Student Travel Product: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how full-time higher education students in the Netherlands can access free or discounted public transport across the country.
The Student Travel Product is a national arrangement that allows students to use the public transport network throughout the Netherlands, often for free or at a significantly reduced price.
Who it's for
This scheme is specifically designed for individuals enrolled as full-time students within the higher education system. If you are currently pursuing your studies in a higher education institution, you may be eligible to use this travel benefit to get to and from your place of study or while traveling throughout the country.
What you get
The primary benefit of this scheme is access to public transport across the Netherlands. Depending on your specific situation and enrollment status, you will receive either free travel or discounted fares. This makes commuting to lectures or traveling between cities much more affordable for students.
What it costs you
While the travel itself may be free or discounted, there is a practical requirement to use this benefit. You must possess a personal OV-chipkaart, which is the standard smart card used for public transport. The travel benefits are loaded directly onto this personal card, so you must ensure you have one to access the scheme.
The catch to know
The most important thing to remember is that this benefit does not automatically end when your studies do. If you graduate or leave your studies, you are required to manually cancel the product at a machine. If you fail to cancel it yourself once your student status ends, you may be issued a fine.
How to apply
- Confirm that you are enrolled as a full-time student in a higher education institution.
- Obtain your personal OV-chipkaart to hold your travel benefits.
- Ensure your travel product is properly loaded onto your personal card.
- Remember to manually cancel your product at a machine once you graduate to avoid fines.