The Netherlands
Full interoperability in the Netherlands
The OV-Chipkaart
In 2003, Octopus was commissioned to develop and implement the core back-office component of a multi-purpose contactless smart card system for public transport in the Netherlands.
The smart card, known as the "OV-chipkaart", is the e-ticketing stored-value fare media used for travelling on metros, buses, trams, lightrails and trains nationwide.
Octopus provides the Octopus Clearing House system in addition to sharing our world-renowned expertise in public transport e-ticketing system operation.
Launched in Rotterdam in 2005, the OV-chipkaart system currently handles over 2 billion transactions per year, with more than 14 million OV-chipkaarts in circulation.
The OVpay
Since 2016, Octopus was commissioned to design and develop OVpay, which allows travellers to pay for their journeys using contactless debit and credit cards, or open-loop credentials in mobile device in Netherlands.
Octopus provides back office account-based ticketing system in partnership with other public transport solution providers. On 31 January 2023, passengers on Dutch Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) trains across the country can use OVpay to travel.
6M
Transactions Per Day
Metro
Bus
Tram
Train
>17M
Population
14M
Cards & Products
in circulation
- OVpay rolled out with Dutch Nederlandse Spoorwegen train (NS) and is in progress rolling out to all public transport operators nationwide.
- OVpay launched in major cities such as Lelystad, Gooi en Vechtstreek, Zaanstreek, Zwolle, Delft and Amsterdam.
- Octopus was commissioned to develop and implement the new account-based ticketing system for travel with contactless credit and debit cards.
- Octopus provides to the transport payment scheme operator back-office systems implemented based on Octopus' world-renowned expertise in public transport e-ticketing payment operations.
- The OV-chipkaart was extended to Amsterdam
- Launched in Rotterdam
- Octopus was commissioned to develop and implement the core back-office of a multi-purpose contactless smart card system for public transport in the Netherlands.