Nationwide rail strike: train connections to Germany are canceled!

Nationwide rail strike: train connections to Germany are canceled!

On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, there will be a nationwide rail strike in the Netherlands, which will have a significant impact on train traffic. The strike, initiated by the unions, also affects international connections to and from Germany, creating challenges for many travelers.

The affected train connections are diverse and include, among others, the route between Berlin and Amsterdam and the connections from Frankfurt to Amsterdam. Trips from Amsterdam to Innsbruck and from Zurich to Amsterdam are also canceled. IC trains from Berlin via Hanover and Rhine to Amsterdam are also affected, as are some ICE trains from Frankfurt via Cologne and Duisburg to Amsterdam. These far-reaching disruptions result not only from the strike itself, but also from acute personnel shortages and the high overtime workload of the workforce, such as young world reported.

Background and demands

The current strike action by the state railway company Nederlandse Spoorwegen began on Friday, June 5, 2025, and was called for by the unions after negotiations on a new collective agreement had stalled since January 2025. The old contract expired on March 1, 2025. The employees are demanding a wage increase of 4 percent and a bonus of twice 120 euros. There are also demands to improve working conditions, as vacancies remain unfilled, which significantly increases the work pressure on existing employees and leads to high levels of sickness.

The strike was originally limited to the regions of North Holland, South Holland, Zeeland and West Brabant, but it was expanded to cover the entire country, further aggravating the situation for travelers. The FNV union has described the Nederlandse Spoorwegen's offer of 2.55 percent as inadequate and threatened further strikes on June 16 and 17 if an agreement cannot be reached.

Consequences for travelers

The effects of the strike are already clearly noticeable. Replacement rail transport could only be set up inadequately because the buses have a lower capacity. Many travelers have researched in advance and chosen alternative means of transport, which has led to an increase in inquiries to car rental companies. Enterprise reported twice as many inquiries as on a normal Friday. International trains to Berlin and Frankfurt also continue to run, but the connection to Schiphol Airport is significantly reduced.

The Nederlandse Spoorwegen regret the impact of the strike on passengers and emphasize that negotiations should continue in order to find a solution as quickly as possible.