Redeem your voucher in 3 steps
If you booked the Travel Ticket or Region Travel Ticket online, you got a voucher — not a usable ticket. Here's exactly how to swap it for an OV-chipkaart.
The 3-step exchange
Plan for an extra 5–10 minutes after you land.
Open your voucher on your phone
After booking on GetYourGuide, your voucher arrives by email and in the GetYourGuide app. Open whichever you have handy — the machine only needs to scan the barcode. There's no print requirement.
Find the grey-blue-red machine
At Schiphol Plaza, the OV-chipkaart machines are at the top of the escalators to platforms 1/2 and 5/6 — colourful (grey, blue, red), about waist height, with a touchscreen and a barcode scanner at the front. Open 24/7. At Amsterdam Centraal, look for the same machines on the IJ-side concourse or in the city-centre hall.
If a machine doesn't cooperate, the NS Service & Ticket counter does the same thing in 30 seconds — also 24/7 at Schiphol and at Amsterdam Centraal.
Scan the barcode, collect the card
Hold your phone screen up to the scanner. The machine prints a fresh OV-chipkaart loaded with your ticket. Take it.
From here, tap the card on every vehicle — tram door, bus pole, metro gate, train barrier — when boarding and getting off. Including when you change between operators (train to tram counts as a switch).
All redemption points
Official list from GetYourGuide. Bring the voucher.
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Schiphol PlazaGrey-blue-red machines, top of escalators platforms 1/2 or 5/624/7
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Schiphol AirportNS Service & Ticket Shops24/7
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Amsterdam Centraal — IJ sideGrey-blue-red machine24/7
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Amsterdam Centraal — IJ sideNS Service & Ticket ShopsMon–Sun 7:00–21:00
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Amsterdam Centraal — city centreNS Service & Ticket Shops24/7
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Amsterdam Centraal — city centreGVB Service & TicketsMon–Sun 8:30–19:00
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Amsterdam SloterdijkNS Service & Ticket ShopsMon–Sun 7:00–10:00
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Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenAGVB Service & TicketsMon–Fri 8:30–19:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00
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Amsterdam ZuidGVB Service & TicketsMon–Fri 8:30–19:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00
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Amsterdam NoordGVB Service & TicketsMon–Sun 10:00–18:00
What if it goes wrong?
- Machine won't read the barcode. Try the next machine — Schiphol Plaza has several side by side. Or walk straight to the NS Service & Ticket counter, which is 24/7 and faster than fighting with a screen.
- You took the card but forgot to tap in. Tap as soon as you remember — even mid-tram. The system will start counting from there. A missed check-out triggers a small penalty (around €4), so always tap out.
- You lost the card. The provider doesn't issue replacements once a card is printed. Keep it in a pocket or wallet, not loose in a bag.
- You bought the wrong ticket. Free cancellation on GetYourGuide up to 24 hours before the start time. After that, contact GetYourGuide support — they're often flexible.