Dutch public transport shut down entirely as workers strike over social security cuts

Public transport across the Netherlands came to a halt early Wednesday morning as employees of the NS, regional bus companies, trams and metros walked off the job between 04:00 and 08:00. The action, called by the FNV and CNV unions, was directed against the cabinet's plan to cut 6.5 billion euros from social security, including raising the AOW state pension age, shortening the WW unemployment benefit from two years to one, and curtailing the WIA disability benefit.

Stations in Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Groningen and elsewhere were described as 'deserted', with most travellers having been alerted. Bus driver Hans Groos, who has worked 37 years at HTM, said many young colleagues also joined the strike. Edwin Kuiper of the FNV warned of further action after the summer if the government does not scrap the plans. While the strike was limited to the early morning, NS also cancelled some trains later in the day because of extreme heat (code orange) affecting parts of the country.