A while ago, I went to Belgium to attend the F1 Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, before staying with a friend to explore more of the country. The first time I went, I quickly discovered the Youth Holidays ticket, which allows for unlimited travel on trains for a simple price of €18/week, accessible via the SNCB app or the MoBIB card. Now, as cool as the concept of getting a physical card was at the time, the friend I was with very quickly dismissed the idea, saying that there's a €6 charge to get a piece of plastic, and I should instead just use the app. So I did. And it worked fine.

However, this time around, the friend I'm staying with said we'd likely be using the trams a lot, and that the more powerful Youth Holidays (Combi) ticket (same link) would be significantly cheaper than buying individual tickets. But this requires a MoBIB card. And apparently, no one on the internet has actually documented how to get one of these things in English. So I'm finally putting this blog to good use.

But first, do you really need a MoBIB card?

For most tourists, probably not. The price of purchasing a physical card outweighs the savings one would make by getting a seasonal ticket, especially for shorter trips. However, if...

1. You're staying in Belgium for more than like, two weeks
2. You're planning on using public transport a lot
3. You've checked that purchasing a seasonal ticket is cheaper than buying individual tickets

...then yes, you should consider it. In the end I ended up saving nearly €100!

So what information currently exists?

When you search for "MoBIB card for tourists", most of the time you'll just find the official providers talking about the benefits of the card, and how to use it, with very little information about actually getting one, outside the usual rhetoric of bringing your eID card. But you're not Belgian. You don't have an eID.

So instead websites will say to bring proof of identity, such as a passport, and sometimes a passport photo. Though others will also say they can take it at the shop too. Which is great, uncertainty is exactly what we need at this situation.

Also, there's multiple providers.

I don't want to expand too much into this, but basically there's four providers of transport in Belgium.

1. SNCB/NMBS - the national train company
2. STIB/MIVB - the Brussels public transport company
3. TEC - the Walloon public transport company
4. De Lijn - the Flemish public transport company

Each have their own uses for the MoBIB card, each having their own way of getting one. I'd recommend getting an SNCB/NMBS as you will most likely enter a train station before anything else. Some providers (cough cough, TEC), mention linking something. You don't have to worry about that.

Okay so, how?

Honestly, in the end it was really not difficult. I arrived into Belgium on the Eurostar, meaning I got off at Brusells-Midi/Zuid (South) station. From there:

1. Go and find the SNCB/NMBS desk for local travel.
2. If it's busy, like it was for me, you'll need to grab a ticket. Select the option about purchasing tickets (or similar), or ask someone for help.
3. Wait. Don't worry, this only took like 15 minutes for me.
4. Go to the desk and ask for the Youth Holidays Combi ticket, and a MoBIB card.

And that's it! No need for a passport photo, they'll take it right there and then for you! And don't panic, from what I can gather most staff members speak enough English to help you.

Now how do I use this card?

• Bus, Tram, Metro: Find the correct reader, and tap at the reader.
• Train: Just get on, and when the conductor checks your ticket, pass them your new card.

And that's it!

If you've got any more questions about what it was like, feel free to email me, and I'll answer to the best of my ability. Otherwise, enjoy your shiny new card!