It's easy to buy an OV-chipkaart at a station. Just follow the on-screen prompts at the yellow ticket machines, or ask for one at a service desk. At Schiphol, the ticket machines are located right next to the escalators that descend to the train platforms.

Yes, you can easily buy an anonymous OV-chipkaart at Schiphol Airport immediately upon arrival. The most convenient places to purchase one are the blue and grey "Public Transport Tickets" machines located in the baggage reclaim area and at Schiphol Plaza (near the train station entrance). You can also buy them from the NS (Dutch Railways) service desks if you prefer to speak with a person. The card itself costs a non-refundable fee of €7.50, and you must "load" it with credit to use it for trains, buses, trams, and metros. It is important to remember that to travel by train, the card must have a minimum balance of €20, while for buses and trams, a smaller balance is sufficient. In 2026, many travelers are also opting for OVpay, which allows you to simply tap your contactless debit or credit card at the gates instead of buying a physical chipkaart, though the physical card remains useful if you plan on adding specific multi-day travel products or discounted passes.