If you want to use public transportation in Rotterdam you have to use a debitcard, called OV chipkaart in Dutch. It's a 'smartcard' which makes buying and using tickets easier and can be used in lightrail, trams, buses and metro.

Touch and go
You must touch your OV chipkaart on a electronic card reader at the stations when entering and leaving them in order to validate the card or deduct funds. At the start and at the end of your journey you need to 'touch in' and 'touch out' (physical contact is not necessary but the range of the reader is only a few centimetres). Trams and buses also have readers, on the driver's ticket machine or near the other entrance doors as well.

Buying the OV chipcard
You can buy the OV chipkaart at one of the sales offices of the RET (Rotterdam's public transport company) or from the vending machines at the stations. The chipcard is also available in many supermarkets. The cards may be "recharged" at these locations as well. If you are are frequent traveller in Rotterdam you can register your OV chipkaart by filling in an application form at one of the sales offices of the RET. Registration in this way offers you insurance for loss or theft and allows you to buy any product for the card and to use the auto-recharge functionality.

Disposable OV chipkaart
If you are a tourist and visit Rotterdam just for a limited number of days you can use a temporary OV chipkaart. There are three types of temporary OV chipkaart:

1) Two hours OV chipkaart
The Two hours OV chipkaart allows you to use tram, metro, bus and lightrail during two hours. The 2 hours start after your first 'touch-in'. You are allowed to change lines but your last 'touch-in' has to be done before 2 hours after your first 'touch-in'. Your card will automaically expire after 2 hours and 15 minutes after your first 'touch-in'. The Two hours OV chipkaart costs € 3,50.

2) Two trips OV chipkaart
The Two trips OV chipkaart allows you to use tram, metro, bus and lightrail during two different trips of one hour. Once your first travel hour is over the second hour will start when 'touch-in' again. You are allowed to change lines during your trip but your last 'touch-in' has to be done before 1 hour after your first 'touch-in'. Your trip will automaically expire after 1 hours and 15 minutes after your first 'touch-in'. The Two trips OV chipkaart costs € 4,.

3) One, Two or Three days OV chipkaart
The one day OV chipkaart allows you to use tram, metro, bus during one day. It can not be used at night buses. A One day OV chipkaart costs € 6,00 but there's a reduced fare of € 3,00 for children aged 4 through 11 and senior citizen (age 65 and older). Childeren under 4 travel free.

Once your temporary OV chipkaart has been used you are not able to recharge the card and you can keep the card as a souvenir!

Rotterdam Welcome Card
If you're going to visit some of Rotterdam's attractions, museums or restaurants as well you'd better buy the Rotterdam Welcome Card. This card includes free public transportation for 1, 2 or 3 days but will give you some great discounts on entrance fees and menus as well. You can find more information at the Rotterdam Welcome Card page.