The national tariff system ( or nationale vervoerbewijzen/NVB) is a ticketing and zoning scheme for local public transport in the Netherlands. It was designed as a nationwide scheme but is being phased out (see section on validity, below) and replaced by the OV-chipkaart. With the abolition of the strippenkaart (strip card) on 3 November 2011, only the sterabonnement (Star subscription) remains organized under the national tariff system. The system does not apply to Dutch Railways (NS), which have their own pricing regime; however, there are limited sections of railway (generally in urban areas or on non-NS lines) on which the system is valid.
Validity The national tariff system applies on most local bus and tram routes, with the exception of special tourist and leisure services, express services, night buses; and buurtbussen, which are neighbourhood services run by volunteers. In addition, it no longer applies in the Amsterdam and Rotterdam regions.
Validity on the railways The system also applies to the following rail routes: Groningen – Roodeschool (Arriva) Groningen – Delfzijl (Arriva) Groningen – Nieuweschans – Leer (Germany) (Arriva) Arnhem – Winterswijk (Keolis Nederland) Zutphen – Winterswijk (Keolis Nederland) Zutphen – Oldenzaal (Keolis Nederland) Zutphen – Apeldoorn (NS) Between all stations in The Hague, Rijswijk and Voorburg Maastricht Randwyck – Maastricht – Heerlen (Arriva) Sittard – Kerkrade (Arriva) Between all stations in Rotterdam, Capelle a/d IJssel, Schiedam and Vlaardingen Utrecht Overvecht – Utrecht Centraal – Utrecht Lunetten
Tickets
Strippenkaart
The strippenkaart, introduced on 1 October 1980 and abolished on 3 November 2011, was a ticket composed of several strips, to be validated when used. Passengers either validated the ticket themselves in a machine, or got it stamped by the driver or conductor. The number of strips to be cancelled was always the number of zones travelled plus one, up to a maximum of 20 strips. The stamped ticket was valid for an hour for two to four strips, up to three-and-a-half hours for 17 to 20 strips.
Strippenkaart tickets were available in denominations of two, three, eight, 15 and 45 strips. Reduced tariff tickets were only available in 15-strip versions. An eight-strip ticket could be used as a one-day ticket in The Hague and Utrecht if especially validated (at the same cost).
Strippenkaart prices () 2-strippenkaart€1.603-strippenkaart€2.408-strippenkaart€6.4015-strippenkaart€7.7015-strippenkaart (reduced rate)€5.0045-strippenkaart€22.80
Local day-ticket Den Haag or Utrecht (one 8-strippenkaart)€6,40Local day-ticket Den Haag or Utrecht, reduced rate (four strips of a 8-strippenkaart)€3,20Nationwide day-ticket full fare (two 8-strippenkaarten) €12,80Nationwide day-ticket reduce fare (one 8-strippenkaart) €6,40
Strippenkaarten were sold by tobacconists, supermarkets, tourist offices and public transport companies. Only the smaller denomination tickets (up to 8 strips) were available on board, hence the small difference in price between 8 and 15 strip tickets, to encourage pre-purchasing which speeds up boarding times.
The strippenkaart ceased to be valid on 3 November 2011.
Sterabonnement
The Sterabonnement (Star subscription) is the season ticket of Dutch local public transport. It is similar to the Strippenkaart in that it is zone dependent, although validity is set at the time of purchase to the number of zones chosen. The Sterabonnement is slightly different from the Strippenkaart as each ticket's validity is dependent on its "star" value (Ster is the Dutch word for star). The table below summarises the Sterabonnement's validity.
StarvalueValidity1-ster1 selected zone2-sterThe selected zone + 1 adjacent zone in each direction3-sterThe selected zone + 2 adjacent zones in each direction4-sterThe selected zone + 3 adjacent zones in each direction5-sterThe selected zone + 4 adjacent zones in each direction6-sterThe selected zone + 5 adjacent zones in each directionNAll zones in the Netherlands
Zomerzwerfkaart The Zomerzwerfkaart or "Summer roaming card" is a special ticket available only during June, July and August, which allows the bearer to travel for a whole day in the Netherlands on public transport subject to the National Tariff System. This ticket, however, is not sold by Connexxion, but is nevertheless valid on the company's services.
OV-chipkaart
See also nl.Wikipedia page about the Strippenkaart (in Dutch) nl.Wikipedia page about the OV-Chipkaart (in Dutch)
References
External links Information about the Strippenkaart system (in Dutch) GVB.nl (Amsterdam Public Transport Authority) page explaining the Sterabonnement system (in English)