October 12, 2026 — Regional bus and train workers in the Netherlands strike all day on Wednesday, October 14, the first of weekly one-day strikes the unions say will run until Christmas. NS intercity trains and city transit in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague are not affected.
The strike
- Unions: FNV and CNV, in a dispute over the national public-transport collective agreement covering about 13,000 workers.
- Operators affected: Arriva, EBS, Qbuzz, Keolis, Transdev (Connexxion and Hermes) and RET’s regional services. This includes regional trains run by Arriva, Qbuzz and Keolis, for example around Zwolle, Kampen, Emmen and Enschede.
- Not affected: NS trains and city transit in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, though regional links into those cities may be hit.
- When: All day Wednesday, October 14 (exact hours not published). Further strikes are planned one day a week until Christmas; the unions say they will announce dates at short notice.
What it means for travelers
- NS trains to and from Schiphol are not part of the strike. If your onward trip uses a regional bus or regional train, check that operator’s website on the day.
- Visiting family outside the big cities? Expect no regional bus or local train on strike days, and plan a taxi or a lift.
- Because future strike days will be announced at short notice, check the operator’s website the day before any regional trip through December.
Sources
- FTN News — Netherlands Bus Strike October 14: Travel Disruptions
- Treinreiziger.nl — Regional transport to strike one day a week until Christmas
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