In 2024 Asian Raisins received multiple reports of racist incidents on trains, the perpetrators being either fellow passengers, or in some cases, NS conductors themselves. We have found that many reports of racism on trains are not adequately addressed by NS, leaving victims feeling unheard and unsafe during their journeys.
In 2024, Asian Raisins received a report from someone who witnessed a pregnant Asian woman being shouted at, harassed, and eventually removed from the train by an NS conductor. Prior to this incident, the conductor had entered a silence compartment where several passengers were talking. She loudly stated that “passengers must be quiet” in English (instead of Dutch), specifically targeting the Asian woman. When the woman asked the conductor to speak more softly, the conductor reportedly responded, “I work here, so I can speak loudly”. She then allegedly pushed the pregnant woman and shouted, “Look at me!” to her face. The woman’s partner addressed the conductor in Dutch, and the couple decided to call the police. In response, the conductor removed both of them from the train.
Following this incident, the couple submitted a complaint to NS via email, but received no response. When they called customer service for an answer, they were referred to the police. The lack of response and appropriate action by NS demonstrates that situations like these are not taken seriously. The issue is downplayed, and reports are brushed aside.
After asking our community whether they had experienced something similar, Asian Raisins received multiple reports from passengers who experienced racism from NS staff or fellow passengers. This indicates that these are not isolated incidents but rather a structural problem.
Another example concerns a passenger who, upon boarding the train, was looked up and down by a conductor who then greeted her with “ni hao” (which means “hello” in Mandarin Chinese). At first glance, this might seem harmless or even friendly, but it is a painful example of a deeply ingrained, generalised stereotype. Expressions like this – based on implicit assumptions – are often referred to as microaggressions.
The assumption that someone is of Chinese descent, based purely on their appearance and your own prejudice, contributes to the normalisation of generalising people based on physical characteristics and racism. Such remarks reinforce the victim’s experience of exclusion, sending the message that they are ’different’ and do not belong in the Netherlands. Many people of East and Southeast Asian appearance hear similar comments on a daily basis.
In addition to the above situations, we also received reports of other incidents that occurred during NS journeys. Some of these are shared here anonymously with the consent of the victims:
Unfortunately, those who report racism to the police cannot always expect an understanding attitude. Another person went directly to the police station after a racist incident. During a journey with another transport service (RET), she had been harassed by a group of teenagers and had recorded a video of the incident on her phone. The police told her that an adult woman should not come to the police station for such matters, but should “stand more firmly in her shoes, talk to friends about it or try meditating”.
The police refused to file her report, even though it is in fact possible to report discrimination to the police. Unfortunately, this shows that the police also do not always take these reports seriously. This discourages people from filing a report, precisely because the police themselves create barriers that prevent victims from reporting racism and discrimination. While the police claim they want to encourage reports and official complaints, the process often comes to a halt at the reception desk. Resulting in those reports and statistics never materializing.
We live in a diverse society, and as a public transport service, NS should set an example in promoting inclusivity and mutual respect. Asian Raisins calls on NS to take responsibility for racism reports themselves, to handle them with more understanding and respect, and to implement concrete measures or procedures to combat racism within their organisation.
Have you experienced racism on NS, whether from an employee or a fellow passenger? You can report it to our reporting point.
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