer trips.

An ATB (All Terrain Bikes) is most convenient for those who bike on difficult terrain. A special type of ATB is the MTB (mountain bike), which is not often used in the Netherlands because of its flat terrain, but it is convenient for cycling in the mountains.

An electric bike offers the possibility to get trapondersteuning (electric support while cycling). It is especially useful when it is very windy because you do not require as much strength for pedalling. Trapondersteuning means that you have to bike yourself, but the electric motor will support you. Depending on the type of electric bike, you can choose between no support, little support, average support or a lot of support.

A moped is a snorfiets  when it has a light blue licence plate. A b romfiets rides on the roadway and can reach a maximum speed of 45 km/h. They have a yellow licence plate. By law, children younger than 8 years old can be passengers on a moped only when they are provided with a proper, safe seat that gives them adequate support for their back, hands and feet. It is not permitted to hold a mobile phone while operating a moped or any other electronic device. You are only allowed to use any device handsfree. This also applies to pedestrians . If you ignore this rule, you may get a fine.

Cargo bikes or  bakfietsen are transport bikes with three wheels and a large front bucket. It is common to see parents transporting children around because the box is low to the ground making it is easier to transport more weight.

There are also four-wheeled vehicles, but they are not allowed on bike paths and have to follow the same rules as mopeds. They look like small automobiles and must have an overall weight of less than 350 kg (excluding the weight of the battery in electric vehicles). They can reach a maximum of 45 km/h and can be distinguished by their small size and a 45 km/h sticker that is displayed on the back of the car.

Are there any special traffic rules for cyclists?

The following laws apply specifically for cyclists:

• Cycling is not allowed on sidewalks or pedestrian-only areas
• Use hand signals when preparing to make a left or right turn. Simply put your arm out in the direction you want to turn
• It is allowed to ride alongside another bicyclist, but cycling with three people in a row is not permitted
• Bicyclists share the bike paths with snorfietsen (mopeds). Be prepared for them by cycling on the right side of the bike path so that they can pass you.
• Brommers (mopeds with a speed of maximum 45 km/hour) are no longer allowed on the bike path.   They have to use then main road. Snorfietsen (mopeds with a speed of maximum 25 km/hour) are not always allowed on the bike path. Signs indicate if this applies.
• Cycling is not allowed on highways
• Tunnels may or may not be accessible for cycling. If they are, there is usually a separate bike path
• Bicycle lights are mandatory, white or yellow in the front and red in the rear. You can get a fine when cycling without lights in the dark, at dusk or in poor visibility

Are there any special traffic rules for mopeds?

Brommers (mopeds) must use the main road rather than the bike roads. They are allowed on the bike lanes only if explicitly indicated by the blue traffic sign displaying a bicycle and a moped symbol. Both drivers of a moped and passengers are required to wear a helmet.

Mopeds have bells for a reason! Use the bell to warn bicyclists that you are approaching them and need to pass them, use it to warn pedestrians who are blocking the bike path, or to warn anyone else who might be in your way! Do not park your moped in places that have signs posted saying “ Geen fietsen plaatsen ” (no bike parking).

How can I arrange a parking space lot near my house?

Parking space is limited in the Netherlands. In general you need to request a parking licence near your house from the municipality. This gives you the right to park near your house but you need to look for a place every time you want to park your car. In addition, you can see if there is a parking garage nearby and try to rent a place there. It is best to check with your municipality for further detail.

How are parking spaces lots organised in the Netherlands?

In most places it is paid parking. This is indicated along the road. You need to get a ticket from the ticket vending machine and pay on your return for the time you parked your car.

Sometimes there is a parking meter. Here you need to decide in advance how long you intend to park your car and pay for that time. If you park longer than expected, you need to add money to the meter to avoid getting a fine.

In areas where paid parking is not in force, you may find there is a Blue Zone. Within this zone, you are only permitted to park for short periods of time by clearly displaying a blue parking disc. You can buy them at large department stores. Before leaving your car, mark your time of arrival on the blue parking disc. You can recognise a blue zone by a nearby road sign. On this sign you can see the maximum parking time permitted, as well as any additional conditions such as specific hours during the day.

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I’m going to study in the Netherlands and I already receive student finance from DUO. What arrangements do I need to make?

If you are studying outside the Netherlands and are going to study in the Netherlands for a short period, you may need to make changes to your student finance. 

You need to arrange this

Applying for a student travel product.

With a student travel product you can travel free or with a discount on public transport in the Netherlands. Apply for a student travel product at least 2 months before you need it. 

You cannot have both a student travel product and a public transport allowance. If you are currently receiving a public transport allowance and you apply for a student travel product, your public transport allowance will stop automatically. Do you want to keep the public transport allowance? This is only possible if you remain registered with the educational institution outside the Netherlands and you do not apply for a student travel product.

Find out more about applying for a student travel product (DUO) 

Applying for a grant for students living away from home

If you are doing a vocational education course abroad and will be living away from home during your period of study in the Netherlands, you can apply for a higher basic grant. 

Find out more about the grant for MBO students living away from home (DUO) (information in Dutch)

Use the change of details form for students doing MBO courses in the Netherlands (pdf) (in Dutch) to apply for a grant for students living away from home.

Updating your contact details

• Check your email address in Mijn DUO. If it is no longer correct, enter your new email address so that you will not miss any messages. 
• You can also pass on a change of address in Mijn DUO. 

Logging in to Mijn DUO

If you want to arrange your student finance through Mijn DUO, you will need to login in using your DigiD or EU-recognised eID . 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us .

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Student finance & student travel pass

When studying at Leiden University you may be entitled to Dutch student finance and a student travel pass from DUO. Whether you are eligible depends on several factors such as your nationality and length of stay.

Student finance

The Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) is the Dutch governmental agency for education. Students of Leiden University who are aged under 30 may be eligible to apply for student finance from DUO , depending on factors such as their nationality and length of stay . Student finance is in fact an advantageous loan that contributes towards your study costs.

Student travel pass

Students who are eligible for Dutch student finance may also apply for a student travel pass from DUO (known as a student OV card).  You can find all terms, conditions and application procedures on the DUO website.

Ending your studies

Important note! If you complete or discontinue your studies make sure to notify DUO and hand in your student travel pass. Failure to do so (on time) can result in fines.

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Top 4 benefits of using a student travel card in the netherlands

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• 10 September 2021

Top 4 benefits of using a student travel card

The OV card is the main transportation card there is. It will take you from A to Z for a pretty high price, unfortunately, especially when you are a student. who is unfamiliar with this country, you don’t want to pay such a price while you don’t even know what you can do with it… However, when you use the OV card correctly, you get many benefits from it. We will discuss these benefits down below. We all share the same opinion. We want to travel as cheap as possible it doesn’t matter if it’s for school purposes or travel the day for some sightseeing. Now, what are these 4 Benefits? We will discuss them one by one.

1. Student OV Week – travel to your university and friends for free!

You as an International student can choose which give of OV-chipcard you want, In the Netherlands, we have the luxury to choose as a student. Therefore, students can choose between having a Week or weekend Student OV. With the student OV package, you can travel for free from Monday 04:00 till Saturday 04:00. Not only can you travel for free during the week, but during the weekend students have 40% off to travel to do sightseeing.

2. Student OV Weekend – Sightseeing during the weekend?

The student OV weekend is almost the same as Student OV Week. However, this package provides you to travel for free during the weekends and whenever you want to travel during the week you will get 40% off. When a student always travels to the university by bike or just walking, I would advise getting the Weekend OV package as you have time to see the Netherlands and travel for free. When you get the feeling the subscription you choose is not the right one for you, don’t worry! You can switch later on.

3. Take 3 other people with you with a 40% discount.

What is even better than traveling for free, traveling with friends! With student-OV, you can take up to 3 people to travel with you with 40% off. The ones who are traveling together with you with 40% must select this at an NS machine at the stations. After they have done that they get 40% off.

Important information: when can I use the 40%

You can let people travel with you with 40% from Monday until Friday before 06:30h, between 09:00h-16:00h, and after 18:30h. Good to know, whenever you want to do fun things on the weekend you can give the others 40% for the whole day!

What is more Dutch than biking? Nothinggg. Therefore, NS provides bikes to rent to people who need it to get to work, university, friends, sightseeing. We Provide you how to get this Bike to be on time for your next plans.

4 steps towards your ov-bike

1. online OV-bike subscription

2. go to an OV-Bike location and rent a bike with your OV-Chipcard

3. Return the bike to the location where you got it from.

4. In the NS app, which is called Mijn NS , you can easily find all your trips and the costs.

Important information: What do you actually pay for such a bike?

To rent a bike for 24h you only need to pay €3,95!

After reading this blog, you got to know the most important benefits you as a student can get, during the week. but also for the weekends. I can imagine you want to start getting all these benefits. because most of them are for FREE. But how to exactly arrange this? Please find it in our OV-chipcard . To stay updated on more relevant information, sign up for our newsletter, which will be sent out every Monday morning!

What are the best places to travel to with your student OV?

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Student finance

• Basic grant
• Supplementary grant
• Student travel product
• Tuition fees loan

Eligibility

• Eligible for how long
• Gift or repayment
• Additional earnings
• Full university or HBO programme abroad

Whether you qualify for student finance depends on your age, course and nationality or residency status.

You qualify for student finance if you meet 1 of the following requirements. You must also meet 1 of these requirements to get only the student travel product.

• You have been living in the Netherlands for 5 consecutive years or more.

In 2024, 50% of the social security norm is €641.92 a month. If you're younger than 21, 50% of the norm is  €158.47 a month.

If you are a migrant worker, your employment contract must start on the 1st of the month. If your employment contract starts later, you won't be eligible for student finance until the next month.

If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements, please phone us .

Working fewer than 32 hours

The norm is 32 hours of work per month in the Netherlands. Under 32 hours you are not eligible for student finance. Except in the case of 6 months of work, or more. Then an average of 24 hours a month or more is sufficient. For instance, if you, your parent, or your partner has already been working in the Netherlands for 6 months. Or if there is a permanent contract.

• Do you work between 24 and 32 hours per month? Then DUO will assess if you are working for at least 6 months or have a permanent contract.
• Do you work fewer than 24 hours per month? Then you are usually not eligible for student finance.
• Does, or did, your parent or partner work between 24 and 32 hours per month? Then DUO will assess if your parent or partner is working for at least 6 months or has a permanent contract.
• Does, or did, your parent or partner work fewer than 24 hours per month? Then you are usually not eligible for student finance.

If you meet the requirements, or if you believe you are eligible for student finance despite the requirements, please apply.

• You can apply for student finance  via Mijn DUO.
• Find out which supporting documents you need to send under 'Documentary evidence for EU/EEA citizens, UK citizens and Swiss' below. You can upload the documents in Mijn DUO after finishing your application.
• Within 6 to 8 weeks you'll receive a letter.

You qualify for student finance if you meet 1 of the following requirements:

• You have a Dutch residence permit Article 50 and you been living in the Netherlands for 5 consecutive years or more.
• Your British parent or partner has a Dutch residence permit Article 50 and is, or was, a migrant worker. Or your non-Dutch parent or partner has the nationality of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and is, or was, a migrant worker. Your parent or partner works, or has worked, in the Netherlands for at least 32 hours per month. Or your parent or partner has, or had, a monthly income of at least 50% of the social security norm. Does, or did, your parent or partner work between 24 and 32 hours per month? Then you are not eligible for student finance. Unless your parent or partner works for 6 months or more.

You must also meet 1 of these requirements for only the student travel product.

Do you meet 1 one of these requirements?

• Find out which supporting documents you need to send under 'Documentary evidence for EU/EEA citizens, UK citizens and Swiss' below. Send these documents to [email protected].

Are you unsure whether you meet the requirements? Please contact us .

Documentary evidence for EU/EEA citizens, UK citizens and Swiss (new application)

If you are not yet receiving student finance, read here what documents to include or upload with your application.

5 or more consecutive years in the Netherlands

We need a copy of your ID card. Are you a citizen of the United Kingdom? Then we also need a copy of the front and back of your Dutch residence permit Article 50.

Working with a contract

Are you working in the Netherlands with a permanent, fixed-term (temporary) or stand-by contract? Then we need the documents below. If you are applying for student finance for months that have already passed, please also include the pay slips for those months.

• employment contract (signed by both parties) + most recent payslip and matching bank statement
• in case of fewer than 32 hours of work per month: pay slips and matching bank statements for the past 6 months insofar you already worked in the Netherlands
• if you are a citizen of the United Kingdom: a copy of the front and back of your Dutch residence permit Article 50.
• if you are working through a temporary employment agency: the confirmation of your placement.

If your parent has an employment contract:

• employment contract (signed by both parties) + most recent payslip and matching bank statement
• in case of fewer than 32 hours of work per month: pay slips and matching bank statements for the past 6 months insofar your parent already worked in the Netherlands
• your ID card + your parent's ID card
• If your parent is a citizen of the United Kingdom: a copy of the front and back of your parent's Dutch residence permit Article 50.
• if your parent is working through a temporary employment agency: the confirmation of their placement.

If your partner has an employment contract:

• In case of fewer than 32 hours of work per month: pay slips and matching bank statements for the past 6 months insofar your partner already worked in the Netherlands
• your ID card + your partner's ID card
• your marriage or civil partnership certificate
• If your partner is a citizen of the United Kingdom: a copy of the front and back of your partner's Dutch residence permit Article 50.
• if your partner is working through a temporary employment agency: the confirmation of their placement.

Freelancer or self-employed

If you are a freelancer or self-employed, please send us the following documents:

• your ID card
• the letter titled 'BTW-identificatienummer'
• proof of your registration with the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel or KvK)
• your KOR decision from the Tax Administration, if you applied for this scheme.

If your parent is a freelancer or self-employed, please send us the following documents:

• your ID card and your parent’s
• proof of your parent’s registration with the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel or KvK)
• your parent’s KOR decision from the Tax Administration, if they applied for this scheme.

If your partner is a freelancer or self-employed, please send us the following documents:

• your ID card and your partner’s 
• proof of your partner’s registration with the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel or KvK)
• your partner’s KOR decision from the Tax Administration, if they applied for this scheme.

If you are doing an internship and applying for student finance, please phone us . An employee will discuss your eligibility for student finance with you.

Check hours worked

DUO checks regularly how many hours you, your parent or your partner worked and how much was earned. This also applies if you only have the student travel product.

Documentary evidence for EU/EEA citizens, UK citizens and Swiss (prolongation)

Has your study finance been awarded for a limited period of time, and do you want to apply for prolongation? Read here what documents to include or upload with your application.

Are you working in the Netherlands with a fixed-term (temporary) or stand-by contract? Or is your parent or partner? Then we need the following documents:

• pay slips for the past 6 months showing how many hours a month were worked
• bank statements for the past 6 months showing the wages that were paid
• employment contract(s) for the past 6 months. Employment contracts must be signed by both parties
• in case of work through a temporary employment agency: the confirmation of the placement.

If the employment contract ends, send us the new contract as well (signed by both parties). Were you not offered a new contract, and haven't you found a new job yet? If so, register with the UWV Link opent externe pagina as a jobseeker and contact us.

Are you a freelancer or self-employed, or is your parent or partner? please send us the following documents:

• the turnover tax (VAT) returns with the Tax Authority for the quarter(s) you received student finance
• the full administration (bank statements, proof of purchases)
• all invoices to customers (bank statement and/or receipts). Only paid hours count towards the 32 hours norm.
• cash register purchases/sales if there is a cash flow in cash
• the hour registration per week or month

If you are doing a compulsory internship, please send us the internship agreement between yourself and the internship company and a statement from your educational institution saying:

• that you remain enrolled with the educational institution during your internship
• that the internship is a compulsory part of the study programme or that you will receive credits for it
• the exact period of the internship, and
• with which company, institution or organization you are taking the internship.

Exchange student

Are you going abroad through an exchange programme? Please send us proof of your enrollment with the foreign educational institution and a statement from the Dutch educational institution saying:

• that the exchange is a compulsory part of the study programme or that you will receive credits for it
• the exact period of the exchange.

You must be able to prove that you have worked 32 hours during the month prior to your internship. And you must have been eligible for student finance during this month.

If your internship or exchange is not compulsory and you do not receive credits for is, please phone us . An employee will discuss your eligibility for student finance with you.

Apply for student finance, even if haven’t received your residence permit yet. Your application will be rejected, because you don’t meet the nationality requirements. However, if you contact us within 6 weeks after receiving your residence permit, we will award your student finance retroactively. That is, if you meet all the other conditions as well.

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Linking your student travel product

The possible causes are:

• Maybe you are using an old version of your browser. Downloading a more recent version may solve the problem.
• Your OV-chipkaart is already linked: did you temporarily deactivated the student travel product and did you NOT get a new OV-chipkaart? Then (re)linking is not necessary. You only have to apply for the student travel product at DUO again.
• You did not apply for the student travel product at DUO: check via Mijn DUO if you’ve applied for the student travel product.

You have received a supplementary request by e-mail and may not have read it: to be sure check (the spam box in) your e-mail for a supplementary request stating what is missing in your previous matching request. You can then complete the required information via the link tool in the Mijn omgeving.

That depends on the mistake. Have you entered an incorrect first name, e-mail address or phone number? Then there will be no problem. Did you make a mistake while entering your OV-chipkaart number? Then we’ll probably can’t process your linking request. You’ll receive a message which says what you should do.

To be sure that the student travel product is provided to the right person, we ask for a copy of your identification and OV-chipkaart when you want to link via paper process. When you link the student travel product to your OV-chipkaart by yourself (via the ‘Mijn omgeving’ ). Then the check on personal data is done automatically by logging in with your DigiD.

Yes, it is possible to link your OV-chipkaart from abroad. Just keep in mind that you’ve requested beforehand a Digid with SMS verification, because it’s nog possible to request this outside the Netherlands. How to request it? Please visit DigiD for more information.

It’s not possible to change your last name in the Mijn omgeving. That’s because we receive your personal information from DUO and they’re also connected to your DigiD. If you want to change this data, you can do so by logging on to Mijn DUO and request change there.

It is possible that your last name is not yet entered. That could mean that we haven’t got your data for applying for the student travel product yet from DUO. Did you apply for the student travel product via Mijn DUO ? If the answer is no, then it’s necessary that you’ll do that before it is possible to link. Did you apply for the student travel product? Then it’s possible that you did it recently or your application is not processed correctly. Check your data at Mijn DUO .

You are able to link your student travel product to your personal OV-chipkaart with eIDAS on mystudent.studentenreisproduct.nl.

eIDAS stands for ‘Electronic Identification and Trust Services for electronic transactions in the Internal Market’. With this regulation, the European Union contributes to the removal of all digital borders. This means that the digital identities that are classified as eIDAS-approved must be accepted by all public organisations across the European Union.

Note: For most services in the Netherlands a citizen service number (BSN = burgerservicenummer) is required. If you are not in the possession of this number, the service cannot be accessed. Please register yourself in the Personal Records Database (BRP). Check www.government.nl for more information about the process of registering.

You’ll automatically receive a welcome e-mail if you apply for student finance or the student travel product. You’ll receive the e-mail within one week after your student finance is established, only up to six weeks before you are entitled to the student finance.

If you haven’t received a welcome e-mail within a week after your entitlement to student finance has been established. And you are entitled to student finance and the student travel product within the next six weeks? Then visit our linking page and give us your OV-chipkaart number to link the student travel product.

Met de digitale nieuwsbrief van Studentenreisproduct.nl:

• Krijg je handige tips en actuele informatie over het studentenreisproduct (circa 4 keer per jaar);
• Krijg je aan het einde van je studie een aantrekkelijk aanbod om voordelig met het openbaar vervoer te blijven reizen.

3 ways to save money traveling in the Netherlands

Are you traveling to university by public transport daily or do you regularly visit cities throughout the Netherlands? Then, we have great ways to save money for you!

Table of Contents

Group ticket

You should definitely consider buying a group ticket if you are doing a trip with your friends. Up to seven people can be in one group – the more, the cheaper!

A small overview:

• 2 people: €17,00 per person
• 3 people: €11,33 per person
• 4 people: €9,50 per person
• 5 people: €8,40 per person
• 6 people: €7,67 per person
• 7 people: €7,15 per person

Travel products

The first step for travel discounts is applying for a personal OV-chipkaart via their website.  It usually requires to have a Dutch bank account, but you can fill out a form if you want to pay with a card from another country. After receiving your card you can purchase travel products. Take a look which one is most suitable for you to save money.

Travel with discount: 

• Dal Voordeel (€2.50/month for the first three months, afterwards €5.60/month):  40% discount during off-peak hours, at weekends and public holidays
• Altijd Voordeel (€26.70/month):  20% discount during peak hours, 40% discount during off-peak hours, at weekends and public holidays
• Weekend Voordeel (€2.20/month):  40% discount at weekends and public holidays

Unlimited travel: 

• Weekend Vrij (€34.95/month): unlimited travels during the weekend 
• Dal Vrij (€119.95/month): unlimited travel during the week at off-peak hours and unlimited travel at weekends and on public holidays
• Altijd Vrij (€353.80/month): unlimited travel during peak hours, during off-peak hours, at weekends and on public holidays
• Traject Vrij (price depending on your fixed route): unlimited travel on a fixed route, 40% discount on other routes during off-peak hours, at weekends and public holidays

€15 yearly bus ticket Nijmegen

For those who travel by bus regularly in Nijmegen, the 15 euro yearly bus ticket is a must. Check the following points to see whether you are eligible for it. 

Requirements:

• You’re living in Nijmegen
• You’re 18 or older 
• You have a personal OV-chipkaart
• You cannot make use of the DUO student travel product 
• You don’t earn more than €1.560/month

How to apply for student travel product

If you are working in the Netherlands as an international student for at least 56 hours you might be eligible for the travel product of DUO student finance. Find out how to register for DUO on this blog post.  

These tips can help you paying less money than you would with regular tickets. Read about further hacks on how to save money as a student on our blog .

Cookies & Privacy

Privacy overview.

ESN/Student Mobility Package

Student Mobility Card (OV-Chipkaart + ISIC-ID)

Bike program.

• Not only will you receive a Student OV travel card but also a digital ISIC student ID card. This card is valid for 12 months and will be your ticket to the biggest network of student  discounts  in the world!
• Easy access to public transport and shared bikes; You will be jumping from train to tram to bus to bike in no time, just like the locals do.
• You can connect your Student Mobility Card with any credit or debit card (does not have to be Dutch), so you will never have insufficient funds standing in your when using public transport in the Netherlands!
• With the Student Mobility Card you’ll get a 40% discount for all local busses and Arriva trains in Groningen/Friesland and Drenthe, during weekends and weekday off-peak hours (between 9:00-16:00, before 6:30 and after 18:30). Please note that the Arriva discount is only valid for one year. 
• With the Student Mobility Card you’ll get a 15% discount for all trains in the Netherlands during weekends and weekday off-peak hours (between 9:00-16:00, before 6:30 and after 18:30). 
• Subscription fee: A monthly fee of 4.50 EUR will be charged along with the travel costs. To be clear, by your purchase today you do not sign up to the subscription, this can be done after receiving your card. But you will need to pay the subscription fee and have your card fully activated to enjoy the 15% train discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

NS first train ticket

• We offer multiple options, with both tickets you can get on the train at any Dutch station, and get off wherever you want. You will receive a personal voucher and extra info after the order! It can take up to 4 business days to receive the ticket.
• Ticket options:  1) Off-peak hour ticket for 13 EUR* (Do not travel on weekdays between 6.30 - 9 AM and between 16:00 and 18:30,  more details here .  2) All hours ticket for 20 EUR
• Train tickets in the Netherlands are expensive, for example:  Schiphol Airport to Groningen / Maastricht / Enschede / Eindhoven / Wageningen / Tilburg / Nijmegen / Arnhem etc. are 20 EUR or more. So get your reduced ticket now!
• These voucher have limited validity so make sure you use the voucher before the end date, indicated in the order confirmation.
• Bikes and service are being provided by Swapfiets, but without signup costs, monthly cancellable and all payment methods accepted.
• Fixed monthly rate with only €26,50 or €22 per month! No sign-up costs.
• Monthly terminable contracts 
• No maintenance costs (fair-use)
• Pick-up point in all major cities in the Netherlands