OV-chipkaart smart card

The OV-chipkaart is the nationwide smart card system for public transport in the Netherlands, replacing traditional paper tickets. The card is based on RFID technology and allows passengers to check in and out across different transit providers including buses, trams, metros, and trains.

The system is managed by Trans Link Systems (TLS), which was founded by Five major Dutch transport companies (NS, GVB, HTM, RET, and Connexxion). The cards themselves are produced to high security standards, typically within the Netherlands or neighboring European countries, and are the central element of the unified Dutch transit payment infrastructure. As the system evolves, it is slowly transitioning toward 'OVpay', allowing mobile and contactless bank card payments.