perrongen

Perrongen are the platforms at railway stations—the raised areas alongside tracks where passengers wait to board or alight trains. The term is Dutch, with perron meaning platform; perrongen is used to refer to multiple platforms. They provide space for boarding and alighting and are usually connected by access points such as staircases, elevators or ramps, enabling movement between platforms and street level or concourses. The exact design varies by station; common configurations include side platforms (zijperron) adjacent to a single track, and island platforms (eilandperron) located between two tracks. Island platforms allow passengers to access trains on either side from a single central platform.

Perrongen are typically raised to a height matching train doors and feature edge markings along the platform edge to warn of the gap to the train. Many platforms have tactile paving for visually impaired travelers, shelter structures, lighting, seating and information displays. Safety signs emphasize not crossing the track area and remaining behind the yellow lines until the train has stopped.

Historically, perrongen evolved from street-level platforms to standardized, accessible designs in the 19th and 20th centuries. The term derives from French perron, meaning a stair or steps, reflecting their original function as elevated walkways.

In daily use, perrongen are managed by railway operators and maintained for structural integrity, drainage, and accessibility. They form a central element of passenger flow, urban mobility, and station design.