Frequently asked questions about the OV-fiets

You can rent an OV-fiets using a personal OV-chipkaart with a free OV-fiets season ticket or an NS Flex season ticket.

The rental starts as soon as you open the lock at the rental location.

1. Before picking up an OV-fiets at a rental location, always check that it is locked with the ring lock. 
2. Hold your OV-chipkaart with OV-fiets season ticket against the lock. If the ring lock opens, your rental has started. A green light blinks on the lock.

Do you rent an OV-fiets with a key?
Then have the bike key and your OV-chipkaaret scanned by an employee. At a self-service location, you get access with your OV-chipkaart. Then follow the instructions on (the display of) the rental location. 

You can rent an OV-fiets at one of almost 300 rental locations near stations, bus stops and P+R facilities.

See all of the rental locations
 

You can see how many OV-fiets bicycles are available by checking your chosen rental location online.

The availability information is updated every 15 minutes, so it may not reflect actual availability.

Find a rental location

No, you cannot reserve an OV-fiets in advance. You can see how many OV-fiets bicycles are available by checking your chosen rental location online. 

The number of OV-fiets bicycles available is updated every 15 minutes, so it may not reflect actual availability.

Find a rental location

The maximum rental period for an OV-fiets is 21 days.

Important: from January 1, 2025, the maximum rental period will be 7 days.

Yes, with one OV-chipkaart you can open and rent one or two bikes. 

Do you rent an OV-fiets with a key?
In a guarded bicycle parking, the employee scans your OV-chipkaart twice. In a self-service bicycle parking facility, you go through the rental process twice at the terminal.

Find a rental location

No, you cannot rent an OV-fiets with an anonymous OV-chipkaart. To rent an OV-fiets, you must have a personal OV-chipkaart with a free OV-fiets season ticket or an NS Flex season ticket.

No, you cannot. To rent an OV-fiets, you must have a personal OV-chipkaart with a free OV-fiets season ticket or an NS Flex season ticket.

No, you cannot. To rent an OV-fiets, you must have a personal OV-chipkaart with a free OV-fiets season ticket or an NS Flex season ticket.

Simply return the OV-fiets to the same location where you rented it. If you would like to return it to another location, you will be charged a € 10 fee.

1. Place the bicycle in the OV-fiets zone of the rental location.
2. Then press the button briefly. The light flashes green. Close the lock by pushing the lever on the right side down.

Your rental ends when the ring lock is closed in the OV-fiets zone of the rental location. The light on the lock then flashes blue.

Do you rent an OV-fiets with a key?
Then the rental stops as soon as you have the bicycle key scanned by an employee or hand it in according to the instructions at a self-service location.

Yes, but you will be charged an extra fee of € 10. This extra fee is for the cost of returning the bicycle to the original location. If you return the OV-fiets to another location at the same station, you will not be charged an extra return fee. 

That's a shame! In this case, please contact NS Customer Service. We would be happy to help you.

Did you rent a bicycle with a new lock?
Make sure you always close the ring lock of the bicycle in the OV-fiets zone of the rental location. Only then will your rent stop.

If you cannot return the OV-fiets or the key, for example because the storage location is already closed, then simply lock the bicycle and place it near the storage location. Then put the key in the blue drop box at the return location.

Next, contact NS Customer Service to end your rental period. You are still liable for the risks (such as theft) of leaving the bicycle unattended.
 

Close the door to the locker and start the return procedure over again. 

If there are no other bicycle lockers available, 
please lock the OV-fiets and park it in the bike rack next to the OV-fiets locers, then return the key to the blue drop box at the location.

Then please contact NS Customer Service to tell us where you parked the OV-fiets and to stop your rental period.

The OV-fiets rental stops automatically when you lock the bike with the ring lock in an OV-fiets zone of a rental location.

Do you rent a OV-fiets with a key? Then the rental stops as soon as an employee scans your OV-chipkaart or you turn in the key at a self-service location.

Have you already returned the bicycle but the rental is still running?
How annoying! Please contact the NS Customer Service. They can stop the rental for you.

Renting an OV bike with a new lock and want to return it to a rental location with only bikes with a key? Please contact the NS Customer Service, so they can stop the rental for you.

Send us an e-mail via info@ov-fiets.nl with the subject line 'OV-fietssleutel kwijt'.

In the correspondence, please include the OV-fiets number (see the fender or bike frame), the rental location and the date and time when you lost the OV-fiets key. You will be charged for the cost of a replacement key.

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1. Report the theft to the police immediately.
2. Contact us
   Send us an e-mail via info@ov-fiets.nl with the subject: 'OV-fiets gestolen'. Remember to mention the OV-fiets number (see the key or the fender/frame), the rental location and the date or time that the OV-fiets or key was stolen.
3. Send us a copy of the police report and/or the key
   Send a copy of the police report and/or the key (if you have it) to our address:
   NS Klantenservice Afdeling OV-fiets
   Postbus 2572
   3500 GN Utrecht

When an OV-fiets is stolen, you will be charged a deductible. If you do not send a police report and the key to the OV-fiets, then you will be charged for the new value of the OV-fiets. 

See all of the prices

Bring the OV-fiets back to the location where you rented it. The tyre will be fixed or replaced free of charge. If you have your bike repaired elsewhere, we will not reimburse your expenses.

If you return it to another rental location, you will be charged a € 10 fee. 
 

Always bring the OV-fiets back to the same rental location. Please report the defect to the rental location or contact NS Customer Service. When you report the damage to us, please report the bicycle number as well. This number is visible on the bicycle's fender or frame.

If the damage to the OV-fiets was caused by reckless use, you will be charged for the cost of the damage.
 

Watch the light on the lock as you try to open the bike.

Does this light flash red and does it give an error sound?
If you are still at the rental location, this means that you do not have an OV-fiets season ticket on your pass and therefore cannot rent a bicycle with this pass. When you're out and about, the bike you're trying to open is probably not the bike you rented.

Is the light flashing purple?
Then check whether the lock is open properly. Otherwise, try to close and open the lock again.

Still not working?
Then please contact NS Customer Service.

We're pleased to hear that you have helped us find a lost bicycle. The maximum rental period for an OV-fiets is 21 days. Please contact NS Customer Service. They will check if the bicycle is still rented out, and will collect it if that is not the case. 

Remember to note the bike number(visible on the fender or bike frame) and the location where you found the OV-fiets.
 

The fee for renting an OV-fiets is € 4.55 per day (24 hours). After the first 3 days (72 hours), the rent is € 9.55 per day. Because you will be charged an additional fee of € 5 per day.

 The fees will be automatically debited from your account every month. The season ticket that allows you to rent an OV-fiets is available for free.

See all of the OV-fiets prices

You simply pay afterwords via a monthly invoice.

The fee for renting an OV-fiets is € 4.55 per day (24 hours). After the first 3 days (72 hours), the rent is € 9.55 per day. Because you will be charged an additional fee of € 5 per day.

 The fees will be automatically debited from your account every month. The season ticket that allows you to rent an OV-fiets is available for free.

See all of the OV-fiets prices

No, the OV-fiets is not free for students. But as a student, you can order a free OV-fiets season ticket and download it to your personal OV-chipkaart. Then you will pay the normal rental fees when you use an OV-fiets.

Order a free OV-fiets season ticket

You can find the invoices for your rentals under the 'Payment overview' heading in Mijn NS. This overview shows the costs for OV-fiets rentals under the heading NS Fiets.

Check whether you may have rented the OV-fiets for a longer period than you thought. You pay per 24 hours. If you return the bicycle to another rental location, you will also be charged an extra fee. 

See all of the OV-fiets prices

Doesn't this explain the extra amount?
Then please contact NS Customer Service. We would be happy to help you.
 

No, you cannot rent an OV-fiets with a child seat. OV-fiets bicycles are only available to rent in the standard model.

No, the OV-fiets is not equipped with a telephone holder. Please note that you may risk a fine for cycling with your telephone in your hand.

If you are cycling somewhere where you do not know the route, then you can bring along your own telephone holder, or you can activate the navigation voice settings (via the speaker or earphones) and keep the telephone in your pocket.
 

You can open the lock with your OV-chipkaart. Simply hold the OV-chipkaart against the lock: the lock will open and your rental period will start automatically.

You can lock your OV-fiets along the way as often as you like. The OV-fiets can only be opened using your own OV-chipkaart. Always remember to close the ring lock when you return the OV-fiets. Your rental period will end the moment you close the ring lock inside the OV-fiets zone at the rental location.
 

Starting a rental at the rental location

The rental starts as soon as you open the lock at the rental location. Before you pick up an OV-fiets at a rental location, always check first whether it is locked with the ring lock.

1. Hold your OV-chipcard with OV-fietsabonnement against the lock. When the ring lock opens, your rental has started. A green light flashes on the lock.

Opening the lock during your journey.

You can only open the lock on your OV-fiets with your own OV-chipkaart.

1. Hold your OV-chipcard with OV-fietsabonnement against the lock. When the ring lock opens, a green light on the lock flashes.
2. Press the button for 3 seconds. A green light comes on: you can unlock the chain.

Can't open the lock?
See what you can do.

Locking the bicycle during your rental.

You can lock your OV-fiets along the way as often as you like. Here's how:

1. First press the button for 3 seconds to release the chain. 
2. Secure the bike with chain lock to something. Put the chain back in the lock.
3. Then press the button briefly. The light on the lock flashes green. Close the ring lock by pushing down the lever on the right side.

Ending a rental at the rental location

1. Put the bike in the OV-fiets zone of the rental location.
2. Then press the button briefly. The light will blink green. Close the lock by pushing down the lever on the right-hand side.

Your rental ends when the ring lock is closed in the OV-fiets zone of the rental location. The light on the lock will then flash blue.

You can cycle on an OV-fiets from 1.55m up to approximately 1.95m. You can adjust the saddle.