Travel/leisure

Hundreds of thousands of people have signed up for NS’s discounted summer rail pass, with many new customers choosing the train for the first time. The government says the promotion is helping to make public transport more attractive as fuel prices remain high.

The Dutch railway operator NS has proposed a ban on placing bags on passenger seats to free up space and reduce social friction. The company plans to change its official terms of service to make luggage racks and laps the default storage spots. While conductors will encourage compliance, NS will focus on awareness campaigns rather than issuing fines to passengers.

Train services south of Rotterdam will stop for four days next week due to major ProRail works. The project affects both domestic and international routes, including EuroCity and Eurostar services. The disruption follows an earlier suspension caused by a cable‑duct fire.

This year, almost 2,100 women are walking the longest distance of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches—a share that continues to grow. With walkers ranging from age 11 to 81 and participants from 77 nationalities, the event remains one of the Netherlands’ most diverse and celebrated walking traditions.

Holiday home providers in the Netherlands report a noticeable increase in bookings following the Dutch team’s World Cup elimination, but emphasise that weather conditions and other seasonal factors also contribute to the surge.

NS and ProRail want to introduce limits on protest sizes and noise levels at railway stations, citing concerns about safety and passenger movement. A leaked government document shows the plans are part of a broader effort to manage demonstrations while preserving the right to protest.

Children aged 4 to 11 will soon be able to travel free on all public transport across the Netherlands when accompanied by an adult. At the same time, a nationwide discount scheme for travellers aged 65 and over on buses, trams and metros will end.

The rail disruption caused by a fire that damaged about 200 cables near Rotterdam has ended. After extensive overnight repairs and testing, train services between Rotterdam and the south have returned to normal, with only minor finishing work remaining.