The public transport chip card will disappear at the end of 2027 and will be replaced by a public transport ticket.
By the end of 2027, the OV-chipkaart (public transport chip card) will be completely phased out from public transport in the Netherlands, to be replaced by the new OV-pas (public transport card) or by payment via debit and credit cards.
The confirmation of this change came in an update published on January 21, 2026, by Tim Veikman-van Alst. The OV-chipkaart has been in use since 2007, but it has become outdated technically, and travelers have complained for years about its poor usability.
Since 2023, passengers have been able to check in and out using debit or credit cards, with travel costs being directly deducted from their bank accounts. However, many subscriptions and debit cards cannot yet be linked to bank cards, which has led to the development of the OV-pas.
With the new OV-pas, subscriptions and discount cards can be loaded onto the card, just like with the OV-chipkaart. Anonymous OV-pas cards will also be available for those who do not wish to use their bank cards in public transport.
Unlike the OV-chipkaart, which stores all travel data on the card itself, the OV-pas relies on an online account. This allows for the addition of the digital OV-pas card to the smartphone wallet, meaning there is no need for a physical card when traveling with a bus or train subscription.
The OV-pas is being rolled out in phases over the coming years, and it can already be used in some cases, such as full-price trips or age discounts on buses, trams, and the metro. More subscriptions and products are expected to be added later this year, as public transport companies begin to offer OV-pas services in various areas.