Beautiful stations and lovely countryside | Through Belgium and the Netherlands from Huy to Arnhem

Huy's little station may not be well known, but Liège Guillemins, the work of architect Santiago Calatrava certainly is one of the most iconic 21st century stations so far built. And if you add onto that a cathedral of a station at Maastricht and a lovely regional hub at 's-Hertogenbosch, then we are in for a great day of station spotting!
Oh and as we follow the River Meuse from Belgium into the Netherlands, there's also quite a lot of waterside scenery to be had too.
Departure: Huy, Belgium
Destination: Arnhem, The Netherlands
Operators: SNCB / NS
Date of Travel: December 2023
Total Distance: 222 km / 138 miles
On train duration: 3 hrs 11 mins
Average speed: 70 km/h 43 mph
Motive power:
+ SNCB AM08 Desiro EMU (c2012)
+ SNCB AM80 EMU (1980-1983)
+ NS VIRM (1994-2009)
+ NS ICM "Koploper" (1977-1994)
Example Costs:
+ First Class single €61,80 / £53.00
+ Second class single €38,30 / £32.90
+ I was travelling with a 1st Class Interrail 10 days in 2 months ticket
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!

[@rebeccahalpern5938]

Wow, Liège station is fantastic! Somewhere to add to my list of places to visit.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes it really is a beauty. Well worth hopping off your train for a coffee and a mooch round and then pick up the next train! Thanks for watching 👍

[@christinehodge3608]

Good video so interesting, trains are clean and looks comfortable

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks

[@berberbro]

Koploper is also Dutch for frontrunner. Which makes the name so much fun.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Haha yes. Fun name for a fun looking train! Thanks for watching 👍

[@Eurobazz]

I'll be on the first Arriva Stadler FLIRT service from Liège-Guillemins to Aachen Hbf at 07:08 hrs on Sunday, 9 June. It will be an hourly service which can accommodate BE (3kV DC), NL (1.5kV DC) and DE (15kV 16.7Hz AC).

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah. You gotta love aFLIRT. That should improve the service!

[@garrytuohy9267]

I will have to get to see Leige at some point. But if you make it to Antwerp. you might need sunglasses to protect yourself from all the bling of the old station and the amazing underground platforms. Utrect's underground Bicycle Park is also worth a look.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Great suggestions. Will definitely do more of BE and NL in the future. Thanks for watching another 👍

[@davejolaurencharlie]

Excellent (plays air guitar) 🎸

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks. Much appreciated 🎤🎤

[@kevincollis2632]

Excellent JH

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you 👍

[@timdiggle5090]

You should have stayed a little longer in Arnhem (I spent a couple of fascinating days there last summer). A 20 minute bus journey will take you to Nederlands Openluchts Museum (Dutch Open-air Museum) on the edge of town where you will find a 44 hectare park of relocated and rebuilt structures (houses, farms, windmills and factories) showing the history of Dutch architecture, industry and agriculture including a rail station and goods yard from about 1920. It is a huge area but constantly circulating are free hop-on hop-off vintage trams. Go back (after March 9th when it fully re-opens after the winter closure) and set aside a whole day - I was there for over 6 hours!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I just had a look at their website, and it looks absolutely marvellous! Yes, I really should go back one day and enjoy a whole day in the park. What excellent advice. Thank you 👍

[@ricktownend9144]

I did the Maastricht to Arnhem section twenty-five years ago - when I explored the Netherlands on a Euro-Domino ticket. The Koplopers were around then, and I travelled on several of them; this was before their refurbishment - I don't remember any power sockets! Thanks for bringing back the memories!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You are very welcome Thank you for watching 👍

[@horsehollerer]

Been looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. A fantastic poke about in some truly wonderful (and incredibly diverse!) station buildings. The Koploper was the cherry on top. Many thanks!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks very much. Liège has been on my bucket list for ages, but, to be honest, I enjoyed the whole journey and all the stations on the way, so I'm pleased you did too. Stick around, because next week is a poke around Arnhem Centraal... ...and there will be more Koplopping before I leave the Netherlands!

[@horsehollerer]

I'll be there!@@JohnnyHooverTravels

[@steamisbest]

The oldest train was the most comfortable, I wonder where i've heard that before, I think is must be the same everywhere.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

haha well yes. I could not possibly comment 😀

[@john07973]

Great video 👍 we went to Arnhem, Nijmegen and den Bosch stations from Rotterdam in December 2022 all are excellent for a short break. In Arnhem I'd recommend taking the short bus ride from the station to nearby Oosterbeek and vising the Airborne Museum Hartenstein and Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, very chastening.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, I certainly could see a whole lot more in Arnhem. But I was only there for one night. Thank you for watching 👍

[@colinriley123]

What a feast! A video I will return to often. All of this is completely new to me. Marvellous discovereries.

[@colinriley123]

Pressed the wrong button again! I was going to say you have shown again that you don't have to make an epic journey to find fascinating railway content.

[@colinriley123]

Visually your video does full justice to these wonderful buildings.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you so much. I had done this route specifically to spend time at Liège, and yes, all the other stations had their own charms too. Until the next one, kindest wishes to you 👍

[@MikeS29]

My first look at the Koploper, thank you for the explanation. Now I'll go and have my first of two breakfasts! Cheers.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Two breakfasts is always the way to go. thanks for watching 👍

[@jamesparsons8477]

Wow absolutely amazing

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks! Liège is something else.

[@eaea2332]

I like stations with canopy above the platforms.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Keeps the rain off! 👍

[@sandiandgregh]

Liège Guillemins is jaw-droppingly stunning. Nice juxtaposition on your trip between it and the more traditional stations with all of the ironwork and Maastricht with its chandeliers and stained glass. (and yes, a bonus that on THIS journey you actually could use your toaster or hair dryer on the train...LOL.) Have a great weekend!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you! All sorts of things you could plug in. Fondue maker? Raclette grill? Could have quite a party! Arnhem next...

[@turbostream7925]

I enjoyed seeing Maastricht station again, so thanks for taking us along. I travelled from Schiphol airport one Sunday winters afternoon in March 1999 to Maastricht for a trainng week, its was snowing as we pulled in. Anyway I enjoyed the trip.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for sharing your memories, and I'm pleased I was able to help you relive those times. Thank you so much for watching along 👍

[@ampersand.]

Wonderful report, thank you Mr. H. What marvellous stations; the stained glass definitely gets a 10/10. How nice that you had a sunny day for the journey - but did you find the second brekkie & sandwich good! :D

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, I suppose both Maastrict and Liège could both be said to have stained glass! Foodwise, as I'm vegetarian, I was pleased to leave Belgium behind. 2nd breakfast was pretty much croissant and coffee. The Belgian diet is definitely more meat based. But when I popped into the shop at Den Bosch for a sandwich there were five different vegan choices, just in a small railway station shop. Different cultures, different things! Part of the fun of travelling of course!

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

Yes almost every one of them squeak! always wear headphones LOL!!!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Haha yes - it isn't much of a selling point that passengers have to wear headphones! I do not think they are bad enough for NS to replace them, but if I had been another railway company, I would not be wanting to copy the design.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Nice journry and wonderful to see a Koploper as well

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

After all these years it was time I rode one! 👍

[@phronsiekeys]

They need that legroom in NL trains

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Well, it's good to see Thanks for watching 👍

[@jamesparsons8477]

Absolutely amazing buildings

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Indeed they are. Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@jamesparsons8477]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels your welcome

[@jamesparsons8477]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels thank you

[@brianmctighe]

I visited Liege Guillemans in 2013. A very impressive station. That art installation with the colored panels makes the station even better in my opinion. I hope they keep it.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, I agree. I suspect because they are just effectively vinyl stickers (albiet very big ones), they were designed to be permanent. But I was so happy to get there whilst they were still up! Thanks for watching 👍

[@rodneybaldwin2278]

's-Hertogenbosch in English means the duke's forest. It was the home of the famous 15th/16th painter Bosch.. For wonderful stations both Gent St Pieters and Antwerp Centraal are well worth visiting

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Definitely have both Gent and Antwerp on my list, as I didn't visit either of those on this trip. And I also watched a couple of videos about den Bosch when I came back and was interested to see they have a lot of street art around the city following the surreal style of the painter Bosch. Another place to go back to... Thank you so much for watching and sharing your information and ideas 👍

[@rodneybaldwin2278]

If you are still in the Netherlands try to get to visit Zaandam which has one of the quirkiest stations in the country if not in Europe. The rest of the town is worth a visit. If you have left the country put it in your list of places to visit. Best wishes@@JohnnyHooverTravels

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@rodneybaldwin2278 added to the list 👍

[@barvdw]

Just a head's up, the station in Gent is a big construction site at the moment, as they are replacing the old platforms with new ones, and enlarging the space underneath the tracks for more commercial space. The old platforms do look rather nice, with their old canopies, but they are low (just 28 cm above the track), and the old arched access tunnel is hugely under capacity, so while aesthetically pleasing, the station wasn't up to task anymore. The new platforms (already the higher numbers are operational) are nice, large, very accessible, but may lack a bit of the charm of the old ones. The station building itself is listed and perfectly restored in the 90s, including the beautiful sgraffiti. Also check out the walls in the old waiting rooms, now converted into a pharmacy and a Starbucks, respectively.

[@terryosullivan2620]

Another great video John Am just back a couple of weeks ,was on I think 15 trains . Used Brussels as my base. Great trip for me. But Antwerpt station is just beautiful. John i visited the train musem in Scarsbeek just outside brussels was there about 2 .30 minutes . Great place to visit.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks! I couldn't fit in Antwerp this time, but I will get back there. Thanks for the Scarsbeek tip 👍

[@librarian16]

I wouldn'thave been able totravel with you because of all the steps on the trains. 😮

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Good point. Although I would expect that all European carriers would make reasonable adjustments for travellers unable to make the steps. Thanks for coming along in spirit 👍

[@Timstravels01]

Great stuff, what a variety of stations and trains. I’ll be in The Netherlands in February and this has truly whetted my appetite for some rail travel while I’m there.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Excellent to hear you are going too. Looking forward to your take on their trains and places 👍

[@harriscouwenberg139]

Antwerp Central Station is also superb

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. It is on my list to visit soon 👍

[@edwardvd54]

Lovely to see my country in your video. I definitely prefer Koploper over VIRM as well. There's no tram in Liège yet. I think it will open January 2025.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you. Trams are very useful, but building them does mess things up for a while!

[@Keikdv]

Canopies at Den Bosch have been restored to the original version. You can see an old one at 17:00 You were lucky on the "Koploper" (speak "Koploooopers for a correct tone) units to Arnhem. They are not on that route from december 2023. Too bad you did not visit Nijmegen for another old station. Arnhem is quite the oposite of old since it's renovation.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I do love those curved canopies. I'm so pleased they restored them. I suspect I will do more mangling of the Dutch language in future videos so please accept my advance apologies. I will try to remember to call them Koploooopers from now on. Although I've already done a couple of future vids where it will be wrong. Arnhem pops up this week on the channel. I will have to go back for Nijmegen! Thank you so much for watching 👍

[@chris1978nl]

Great review, lucky you got on the ICM, imo the best train the Netherlands have. Wished the NS would upgrade them one more time or make a new version of this beast, but too bad the NS has chosen for the ICNG (InterCity New Generation), i seldom get the chance to ride in one if i need a trainride.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for the kind words. I hope to return to the Netherlands at some point soon so I can get a ride on an ICNG. Maybe then I will understand why you are disappointed with them! Thanks too for watching 👍

[@MrJimheeren]

The NS is going to upgrade a small batch of ICMs one last time for some delays with the ICNG and to have some extra trains on hand. But they did their service for almost 40 years and keeping them around is getting more expensive every year. The ICNG is a fine train, great accessibility, fast acceleration, modern maintenance requirements, we finally get some more trains to Germany. Alstom knows what they are doing

[@harriscouwenberg139]

Good job John!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks! 👍

[@Quark0611]

One remark: the river Waal is not the Rhine in English! That's the river going through e.g. Cologne. I guess there's no decent translation for the Waal. The Rhine is called Rijn in Dutch. And the typical filthy windows on Dutch trains...

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for that. The Waal is part if tbe Rhine system though. As Wikipedia says if the Waal: "The river, which is the main channel in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta system, carries 65% of the total flow of the Rhine." Anyway... thank you so much for watching and commenting 👍

[@truebrit3578]

Interesting and excellent video. Somehow I had missed your channel, now subscribed. I am rather a fan of the railways in the Netherlands and tend to holiday in the country (from Colombia) and nearby Belgium because of that. What I like about rail services in these countries is that they are what they are meant to be. Efficient, reliable and well integrated public transport. Even buying a ticket is so much easier and logical than say the UK. UK rail travel is so much whether you get an expensive biscuit and cup of instant coffee for your premium fare. Europe focuses on getting you for point A to point B.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

thanks for subscribing - there's lots of videos (over 100) and I'm sure you will find the recent ones from around Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands particularly interesting. Welcome along 👍

[@Thomas_TdK]

The roof of eindhoven station uses old bailey bridge pieces. you can see it in your video

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

How very interesting indeed. I shall go back and look! Thanks for that. 👍

[@user-gt2ud2gw9e]

Just as final footnote - it's debatable that you'll see more from the drivers window. When you're viewing as a passenger, it's always hit and miss as to which side of the train you choose to sit on. A slow stopping train is likely to be more of an advantage, than an express.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I agree that the driver's view is taken up by a lot of the road ahead, which can often mean missing trackside things. In the end they aren't making a video, they are first and foremost, driving the train (at least I hope they are!) I suppose in my genre it all works if you embrace it. Higher speed videos are more about the whoosh and the interior features. Slower paced trips can linger on the trackside details more and the intermediate stations. Both are valid stories, and KZbin is about telling a story after all.

[@user-gt2ud2gw9e]

I see you know your way around some of the best routes in the Benelux. I suppose you know that many drivers in NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) make their own videos - I think every single line has been covered. A lot also is done in Deutsch Bahn. With regards to your start off from Huy, I havnt been able to find anything similar for Belgium - when I have time, I lille try in French as often, you can access much more stuff in the respective language.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I must confess not knowing about the NS drivers, so thank you for that 👍 These routes were picked because of stations I wanted to visit and routes marked green (scenic) on the European Rail Map. And a few "I've never been there, I wonder what it's like?" picks! Thanks for watching and for the extra info 👍

[@matthewodwyer3615]

Great video - also great gloves. Where did you pick those up from? I know all countries have their graffiti issues but the dutch and belgian railways do seem the worst hit....

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

The gloves? I use them cos I can operate the cameras better with no fingers in the glove! My wife bought them at Download festival about 20 years ago and I immediately stole them... Yes. Dutch and Belgian railways do seem to be leaders in impromptu liveries Thanks for watching 👍

[@Thomas_TdK]

that squeak in the virm is not normal. they usually are as quiet as the icmm

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Good to hear. 👍

[@ElrosTar-Minyatur]

Yeah VIRMm’s are very squicky? I find them like ships. They bob and swing like ships. But I like to sit on the top floor. The Koplopers are very nice! The first generation is almost all decommissioned 😭

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, I could see someone being travel sick upstairs on a VIRM as they do sway a lot. The Koplopers are pretty good though, considering their age - and they do look funky! Thank you so much for watching 👍

[@ElrosTar-Minyatur]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels the difference in comfort between the Koplopers and VIRM can be explained because the Koploper and ICR carriages were designed as intercitymaterial. VIRM was designed as interregional material. So more focused on shorter distances. The 3 tier plan (IC, Interregio and localtrains) never came to be so the VIRM because a intercity and can be found on all long distance IC services although they are not so comfortable. I find it a shame because as you discover in this video they make a lot of noice and they are not so stable. The Koplopers are so comfortable, the most comfortable trains on the Dutch network. Also worth a try are the ICR carriages. Their bougies are the same Y32 bougies as the Corail carriages from SNCF!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@ElrosTar-Minyatur thanks for the extra information. Yes, I do need to return to try more different rolling stock. Thanks for watching 👍

[@walterfillingham]

Having worked in The Netherlands up North in Den Helder, I have been on the trains (on both types you were on) a few times. I have to be honest, two comments I will make about their trains, they do seem to have a lot of graffiti both on the outside and inside the toilets and the outside of their trains always look they need a wash (even in the summer in dry weather they still look grubby).

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yep, it is definitely a problem, for sure. Thanks for watching another 👍

[@Kulla1berg]

Amazing train trip I am rather interesting in WW1 or the Great War was Huy famous for the fact that Germans killed a lot of civilians as they did in Dinant Different trains and you can definitely see more from the top floor

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I didn't know about Huy, but given the location it would be quite possible. I did feel that during the week I passed a lot of battlefields. Sad really. Hopefully the EU project can help to stop it happening again 🤞

[@MohamedHaddouti-li5ik]

Was there any of the annoying gates?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

There are gates at some stations. Thanks for watching 👍

[@wernermasfranck433]

When you live in a country with a public debt of 450 billion Euro's, it's wasted money when you realise that the initial budget of Liège-Guillemins was estimated at 254 million Euro's! Maybe the occasional tourist might find it marvellous, but that's not the opinion of daily commuters and the people who have to pay the bills!!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

That's a very fair point. But, as that occasional tourist, I do find it marvellous. I hope you enjoyed the video and I certainly appreciate you watching. One of the things about travelling is that we skim the surface and often do not see the politics underneath, so thank you for making your comment 👍

[@MrJimheeren]

Hey at least Calatrava designed a functional building and it was finished just slightly over budget (something he’s not known for). Plus I’m pretty sure the EU paid part of the bill

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@MrJimheeren Well I'm back under Calatrava's roof again tomorrow, when the video will feature Lisbon Oriente.

[@MrJimheeren]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I will be checking that out. I just discovered your vlog and really enjoy your content

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@MrJimheeren Thank you. That is very kind of you. I do have a playlist of all my videos in the strict order that I took the journeys. So if you like a challenge... kzbin.info/aero/PLXk1cIVnitGYvh9laP5gL9x3kPfHZnS4x&si=iw0GGWaCvvR0TvlE

[@wernermasfranck433]

Liège Guillemins, final costs of this work of "art" 545 000 000 Euro's, annuel maintenance costs 850 000 Euro's !!! At the City of Mons, they have demolished a beautiful 19th century station to build a similar monstrosity at a cost of 350 000 000 Euro's! The Belgian government has wasted public money on prestigious megalomania while they are cutting down on basic services to the daily commuters!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I think that is a fair reminder that whilst I can enjoy the modern "art" of the station, somebody had to pay for it! At least I really do enjoy the architecture, so although you may not say it was "money well spent" at least it was not completely wasted 😀 thank you so much for watching and for giving the local Belgian view 👍