Dutch railway company NS has introduced a new house rule covering bags placed on train seats.
The rule took effect on September 4, 2026.
“Seats are for passengers; hand luggage should not unnecessarily occupy a seat,” NS said.
Passengers should place bags in luggage areas, on the floor or on their laps when other travellers need a seat.
NS initially considered adding a full ban to its transport conditions.
After consulting passenger organisations, the company chose to include the instruction in its house rules instead.
NS said the change aims to give passengers clear guidance and help more people find seats on busy trains.
Staff can ask a passenger to remove a bag from a seat. NS will not remove passengers from a train simply because they placed luggage on a seat.
“With this measure, NS aims to help passengers make room for one another on the train in a pleasant way,” the company said.
