The Netherland's FAMOUS double-deck train has THIS big problem...​

Today, we'll be taking a look at the famous Dutch VIRM train, to see if this train live up to its international hype!

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Journey Details:
Origin: Amsterdam Centraal
Destination: Rotterdam Centraal
Company: Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train: NS 9500 'VIRM'
Accommodation: First Class Seat (1st)
Distance: 85 kilometres / 53 miles
Price: €28.22 (£23.80 / $29.70)
Time: 1 hour 13 minutes, arrived 1 minute early

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Find me elsewhere:

[enigmadrath]

Dutchie here. What you're really paying for when you buy 1st class tickets is the guarantee that you'll be seated in a section that isn't overcrowded during rush hours 😂 Otherwise there really isn't that much of an upgrade between 1st and 2nd class.

[MatthieuDeW]

One of the reasons why most NS trains don't meet the expected sanitary standards as of late is lack of personnel. Last I checked the company was looking for at least 20, 000 new staff members, mostly stewards and cleaning personnel.

[keizervanenerc]

A shame you got the old dirty original '90s version instead of a cleaner and more modernized refurbished. It's unlucky too. Most VIRMs are refurbished by now.

[BuzzinsPetRock]

A few things (as a Dutchy)
- These trains have been overhauled, and unless I am mistaken, you travelled on a train that wasn't overhauled yet (the striping on the outside is different).
- Fun fact: In the original versions of these trains, there used to be a trolley service that sold drinks and snacks, to accommodate this there was a small lift in between the stairs going up and down from the balcony area (where you get in). As the trolley service wasn't a success, they cancelled it and the lifts were removed in the newer designs.
- As others have pointed out: It's Laan van Nieuw-Oost Indië not Oosteinde (noi would not make sense then)
- I personally have never travelled first class on any Dutch trains for the simple reason that the extra price isn't worth it. Most people I know will only ever travel first class if they can get their employer to pay for it.
- There is also another type of double decker train in use (DDZ), that were originally mostly used for stopper services. (they have all been overhauled as well)
- The times listed on the platform boards are always departure times, not arrival times, don't let those fool you into thinking your train arrived early :) (It might have done, but you'll have to look it up in the official time tables)
- The toilets aren't usually this bad, at least not on the lines I would travel....but the overall hygiene is a problem as usually the turn around for trains is very short.

[MartinIbert]

The "soap powder dispenser" is actually a soap mill. You have to turn it by hand to shave off soap from a solid bar of soap inside, so you need a lot of turns to get a meaningful amount of soap. Provided that there actually is a soap bar in there of course. Outside of trains (some German trains have them, too), the last time I saw soap mills was in primary/elementary school, back in the Seventies.

[siem]

yea this is pretty much how i expected this review to go, i ride the virm almost everday. the trains are find to get to work and back. the seat are nice. the luggage issue is quit known. esspecially on the trains to and form Schiphol, there is just no where to go with a big suitcase. and the dirtyness is also sometimes annoying. the NS has been struggeling with this for a while and it has got a lot worst during and after corona. during rush hour these rains can be supidly full.

[amrastheluckywoof]

If multi-level stations impress you, you should visit Antwerp. The station has 3 levels with tracks, and at street level, there's a gallery with shops.
And of course, the station building is one of the most beautiful in the world.

[patrickjane]

I love this channel mainly because he's not one of those vloggers who is constantly talking loudly into the camera while being a menace to the others while doing it. The footage is outstanding, the speech, the script, everything is top notch. Keep it up man!

[Mr.Nobody]

Just some information.
The current Haarlem station is actually the third station that was build in Haarlem and opened in 1908. The first station was build in 1839 at the place where the big maintenance workshop is before the bridge over the river.
And the station in Den Haag is called Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië, not Oosteinde (that was the old name)

[martijn_sch]

There are a few remarks on this video:
- Nowadays you can acces the station using your debit or credit card. When checking out with the same card, the travel fare will be debited from your card at the end of the day. This system called OVpay can be used all over the country on all public transport.
- Almost all VIRM trains are refurbished, this is an old one wich is not refurbished yet. The new one is definetly better.
- The first station in Den Haag (Laan van NOI) its name is actually: Den Haag Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië ('Avenue of the New East Indies')
- The other station in Den Haag (HS) its name is actually: Den Haag Hollands Spoor, wich got its name from a former railway company merged in to NS.

[DasunBuwanekaLiyanaarachchi]

You mentioned this as long distance train, but it is practically commuter train as well . Acrtually this is one option I use from my commute from Den Haag to Amsterdam .

[bluesky]

I have taken the train from Amsterdam to Den Haag (via beautiful Haarlem) daily for 4 years. The wifi in the train was wonderful

[justint.]

Damn, you got the one train they haven't modernised. That's a shame to be fair. If you got the new train, they would be much better in my opinion.

[bluesky]

I like your honesty. Most European travelers paint a very rosy picture about all European trains and treat all Indian trains (and ofcourse lovely coutry India) like dirt and of course love to show poverty and cows on roads and snake charmers if they can (they have a fixed stereotypical mind set). They do not show the nicer side of India. I am an American but fan of India.

[Andrewjg_]

I know that the UK can’t have double decker trains because of bridge height restrictions but these double decker trains are massive and can handle more passengers.

[Mele]

Great video, great pronunciation and great info. I do feel the urge to correct you on Den Haag. It is true this is the seat of both government and parliament and this can be confusing as it is not a capital city (not even a shared or a secondary one). There is only one capital city and this is Amsterdam as defined by the Dutch constitution.

[samtrak]

The boxy "modern" entrance destroys the elegant facade of Amsterdam Central.

[botalm]

There ARE some small mountains in Netherlands! Down in the Maastricht area.

[ercanyilmaz]

Thank you for this good presentation. As a resident of the Netherlands, I can say that ticket prices keep going up, while cuts are made in services. The result is the dirt in the train and missing staff to ask questions and so on.

[Nourdindan]

If ur a student in the Netherlands u can also ask the government for a little "Studenten OV" (Student Public Transport) card that will make the cost of traintravel a debt, BUT if you get your diploma (dagree) within 10 years of getting the studenten OV then the debt will be revoked, which basically makes public transport free for most students in the Netherlands, busses included. As long as you get ur diploma within 10 years. You do pay in the weekend but its 80% off. (you can also choose to have the "Free" trips in the weekend and pay 80% off during the schoolweek)