Passing the gates at NS stations » NS seasonticket together with an Belgian or German seasonticket
If you regularly travel across the border with a NS seasonticket in combination with a Belgian railways (NMBS) or German railways (DB) seasonticket, it is possible in a number of cases to request a square barcode that will remain active for a longer period. This barcode can be used to open gates at a NS station. The barcode validity period is the same as that of the corresponding seasonticket.
Conditions
You can request a square barcode that will remain active for a longer period if you have an Belgian or German seasonticket together with one of the following NS seasontickets:
Weekend Vrij
Dal Vrij
OV Studentenreisproduct
Why is it recommended to open the gates with this barcode that remains active for a longer period?
If you use an OV-chipkaart [public transport smart card] to open the gates during a cross-border journey, you always pay the boarding fee. This is because you cannot check out abroad.
Please note: If you have an Altijd Vrij, OV Vrij, Trein Vrij, Kids Vrij or Traject Vrij for international travel seasonticket, you can nevertheless use the OV-chipkaart as a 'key' to open the gates. Nothing is deducted from your balance. If a boarding fee is charged at all, it will automatically be corrected.
For Traject Vrij with international borders the boarding fee is deducted at first, but this will be corrected automatically afterwards.
For Traject Vrij to an international station the boarding fee is deducted, you will have to correct this yourself once, after that, the boarding fee will be corrected automatically afterwards.
What next
Are you eligible for a square barcode that remains active for a longer period?
Fill in the form by clicking on the button Request KeyCard, or send an e-mail to keycard@ns.nl
State the number of your OV-chipkaart.
Add a scanned copy of your Belgian or German seasonticket.
Next steps
You will receive an email with the barcode within five working days. Use this instead of your OV-chipkaart to open the gates at the departure and arrival stations in the Netherlands.
If you need to travel within five working days after you have applied for the barcode, you can open the gates with your OV-chip card and ask for a refund of the boarding fee. This can be done up to three times per year. For further information, check the Forget to check in or out page on the NS website.