Passengers traveling on trains in the Netherlands will soon be required to keep their bags off passenger seats, even when carriages are largely empty, under a new policy introduced by Dutch rail operator NS.

The company says the change is intended to make it easier for passengers to find a seat without having to ask fellow travelers to move their belongings.

“Your Bag Didn’t Buy a Ticket”

NS has summarized the new policy with the slogan, “Your bag didn’t buy a ticket.”

Under the current rules, passengers are allowed to place bags on adjacent seats but must move them if another traveler wants to sit down. However, many people are reluctant to ask someone to clear a seat, while others ignore crowded conditions by leaving their belongings on empty seats.

One of Passengers’ Biggest Complaints

According to passenger rights association Rover, bags occupying seats rank among the three most common sources of frustration for train passengers, alongside loud phone conversations and playing music without headphones.

NS hopes that making empty seats the default expectation will eliminate awkward conversations between passengers and create a more comfortable travel experience.

“The goal of this change is simply to avoid disputes over the issue. We want the new norm to be that bags are kept on passengers’ laps or placed on the luggage rack,” the railway operator said.

No Fines Planned

NS has not announced any financial penalties for passengers who leave bags on seats. Instead, the railway operator expects the rule to become widely accepted through awareness campaigns and changing social norms.

Rover points to the success of the Netherlands’ “quiet carriages,” where prominent signage and peer pressure have gradually encouraged passengers to respect the rules without the need for widespread enforcement.