Amsterdam. Photo: Shutterstock Travelers in the Netherlands could face widespread disruption on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, when public transport and rail workers are scheduled to stage a 24-hour strike over proposed changes to the country's social security system. The action was announced by trade union FNV and is expected to affect rail, regional and urban public transport services across the country.
The strike is part of a wider campaign against government plans to reduce spending on social security. FNV says the cabinet is maintaining billions of euros in cuts affecting benefits including unemployment insurance (WW) and disability benefits (WIA). The union argues that these changes would weaken financial protection for workers who become unemployed, disabled or reach retirement age.
The planned action covers the entire rail sector, including workers at ProRail and DB Cargo, in addition to employees involved in public transport. The disruption is expected to affect the operation of trains as well as buses, trams and metro services.
Dutch public transport information service 9292 has confirmed that FNV announced a nationwide 24-hour public transport strike for September 9. The union has said that the precise start and end times will be announced closer to the date.
The impact could be particularly significant for international and domestic travelers because the Dutch rail network connects major cities including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, while also providing links toward neighboring countries.
The September 9 action is part of a broader series of planned labor actions. According to FNV's schedule, port workers are due to take action on September 4, followed by government employees on September 8, before regional transport, urban transport and rail workers strike on September 9.
FNV says the campaign will continue unless the government changes course on its social security proposals.
The union acknowledges that stopping public transport will cause inconvenience for passengers but argues that the consequences of reducing social security would be more significant and longer-lasting.
For travelers planning a trip to the Netherlands in early September, the strike could therefore mean major changes to train and public transport plans. Passengers should check the latest information from their transport operator before traveling and consider alternative arrangements if their journey falls on September 9.
The disruption is currently scheduled as a 24-hour action, but travelers should monitor official updates as the date approaches, particularly for information about the exact strike period and which services may operate.