Check-in with your bank card to travel by train

From January 2023 it is possible to travel and check in from anywhere in the Netherlands with your bank card (debit- and creditcard) or phone to use the Dutch Railways (NS). This was put into effect to make travelling easier for people who don’t frequently take trains. To avoid having to pay for the same trip more than once, the NS suggests that you remove your card from your wallet before making a payment (this could happen if you have different bank cards in your wallet). The cost of your trip will be deducted from your bank account the following day. It is also possible to link your bank card to a Mijn NS account. There you may view your travel expenses and history instantly.

Keep in mind that this is the method you use if you want to travel in second class; it is not applicable with subscriptions or discounts. If you wish to travel first class or with any type of discount, you will still have to buy a ticket from the vending machine or you could simply use the OV-chip card. Moreover, the OV-fiets (bike) will still require the OV-chip card as well. 

The same concept applies for buses, trams, and metro’s and makes travelling easier for people who don’t use public transportation frequently.