The financial struggles of Deutsche Bahn and Dutch NS highlight Europe’s ongoing railway privatization debate. Can ticket revenues cover infrastructure costs, or do subsidies always return? From state-owned companies like PTT and Postbank to today’s rail networks, Germany and the Netherlands face the same challenge: hidden costs, maintenance backlogs, and government guarantee undermining true transport reform. Picture: N-TV.de Today in the Netherlands there was an item in a news broadcast on television that immediately made me think. The item concerned the loss-making Deutsche Bahn. These were the few so-called liberalized German Railways in 2009. Unlike the Dutch railways, the NS, these railways have not yet been privatized in their entirety. The German government has listed 50 percent of the shares on the stock exchange, and "leased" several smaller sections of the German rail network to other entrepreneurs, with the requirement that these tenants had to recoup the costs through the transport revenues. Can Train Ticket Revenues Cover Rail Infrastructure Costs in Europe? Every sane company on this earth knows that it will have to deal with profit and loss during its existence. So, we can assume that this has also been well thought out with the state-owned companies, and their takeover, right? But what does win or losing mean, and who knows in advance exactly when what will happen? Were all the figures that were available in advance calculated correctly, and were all the figures available at the time? It strikes me again and again, even after this broadcast about the Deutsche Bahn, that these so-called taken over state companies somehow run out of money again and again later in time. Think, for example, of the Dutch PTT, and the Dutch Railways, or the hospitals or other healthcare companies. Why Do State-Owned Companies in Europe Struggle with Profitability? Can you actually compare civil servants with entrepreneurs? Do they monitor the costs of the public domain just like the real entrepreneurs? Or can they present public domains better when sold than they actually are? Are public domains always deliberately sold too cheaply, without the buying party having sufficient insight into the real costs? Are the officials posing as sellers keeping too many hidden jars of "costs" under wraps when selling to private individuals? Or did those officials really have no insight into this? Every time I ask myself these questions again! Public Sector Employment Costs: Lessons From NS, Postbank, and PTT in the Netherlands Has the employment offered by the government always been far too expensive for the actual cost estimates? Is it smart to allow the government as an employing partner in our society? Is this one of the reasons why national and international governments always have huge financial deficits? What also strikes me again and again is the sales contracts for these deals. Just note: "again and again governments guarantee any future deficits of the state-owned companies taken over by private individuals." Soestdijk Palace in Baarn is also a good recent example, again the same scenario. "Entrepreneurs, make an offer, because we will subsidize you in the coming years anyway." Germany vs. Netherlands Railways: Shared Challenges of Privatization Funny that both in the Netherlands and in Germany the privatized railways and postal companies are now in financial trouble, too much has to be renovated, and the government is being held accountable for this in both countries? If you think a little further than "the end of your nose", then you should also realize that both the economic and the security risk for the citizens of both countries, and perhaps in many more countries, can be seriously endangered by these maintenance backlogs. Think of collapsing buildings, derailing trains, refusing railway crossings, late deliveries or staff arriving late for work. Who Profits from Rail Privatization? Entrepreneurs vs. State Responsibilities Who knows? But often if you look further at these companies or business units divested by the governments, you will see that these companies have been immediately divided into different parts by the takeover of the business in question. The Privatized Railways in the Netherlands has cut buildings, companies and the railway company into different parts. The railway, the transport guaranteed by the government, and the buildings with catering establishments have been torn apart into various private limited companies and public limited companies. In all likelihood, the hospitality industry yields much more than the railway and probably needs much less maintenance.  But yes, the railways are suffering losses and are of great national importance, so the subsidy pot must be opened again, and we as citizens must pay again. Hidden Costs of Privatization: Are Citizens Paying the Real Price? Well, who thinks about this in advance, and why is there almost always a subsidy scheme after a takeover by a private individual of a government agency? Doesn't this simply prove that the governments in the different countries at least handle our money differently than they would have us believe every year on Budget Day? Is that why there are always so many government deficits? Therefore, can't the "real" poor people in our society just be helped by our governments?

Europe’s Rail Privatization Dilemma: Deutsche Bahn, Dutch NS, and the Hidden Costs of Reform

BY
Antonius Bakker

The financial struggles of Deutsche Bahn and Dutch NS highlight Europe’s ongoing railway privatization debate. Can ticket revenues cover infrastructure costs, or do subsidies always return? From state-owned companies like PTT and Postbank to today’s rail networks, Germany and the Netherlands face the same challenge: hidden costs, maintenance backlogs, and government guarantee undermining true transport reform.

Explore the cultural gap in the Netherlands between traditional and modern views on aging. Does the subsidized TV series Woeste Grond accurately reflect Dutch government policy and the changing role of the elderly in family life?

Dutch Society, Aging & Family Responsibility: Does TV Drama Woeste Grond Reflect Reality?

BY
Antonius Bakker

Explore the cultural gap in the Netherlands between traditional and modern views on aging. Does the subsidized TV series Woeste Grond accurately reflect Dutch government policy and the changing role of the elderly in family life?

World War 3 Predictions: NATO, Europe, Russia, Nostradamus, Bible Prophecies, and Global Conflict in 2025

BY
Antonius Bakker

World War 3 predictions are circulating worldwide, with global leaders and NATO on high alert. As Russia escalates tensions, Europe ...

Paardekooper Packaging Company Declared Bankrupt Amid Financial Mismanagement, Rising Costs, Market Competition, and Economic Uncertainty

Paardekooper Packaging Company Declared Bankrupt Amid Financial Mismanagement, Rising Costs, Market Competition, and Economic Uncertainty

BY
Antonius Bakker

Royal packaging company Paardekooper, active in sustainable packaging and global supply, has been declared bankrupt. Despite growth and innovation in circular packaging, financial mismanagement, rising costs, and market pressure led to its collapse. With branches across the Netherlands and clients in over 75 countries, this bankruptcy raises questions about economic uncertainty and the future of the packaging industry.

Is Life an Illusion? Jung, Dreams, The Matrix & the Nature of Reality

Is Life an Illusion? Jung, Dreams, The Matrix & the Nature of Reality

BY
Antonius Bakker

Is life just a dream, a simulation, or a deeper reality we can barely comprehend? Drawing from Carl Jung's visions, The Matrix, and ancient Indian philosophy, this article explores the nature of consciousness, dreams, and destiny. Are we truly awake—or watching a movie of our lives unfold? Discover the blurred lines between reality and illusion.

Is Cultured Meat Necessary? What Christ, the Bible, and Science Say About Meat, Health, and Ethics

Is Cultured Meat Necessary? What Christ, the Bible, and Science Say About Meat, Health, and Ethics

BY
Antonius Bakker

One of the things that has been occupying me lately is whether it is really necessary to develop cultured meat ...

Van Lier Shoes Bankruptcy: Historic Dutch Leather Shoe Brand Faces Closure, Debts, and Uncertain Future Plans

Van Lier Shoes Bankruptcy: Historic Dutch Leather Shoe Brand Faces Closure, Debts, and Uncertain Future Plans

BY
Antonius Bakker

Van Lier Shoes, iconic Dutch shoemaker founded in 1815, has declared bankruptcy for subsidiaries Van Lier b.v., Van Lier Amsterdam, and Van Lier Shoes b.v. The historic brand, famous for premium leather men’s shoes, faced corona debts, declining sales, and failed investor talks. Zeeland-West-Brabant District Court confirmed closures, sparking uncertainty over the company’s future and possible restart.

Heavy Tourist Impact on Baarn’s Nature Reserves?

Heavy Tourist Impact on Baarn’s Nature Reserves?

BY
Antonius Bakker

The Baarn Forests between Amsterdam and Utrecht face growing tourism pressure from hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders, and dog owners. In hotspots like Lage Vuursche, Drakensteyn Castle, and Royal Palace Soestdijk, forester Rein Berends and Staatsbosbeheer struggle to protect this 1,200-hectare Utrecht Ridge nature reserve amid rising visitor numbers and limited supervision resources.

In the world ruled by marketing, consumers are less and less in charge. From product packaging to portion sizes, everything is optimized for convenience. Marketing strategies, Customer experience, and Logistics processes guide our choices. But where is our critical thinking about Product Quality, Ethics, and Value for Money? Is marketing really the solution, or are we forgetting what we really need

The Influence of Marketing on Our Daily Lives: How We Think Less and Less as Consumers

BY
Antonius Bakker

In the world ruled by marketing, consumers are less and less in charge. From product packaging to portion sizes, everything is optimized for convenience. Marketing strategies, Customer experience, and Logistics processes guide our choices. But where is our critical thinking about Product Quality, Ethics, and Value for Money? Is marketing really the solution, or are we forgetting what we really need

Picture: Fanny Blankers- Koen ( De Volkskrant)

Fanny Blankers-Koen was one of the greatest Dutch sportswomen

BY
Antonius Bakker

Fanny Blankers-Koen was one of the greatest Dutch sportswomen of the 20th century. She made history at the Olympics and inspired generations of female athletes. Discover the inspiring story of Fanny Blankers-Koen: Olympic champion, record holder and pioneer in global sports history.

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The financial struggles of Deutsche Bahn and Dutch NS highlight Europe’s ongoing railway privatization debate. Can ticket revenues cover infrastructure costs, or do subsidies always return? From state-owned companies like PTT and Postbank to today’s rail networks, Germany and the Netherlands face the same challenge: hidden costs, maintenance backlogs, and government guarantee undermining true transport reform. Picture: N-TV.de Today in the Netherlands there was an item in a news broadcast on television that immediately made me think. The item concerned the loss-making Deutsche Bahn. These were the few so-called liberalized German Railways in 2009. Unlike the Dutch railways, the NS, these railways have not yet been privatized in their entirety. The German government has listed 50 percent of the shares on the stock exchange, and "leased" several smaller sections of the German rail network to other entrepreneurs, with the requirement that these tenants had to recoup the costs through the transport revenues. Can Train Ticket Revenues Cover Rail Infrastructure Costs in Europe? Every sane company on this earth knows that it will have to deal with profit and loss during its existence. So, we can assume that this has also been well thought out with the state-owned companies, and their takeover, right? But what does win or losing mean, and who knows in advance exactly when what will happen? Were all the figures that were available in advance calculated correctly, and were all the figures available at the time? It strikes me again and again, even after this broadcast about the Deutsche Bahn, that these so-called taken over state companies somehow run out of money again and again later in time. Think, for example, of the Dutch PTT, and the Dutch Railways, or the hospitals or other healthcare companies. Why Do State-Owned Companies in Europe Struggle with Profitability? Can you actually compare civil servants with entrepreneurs? Do they monitor the costs of the public domain just like the real entrepreneurs? Or can they present public domains better when sold than they actually are? Are public domains always deliberately sold too cheaply, without the buying party having sufficient insight into the real costs? Are the officials posing as sellers keeping too many hidden jars of "costs" under wraps when selling to private individuals? Or did those officials really have no insight into this? Every time I ask myself these questions again! Public Sector Employment Costs: Lessons From NS, Postbank, and PTT in the Netherlands Has the employment offered by the government always been far too expensive for the actual cost estimates? Is it smart to allow the government as an employing partner in our society? Is this one of the reasons why national and international governments always have huge financial deficits? What also strikes me again and again is the sales contracts for these deals. Just note: "again and again governments guarantee any future deficits of the state-owned companies taken over by private individuals." Soestdijk Palace in Baarn is also a good recent example, again the same scenario. "Entrepreneurs, make an offer, because we will subsidize you in the coming years anyway." Germany vs. Netherlands Railways: Shared Challenges of Privatization Funny that both in the Netherlands and in Germany the privatized railways and postal companies are now in financial trouble, too much has to be renovated, and the government is being held accountable for this in both countries? If you think a little further than "the end of your nose", then you should also realize that both the economic and the security risk for the citizens of both countries, and perhaps in many more countries, can be seriously endangered by these maintenance backlogs. Think of collapsing buildings, derailing trains, refusing railway crossings, late deliveries or staff arriving late for work. Who Profits from Rail Privatization? Entrepreneurs vs. State Responsibilities Who knows? But often if you look further at these companies or business units divested by the governments, you will see that these companies have been immediately divided into different parts by the takeover of the business in question. The Privatized Railways in the Netherlands has cut buildings, companies and the railway company into different parts. The railway, the transport guaranteed by the government, and the buildings with catering establishments have been torn apart into various private limited companies and public limited companies. In all likelihood, the hospitality industry yields much more than the railway and probably needs much less maintenance.  But yes, the railways are suffering losses and are of great national importance, so the subsidy pot must be opened again, and we as citizens must pay again. Hidden Costs of Privatization: Are Citizens Paying the Real Price? Well, who thinks about this in advance, and why is there almost always a subsidy scheme after a takeover by a private individual of a government agency? Doesn't this simply prove that the governments in the different countries at least handle our money differently than they would have us believe every year on Budget Day? Is that why there are always so many government deficits? Therefore, can't the "real" poor people in our society just be helped by our governments?
Europe’s Rail Privatization Dilemma: Deutsche Bahn, Dutch NS, and the Hidden Costs of Reform

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