It was January 2023 , I live in the region of Hulst. However, the reliability of the bus service was inconsistent (Connexxion province of Zeeland Netherlands), and the cost was prohibitively highāup to ā¬240 per month, or ā¬140 for a Zeeland Advantage subscription, for barely a 10 km journey. Like many other travelers, I began seeking alternatives. The solution came in the form of a folding bike, perfect for bridging that short distance.
The journey began with a video capturing the departure from Vogelwaarde to Hulst bus station, then onward to Belgium’s Sint Niklaas by bus (De Lijn from Flanders ā¬ 1,7) , and finally by train and tram to Decathlon.
Now, in 2025, there is still no political party that has managed to demand affordable and reliable transportation from the province of Zeeland (responsible for public transport), resulting in no progress. The stark contrast in costs remains, with a day ticket priced at ā¬24.5 within Zeeland, while just across the border , 5km from Hulst NL , it’s only ā¬7.5. Other provinces in the Netherlands also offer much cheaper rates compared to Zeeland. (day ticket ā¬ 8 and ā¬ 11) example Limburg NL.
For the past two years, this folding bike has been a game-changer, eliminating the need to pay exorbitant bus fares and providing a solution for when the bus does not come. I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. Enjoy this adventure .
The transportation issue in the province of Zeeland is intensifying. The implementation of the transport plan has been postponed from 2025 to 2026, which includes the introduction of shared bicycles. However, the cost for a whole day is ā¬40 E-bike, whereas just across the border, Belgium Flanders it is E-bike ā¬10 or ā¬15 (with various options available). This is yet another oversight, as it seems that the people in Zeeland do not understand the fundamental goal of public transport: to be affordable for all target groups.
I have never encountered such an issue in any other country. Belgium, France, Germany …., the electric scooter is also prohibited in the Netherlands, very strange and incomprehensible policy if you come from abroad.
It is not yet certain that there will be shared bicycles in Hulst in 2026 (5 km from the Belgian border), but nobody will pay ā¬ 40 for 1 day, the well-known bicycles from Donkey Republic are much cheaper and even Blue Bike (non-electric) asks ā¬ 3.5 for 24 hours) info https://www.blue-bike.be/pricing/ in Flanders Belgium.