In the past, every student received a student public transport card. This was a physical card that you had to carry with you. In January 2010, this card was replaced by a “student travel product” that can be loaded onto the digital public transport chip card. You must choose whether you want a weekly pass or a weekend pass. With a weekly pass, you can travel for free between 4:00 a.m. on Monday morning and 4:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, and at a discount outside these times. With a weekend pass, you can travel for free between 12:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon and 4:00 a.m. on Monday morning, and at a discount outside these times.
Student travel product
The student travel product is part of student finance. A student is entitled to a student travel product for the entire duration of their studies plus one year. With a student travel product, a student can travel for free or at a discount on public transport. A student automatically receives a weekly pass, which can be exchanged for a weekend pass. The student travel product is a performance-related grant. The performance-related grant is a provisional loan, which is only converted into a gift if the student obtains a diploma within 10 years. Students can also choose not to use the student travel product. It is possible to use a free DalVoordeel season ticket for one more year as an ex-student. Click here for more information.
Applying for a travel product
If you are eligible for student finance, you are eligible for a student public transport card. A student is entitled to a student travel product for the entire duration of their studies plus one year. This is the nominal duration of the course + 1 year.
To obtain a student travel product, you must be enrolled as a student and have applied for student finance from DUO. First, apply for a personal OV-chipkaart for €7.50 via www.ov-chipkaart.nl. You can then link your OV-chipkaart to the student travel product via www.studentenreisproduct.nl. After that, you will need to collect the student travel product from an OV-chipkaart charging point. If you would like to know more about the exact regulations, please visit the DUO and/or student travel product websites.
How long am I entitled to the student public transport pass?
The rule for how long you can have your student public transport pass is the nominal duration of your studies plus one year’s extension. After you graduate, you must cancel your student public transport pass, even if you graduated earlier.
Example
If you are doing a 4-year bachelor’s degree, you are in principle entitled to the student travel card for 5 years, and if you then go on to do a 1-year master’s degree, another year will be added. If you graduate within 4 years, your student travel card will no longer be valid.
Are you entitled to travel and are you going to study abroad for a while?
If you are studying abroad and are not using your student public transport pass, you are entitled to a public transport allowance. For 2019, this is €95.51 per month. If you are following a full course abroad, this will be arranged automatically when you apply for your portable student finance. Are you going abroad for a shorter period? Then you can apply for a travel allowance from DUO.
How do I cancel my student public transport pass?
You can easily cancel your student travel product with your public transport chip card at a collection machine. For the exact procedure for cancelling, go to www.studentenreisproduct.nl. To find your nearest collection machine, go to www.ov-chipkaart.nl. For the exact regulations regarding the student travel product and to see if you are eligible, please visit the DUO website.
Please note! You must cancel your student travel card before the tenth of the month in which you are no longer eligible for it.
Penalty for not cancelling your travel product.
If you do not cancel your student travel pass on time, you will be fined. The fine for the first month is €81.40 per half month. If you continue to use your student travel pass, the fine will be €162.82 per half month. More information about the fine can be found at DUO.
A gift from NS!
Have you finished your studies or are your studies taking longer than planned? Then you can no longer travel for free with your student travel product. That’s why NS is giving you a gift, so you can continue to travel by train at a reduced rate! You will receive a free Dal Voordeel subscription. This allows you to travel with a 40% discount outside rush hour for a year.
Order your free Dal Voordeel subscription now!
Check ns.nl/afgestudeerd
Questions about the Student Travel Product?
If you have any questions about your Student Travel Product, please visit www.studentenreisproduct.nl. On the website, you will find information about applying for and cancelling your public transport card. If your question has not been answered in full, you can always contact the Student Line.