Public transport smart cards should be free, says ombudsman

The Dutch public transport ombudsman says travellers should not have to pay to renew their public transport smart card (ov-chipkaart) when it expires, broadcaster Nos says on Monday. The cards expire after five years and users have to pay €7.50 to buy a new one. In addition, people with anonymous cards have to send back the old card and provide bank account information to the NS to reclaim any money left on the card.