Heliomare students independently present trips to the Province of North Holland

How VR training helps students use public transport confidently

Friday, May 30, 2026, was a special day. Three students from Heliomare in Alkmaar – Bao, Rafael, and Emmanuel – traveled independently by train to the Provincial Government building in Haarlem. Not only to demonstrate their travel skills, but also to share their experiences with Virtual Public Transport with Provincial Executive Member Jeroen Olthof, Niels Herber (Manager Public Affairs NS), and Michael de Ruiter (Director Public Transport Transdev).

Independent Travel as Proof of Success

The students had practiced situations such as checking in and out, transferring, and dealing with delays in the Virtual OV VR environment. During their trip to Haarlem, they immediately put these skills into practice – even when they missed their train in Uitgeest. Rafael: “Missing the train? We already practiced that once in the game.”

Upon arriving at the provincial government building, the students demonstrated how Virtual Public Transport works. Bao took the lead and showed Michael de Ruiter how the game functions. De Ruiter: “I am not a gamer, but the situations are very realistic. As a result, the game can really instill confidence to travel by public transport.”

Virtual Public Transport: The Key to Self-Reliance

Tim van Dam, founder of Changefied, emphasized the importance of Virtual Public Transport during the presentation: “We lower the barrier for vulnerable groups. The virtual world resembles real public transport, with adjustable stimuli that can be tailored to the participant's needs. This allows students to get used to traveling by public transport in peace. Because ultimately, mobility is freedom.”

Read the Full Story

Do you want to know how the students experience their journey and what Virtual Public Transport means to them? Then read the article from the Province of North Holland: