Finding my way: Trying public transport in the Netherlands
By Shiwani Dhiman
When I arrived in the Netherlands, I noticed something immediately. Around me, people were meeting their families, hugging, laughing, loading bags into cars and taxis, and already on their way home. And there I was with my suitcases, standing still for a moment in the middle of the airport. No familiar face waiting, just that bright blue NS Intercity sign above me and a ticket machine that honestly didn’t even look like a ticket machine at first.
I could have taken a taxi like everyone else. But something in me said, "Let’s try public transport". So I followed the signs, bought my ticket, and rolled my suitcase toward the platform. That was my first real step into the Netherlands, trusting the system and myself at the same time. Now, after living here for a year and a half, I can say that the decision shaped my everyday life more than I expected.
The day I met the yellow trains
In India, trains feel like old friends. You go to the station, buy a ticket in cash, wait and board. Simple and familiar. Here, it is also simple, but in a modern way. I downloaded the 9292 app, checked my train, looked up at those clear blue signs, and felt that first-week-in-a-new-country nervousness and excitement. Where is the counter? Where are the people?
There was no queue. Just a vending machine, which works in English, too. I tapped, chose my route, and my ticket slid out. Within two weeks, I stopped buying paper tickets and switched to the OV-chipkaart. Tap in. Tap out. Green light. Go. It felt like joining the rhythm of the country. The friendly Sprinter, and a quiet hum. Then came the NS Intercity trains, big, yellow, calm and quietly confident. And in Overijssel, Blauwnet trains feel like friendly neighbours. Every network has its own character, but one thing stays the same: sit, breathe, and the country carries you.
Inside, there is free Wi-Fi, space for bikes, family seats and silent coaches. Sometimes, I just sit and watch the fields, water, cows and sky glide by. The Netherlands doesn’t show off. It works in a steady hum.
A driver who made my day
Once, on my way to Schiphol from The Hague, I asked the driver if the train was going to the airport. "Yes, especially for you", he said, and he smiled. We laughed. At Schiphol, he stepped out and said, "See? I brought you here as promised". It was such a small act of kindness, but when you’re new, small feels big.
I also once tapped on the wrong pole. A member of staff said gently, "Don’t do this again, okay?" I never forgot. Because the tone was human, not transactional.
Planning, patience, and ten extra minutes
Trains here are famously on schedule, though sometimes there are strikes or maintenance. But the best part? They tell you in advance. The apps actually work. My best rule: trust the app, and always keep ten extra minutes. Those minutes can save you a sprint.
Slow trains, still magic
People joke that local trains are slow. I think they’re steady and sure. They take you to towns that look like postcards in the Netherlands. I have slept, woken up to canals and cows, and smiled every time. It feels peaceful, not rushed.
A bus system that trusts you
In India, buses are the queen and pride of the road, but here they dominate the route in their own way. You say hi to the driver, tap your card, and sit down. No conductor shouting, no chaos. When your stop is near, you press a small red button, ding, and the bus simply stops. I still remember feeling oddly proud the first few times I did it right.
The last kilometre belongs to the bicycle
Back home, auto-rickshaws or taxis complete your journey. Here, bicycles do. I have always taken the bicycle, even in the dark night, without fear, because there are dedicated paths, street lights, and safe roads, even in winter. That last short ride home after getting off the train feels special. Cold hands sometimes, but a warm feeling always.
What this system really taught me
Public transport here didn’t just teach me routes and schedules. It taught me life skills:
- Confidence in a place that was new
- Independence from day one
- Trust in structure and information
- Patience and planning without stress
- Comfort in simplicity
- That you can belong before you fully understand everything
It showed me that a country can welcome you quietly, not through grand gestures but through systems that work, polite signs, helpful staff and small everyday kindness.
If you're new here, too
Say yes to the trains. Tap in, tap out, either with your card or OV. Follow the signs. Ask if you’re unsure because most people can speak English in the Netherlands. Press the bus button with confidence. And give yourself time to look out the window. The Netherlands grows on you not all at once, but in quiet moments between stations.
One day, without realising it, you’ll tap in like a local, cycle home at sunset, and think, Yes… I’m getting the hang of this. And that moment really feels good.
I am not a writer, at least not yet. What I am is a perceiver and envisioner. I observe things, people, places, and everyday moments, and I try to create a picture out of them. A picture that tells a story. Then, I try to put that imagination into words. One day, I aim to become a storyteller, someone who sits in one place, in front of an audience, and tells the stories of beautiful places and people.
Stories that aren’t always loud but are full of life, stories that stay with you. Until then, I’m observing, feeling, and learning one detail, one conversation, and one walk in the rain at a time.Read more