On Tuesday 17 June, new buses will be at four locations in Zeeland. You can come and take a look and try out different seats. We are curious about your preference. In addition, you can share your thoughts on the seat upholstery, colors, little tables by the seats and USB ports on the bus. If you have other questions about the bus, you can of course ask those too. People from both EBS and the Province of Zeeland will be present.

Whether you travel daily or take the bus now and then: your ideas help make public transport in Zeeland comfortable, accessible and future-proof.

Will you stop by on Tuesday 17 June?

• Between 11.00 and 14.00: Terneuzen Town Hall and Goes Station, the small square at the back of the station.
• Between 16.00 and 19.00: Sas bus station, Zierikzee and Middelburg Station, on the other side of the Stationsbrug on the Loskade.  

Drivers and passenger consultation groups are also thinking along

Drivers and representatives of the provincial passenger consultation group OPOV will hold a discussion on Wednesday 18 June with EBS about the buses. They will then focus mainly on the positioning of equipment, the dashboard and the accessibility of the buses. The buses will start operating in Zeeland in December 2026. 

Under the name TRAVEL THROUGH ZEELAND, the bus service will be linked with Flex, the flexible transport that ensures every place in Zeeland is accessible from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Measures such as improved schedules will enable buses to run on time more often and be cancelled less frequently. In recent weeks, EBS and the Province have started implementing the new concession, so that everything will be ready by the end of 2026 for a successful launch. Next month, talks will be held with Connexxion bus drivers who will transfer to EBS at the end of 2026. EBS will also provide improved travel information. For example, by installing additional dynamic travel information displays at stops. There will also be special attention for communication aimed at schools and pupils. This autumn, EBS and the Province will, together with municipalities and residents, hold discussions about the bus service from the end of 2026.

Read EBS's press release on this page.

Customer-friendly and knowledgeable

The customer-friendliness and expertise of the staff is an important plus in Zeeland. Passengers rate the customer-friendliness of the ferry crew at an 8.8, which is higher than last year (8.6). The sailing style scores a 9.2. Connexxion bus drivers receive an 8.5 for customer-friendliness and an 8.1 for driving style. These figures are higher than the national average.

Punctuality and the sense of safety on board and at the stop also score high (a 9.1 and 9.0). There are also many positive points for the buses in Zeeland. For example, passengers are satisfied with the ease of boarding (8.9) and the sense of safety during the ride (8.6). In addition, the ease of use of the payment method is rated at an 8.6, which aligns with the national trend of a smooth transition to OVpay.

Provincial Executive member Harry van der Maas is pleased with the positive assessment from Zeeland passengers: “It makes me happy that Zeeland passengers give a positive assessment of public transport in Zeeland. I would like to sincerely thank all staff for providing a pleasant journey for Zeeland passengers every day anew. I am tremendously proud of this positive assessment!”

Areas for improvement

Although no insufficient scores were given, a few areas for improvement are mentioned. Passengers would like to see more trips per day, both for the ferry and the buses. In Zeeland, we are working hard on this with the introduction of Flex. The provision of information in case of delays is mentioned as a point of attention. Finally, passengers are somewhat critical of the price.

The Province of Zeeland has drawn up an extensive package of requirements ahead of the tender to guarantee that, in Zeeland too, quality bus transport will be offered from the end of 2026 onwards. Bidders first had to be able to meet all these requirements. They could earn points both by offering higher quality and by offering a low price. From the  assessment it follows that EBS won the tender by offering a better price-quality ratio than the other bidder, transport company Arriva.

,,I am extremely happy that we have found a new carrier in EBS. EBS will organize bus transport for passengers in Zeeland for twelve years. I am looking forward to good cooperation,” says deputy Harry van der Maas. ,,The new buses that EBS will supply are comfortable, sustainable, accessible and quiet, which makes it attractive for many Zeeland residents to choose public transport. More importantly, EBS is making an even greater effort to prevent cancelled trips and delays than we had already required. Finally, good transport stands or falls with the staff who carry it out. EBS has indicated how it wants to bring staff satisfaction to a high level. With EBS, current staff get a good employer; I am very pleased with that.”

The transport companies could score points for the rolling stock, cooperation with Zeeland companies, a good transition to sustainability and improvements to the prescribed timetable. EBS involves the Zeeland SME sector in bus transport, offers a high guarantee of punctuality, a low number of cancelled trips and good connections between bus lines. Passengers and drivers may contribute ideas about the layout of the buses. As early as the start of the bus concession, the majority of the trips will be operated electrically. EBS guarantees enough charging locations. EBS also scored well in the tender on the bid price. In the assessment, quality counted for 60% and price for 40%.   

EBS will work closely in the execution with the carriers that provide Flex and the Transport Centre that coordinates it. By the end of 2026, Flex will have been rolled out across all of Zeeland – flexible transport on demand, as a supplement to public transport. The public transport system will then make all locations in Zeeland accessible from early in the morning until late in the evening. 

We talked about:

• How does travelling with the Flex work?
• What are the experiences of the Flex testers?
• What is needed to successfully introduce the Flex to our supporters?

Together we will make the Flex a success! We would like to sincerely thank all attendees for their presence and enthusiasm. With your support, we will make the region more accessible for everyone!

The Flex is always close by and takes you where you need to be on Schouwen-Duiveland. Plan your trip in the Reizen door Zeeland app or call the Transport Control Centre.

Test panel enthusiastic about the Flex

The reactions from the test panel are promising. What stands out is the number of travellers who appreciate the friendly, helpful and pleasant drivers. The punctuality has also been praised; the minibuses were almost all on time. Once, a tyre turned out to be flat. “The chance of a flat tyre during a test panel is of course very small. But it happened anyway. Fortunately, a replacement minibus was arranged quickly and I was kept well informed,” says a test panel member. 

Test panel member Olga Visser-Fonteine from Zierikzee says: "With the Flex I can now decide for myself when I travel to and from my work in Brouwershaven, without being dependent on the bus or family." Nella Houkamp from Bruinisse adds: "It is a big plus that the Flex also runs when there are no buses, such as in the evening and at the weekend."

Improvement suggestions were also passed on by test panel members. Because that was, after all, the purpose of the test panel: to ensure that the Flex works well. To start with, a number of technical improvements have been implemented in the app. In addition, it was sometimes unclear where people can board the Flex because outside built-up areas you can board and alight at any address. Good to know that in the app you can clearly see exactly where the locations are. You can also track the Flex in the app. Finally, from today, Monday 17 February, more minibuses will be deployed, meaning that within an hour of booking a Flex is always available. During the test panel, that was not always the case. 

Easy booking and affordable travel

A trip with the Flex is easy to book via the Reizen door Zeeland app or by phone via 088 23 58 070. If you do that at least an hour before your trip, you can be sure that a Flex will come. The costs are the same as regular public transport. Do you have a student travel card, 65+ card or public transport low-income card? Then you can simply use it. Payment can be made via the app or by debit card directly to the driver.

Board at a hub or at your door

Within built-up areas you board at a hub, recognisable by a green sign. These hubs are never more than 500 metres away. Outside built-up areas you will be picked up or dropped off at any address of your choice. 

Making Zeeland more accessible

The Flex is part of Reizen door Zeeland, an initiative of the Zeeland municipalities and the Province to make Zeeland more accessible, supported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The start on Schouwen-Duiveland is only the beginning: step by step we are launching the Flex in all Zeeland municipalities. By the end of next year at the latest, the Flex will operate throughout Zeeland. That is also the moment that a new company will take over bus transport in Zeeland from Connexxion. In the first half of 2025 nothing will change regarding bus transport. Once the Flex has proven itself, the intended changes will be implemented.

Travel independently with the Flex?

Download the Reizen door Zeeland app or call the Transport Centre on 088 23 58 070 and choose the best option for you.