From August 27th 2009 you will only be able to use the new OV chipkaart on the metro in Amsterdam - strippenkaarten will no longer be accepted. This is already the case on the Rotterdam metro.
It seems likely that strippenkaarten will be phased out in Amsterdam for all public transport (except possibly the trains) by the end of this year. You can already use them in the trams and most buses as well as the metro within Amsterdam.

You can read about the OV chipkaart (which is the same as the Oyster card in London basically) here: http://tinyurl.com/lzleyq and here http://tinyurl.com/krx2pr.

From what I have read, it seems very similar to the system in Singapore, which we found to be really user-friendly. The only downside is the non-refundable cost of the card itself.

Yes it is the same as Singapore too. I'd forgotten that.

The best card for tourists is the anonymous disposable card, which you buy for a certain number of days, unless you are planning to return within 5 years, when a non disposable anonymous card would be better. The downside is if you lose the card you can't get your money back with the anonymous cards.
It's important to remember to check out when leaving the bus or tram too - it can get very expensive otherwise!

het,

Can more than one person travel on the anonymous card? Meaning, if I'm with a friend, can we both use the same card for the same ride?

Another question:

Can I buy a bunch of disposable cards at one time and then use them when I get onto transport as needed?

On second thought, it appears you can buy the disposable cards in time-increments that would cover fairly long visits, yes? Like a 5-day disposable card?

Zeppole - each person must have their own card. You can buy disposable cards for periods up to 96 hours I believe, but for that length of time anonymous non-disposables may work out cheaper. They are also valid for 5 years, so you can use them again on another trip or pass them on to someone else to use. The short time period cards - the hour and two hour ones - work out seriously expensive - about twice the price of the equivalent on a strippenkaart.
It's all very new to us and confusing for us too. Not every area has introduced them yet but gradually more areas are doing so. The idea is that at the beginning of 2011 strippenkaarten are no longer valid. I think you will still be able to buy normal train tickets then, though I am not sure.
But it is important to know that the metro won't accept strippenkaarten any longer. The buses and trams in Amsterdam - or at least the GVU buses will stop accepting strippenkaarten at the end of this year I believe.

Thanks. I'm journeying to Amsterdam twice during September, so I'll guess I'll soon be the proud owner of my very own (anonymous) chipkaart.

Are they also used on the dedicated trains and buses to the airport?

No they aren't in use on the trains yet, nor on Conexxion buses.

If you aren't planning on using the Amsterdam Metro you can still get away with the strippenkaart in September.

Thanks. I probably won't use the Metro.

Thanks for posting this. A friend has just gone to work in Amsterdam and I am waiting for my invitation.

Excellent - looks like the disposable card it is for us.

I think once the people get used to it, they will like the new system.

I'm sure they will November_moon. But they keep on faffing about with it - it was supposed to have gone nationwide last year, then this...well you get the picture. Then there was all this worry about is being hackable and more arguments. It seems to be finally actually coming. Only downside is they are using it as an excuse to put up the prices too it seems

Can you buy the new 3 day cards on line? If so, please provide link...

As far as I know you can only order the personal cards online, and then only if you have a digital passport photo.
You can buy them at the GVB office by Amsterdam Centraal though.

Read this BEST deal idea!

I use a one week season pass when I travel to Amsterdam.
This will let you ride in one zone for a whole week for $12.20 Euros, one zone AND all adjacent zones in any direction for $20.10 Euros, or one zone AND two zones out in any direction for $29.95 Euros.

I use the one zone seaon pass for $12.20 Euros since I stay mainly in the Central Zone.

You will need to get a FREE (yes, I said FREE) public transport identitycard ("stamkaart")from a GVB Office or Post Office in order to purchase your season pass. When you get on a tram or bus you will need to show both your identity card, and your weekly season pass which will be dated for 7 days use.

To obtain your free stamkaart(identity card)you will need to show your passport and give them a passport photo to put on it. It is a laminated card the size of a credit card.

This identity card is valid for 5 years.

I can't use this one zone season pass to and from Schipol. This September when I arrive at Schipol, I will buy a 15 strip Strippenkaart for $7.30 Euros and take the 197 Bus to Leiseplein and get of in front of the American Hotel. This will cost 5 strips. I will use the other 5 strips when i leave on Bus 197 back to Schipol.

Hope this helps out those who go for a week to Amsterdam. I go every year for a week. Last year I was there in July.

Mark

The whole point of this post Roce48 is that all these things are ending this year in Amsterdam, and next year elsewhere in teh Netherlands. You will need to buy a personalised OV chipkaart if you want to use it as a season ticket, you won't be able to buy a week season pass. You will not be able to use a strippenkaart at all, nor any old season tickets you may have.

where does it say that?

http://www.gvb.nl/english/travellers...ory-offer.aspx
<red>The card will be introduced progressively over the coming period. And in 2009 you will <b><u>only</b></u> be able to use the OV-chipkaart to pay for public transport. </red>

I copied this from their web site Travelnut posted.

"In order to travel using your Public Transport Smart Card (OV-chipkaart), the E-purse balance on the card must be sufficient or there must be a travel product, SUCH AS A SEASON TICKET, ON THE CARD. YOU CAN BUY A SEASON TICKET AT ONE OF OUR TICKETS & INFO SERVICE POINTS. You can reload your e-purse at any of the Ticket Vending and Add Value Machines located in all our metro stations and metro stops."

It says that I can still buy a season ticket; it gets put on the OV-chipkart.

The week season pass is a good deal, and looks like it will still be available. It looks like will just be placed electronically on my OV-chipkaart.