THE HAGUE – October 3, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
Latest update (3 October 2026): no strike days have been announced yet. Unions FNV and CNV gave employers until Wednesday 7 October, 12:00 to meet their demands. If they don’t, strikes in regional public transport can start from Monday 12 October. We update this page as soon as dates are announced.
Public transport strike Netherlands: regional buses could stop running one day a week from 12 October until Christmas. The unions FNV and CNV are in a dispute with the employers’ association VWOV over a new collective labour agreement (cao) for regional public transport (streekvervoer), which covers around 13,000 workers. More than 97% of union members voted in favour of action. The unions say they will announce each strike day only shortly beforehand, so check this page before you travel.
Key facts
- Who: regional public transport (streekvervoer), with operators such as Arriva and Transdev.
- Deadline: Wednesday 7 October 2026, 12:00.
- First possible strike day: Monday 12 October 2026.
- How often: the unions are considering one strike day per week until Christmas.
- Notice: short. The unions plan to announce strike days only shortly before they happen.
- Not named in this dispute: NS and the city transport companies GVB (Amsterdam), RET (Rotterdam) and HTM (The Hague).
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Strike guide: at a glance
1. Strike dates (updated)
| Date | What | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 7 October 2026, 12:00 | Union deadline for employers | Pending |
| From Mon 12 October 2026 | First possible strike day in regional public transport | Not announced yet |
| Until Christmas | Possibly one strike day per week | Not announced yet |
Confirmed strike days, regions and operators will be added to this table as soon as the unions announce them.
2. Why are they striking?
Negotiations between the unions and VWOV on a new cao have been held eight times since March and are deadlocked. According to FNV, employers want staff to work longer and more flexibly, introduce extra unpaid breaks and give employees less say over their schedules. The employers say their proposal does not worsen conditions but distributes existing arrangements more fairly.
The unions want:
- all proposals that worsen working conditions withdrawn;
- a 6% pay rise;
- agreements on workload and an arrangement for older workers;
- a four-day working week for workers under 50 (FNV);
- equal conditions for temporary workers (FNV);
- more employee-friendly schedules that take irregular and very early shifts into account (CNV).
“Workers are not a budget line item,” said Marijn van der Gaag, FNV director for regional transport. CNV negotiator Niels Rook said strikes would have a “huge impact”, partly because they will be announced only shortly in advance.
3. Which transport is affected?
The dispute concerns regional public transport (streekvervoer): mainly regional buses run by operators such as Arriva and Transdev outside the big city networks. Which regions and operators stop on which day will only be clear when the unions announce each action.
NS trains and the city operators GVB, RET and HTM are not named by the unions in this dispute. That is different from the national strike of 9 September 2026, when almost all public transport stopped.
4. How to travel on a strike day
- Check your journey just before you leave in the 9292 app or your operator’s app. Services can differ by region and even by line.
- Use the train where you can. NS is not part of this dispute, so a train plus bike, walk or city transport can be an alternative.
- OV-fiets: rent a bike at the station for the last part of your trip.
- Shared bikes, scooters or cars in many cities.
- Carpool with colleagues or classmates.
- Leave earlier: roads and trains are busier on strike days.
More on getting around: our public transport guide and the transport hub.
5. Getting to work and school
Because strike days will be announced at short notice, agree with your employer in advance what you will do if your bus doesn’t run: work from home, adjust your hours or travel another way. Parents: check whether your child’s school bus or regional bus line is affected and arrange a backup.
6. Tickets, subscriptions and refunds
Whether you get money back for a strike day depends on your operator and your ticket or subscription. Check the operator’s website after the strike day; operators usually publish their refund arrangements there. Paying with OVpay or an OV-chipkaart? Don’t check in for a bus that isn’t running. If you are stuck checked in, contact the operator.
For train delays, see our guide to NS refunds and train disruptions.
7. Earlier strikes in 2026
On 9 September 2026 FNV held a 24-hour nationwide public transport strike against the cabinet’s plans for social security and pensions. That strike affected NS as well as GVB, RET and HTM. The October dispute is separate: it is about the cao for regional transport.
8. FAQ
Is there a public transport strike in the Netherlands this week?
As of 3 October 2026, no strike day has been announced. The earliest possible date is Monday 12 October, if employers do not meet the unions’ demands by 7 October at 12:00.
Will NS trains run?
NS is not named in this regional transport dispute. Always check the NS app before travelling.
Are buses in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague affected?
The city operators GVB, RET and HTM are not named in this dispute. Regional buses to and from these cities may be affected.
How long will the strikes last?
The unions are considering one strike day a week until Christmas, unless an agreement is reached.
How will I know when the next strike is?
Strike days will be announced shortly in advance. We update this page, and you can sign up for a free email alert.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
| Dutch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| De staking | Strike |
| Staken | To strike |
| Het streekvervoer | Regional public transport |
| De vakbond | Trade union |
| De cao | Collective labour agreement |
| Het ultimatum | Ultimatum |
| De rit vervalt | The trip is cancelled |
| Het vervangend vervoer | Replacement transport |
| De dienstregeling | Timetable |
| De reisplanner | Journey planner |
Sources
- FNV, 1 October 2026: “Stakingen dreigen bij streekvervoer” (ultimatum 7 October 12:00, actions from 12 October, one day a week until Christmas, 97% vote, eight rounds since March, demands, quote Marijn van der Gaag).
- NL Times, 1 October 2026: “Public transport unions threaten weekly strikes until Christmas” (FNV and CNV, VWOV, about 13,000 workers, Arriva and Transdev, CNV demands, quote Niels Rook, short notice).
- SpoorPro and Omroep Lekstroom, 1–2 October 2026 (ultimatum and start date).
- 9292, September 2026: nationwide public transport strike of 9 September 2026 (NS, GVB, HTM, RET and regional transport).
More in our guide: Transport in the Netherlands
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