Public transport workers across the Netherlands will stage a nationwide 24-hour strike on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
The action will halt train, bus, tram, and metro services in protest against government spending cuts targeting social security benefits.
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The collective action is organized by unions including FNV Spoor, FNV Streekvervoer, and FNV Stadsvervoer.
Employees from NS, ProRail, regional and city transport operators, and DB Cargo will participate in the daylong work stoppage.
Union representatives said the protest targets cabinet plans to accelerate the increase of the state pension (AOW) age, shorten unemployment benefits (WW), and scale back long-term disability allowances (WIA).
The government maintains the budget cuts are necessary to keep the benefit system financially sustainable.
Transport officials acknowledged the severe disruption the action will cause for commuters nationwide, including total transit outages in regions like Flevoland and Utrecht, but argued long-term policy impacts carry greater weight.
Union leaders defend the strike
"Due to the heavy nature of their work, they have an above-average chance of ending up in the WIA.
They must be able to trust that there is help when things go wrong," said Edwin Kuiper of FNV Streekvervoer.
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"We fully realize that a 24-hour strike causes inconvenience. We sincerely regret that.
But the consequences of dismantling our social security are much larger for everyone and last much longer," Kuiper added.
