OV-chipcard obligatory for all public transport in Holland

As of tomorrow, July 9 2014, travelling by train in the Netherlands is only possible with an OV-chipcard. This was already the case on buses, trams and metros, so now the OV-chipcard is the only option for all public transport in the Netherlands.

The OV-chipcard has a chip inside onto which money can be loaded. This money can be used in all public transport in the Netherlands.

For incidental users such as tourists, it is still possible to buy single-use OV-chipcards. They are much like old-fashioned tickets, but they have no information printed on them about what you bought. This information is in the chip, and is only machine-readable.

On Amsterdam buses and trams you can buy single-use cards, which you can throw away after use.
Single-use OV-chipcards can also be bought for train rides. A surcharge of 1 Euro per train ticket applies. A train ride from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam is now E 4.

NS (the Dutch railways company) will have information staff available on all major train stations for the next few days, to inform the public about the change.
For more information NS provides info in English on this website.