Millions of commuters across the Netherlands faced a chaotic Wednesday morning as public transport workers walked off the job in a sweeping strike that lasted from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. No NS trains ran at all during that window, and nearly every tram, bus, and metro service in the country came to a standstill. The disruption stretched well into the rest of the morning, leaving workers scrambling to find alternatives or simply staying home.
6 hours Ago
Empty Stations and Quiet Streets
Amsterdam Central Station looked almost ghostly at 6 a.m. A few travelers sat quietly on benches with their luggage, but the usual morning energy was completely absent.
Travel boards flashed strike notices, and announcements echoed through an otherwise silent hall. The tram stop just outside the station sat empty. However, not everything stopped.
Ferries crossing the IJ from Amsterdam Central to Noord continued operating, and the train connection to Schiphol Airport kept running throughout the strike period.
Some regional operators managed to keep a handful of routes alive. Arriva ran what it could based on staff availability, maintaining at least the Leer–Groningen bus route.
Keolis operated limited services across Midden-Nederland and Oost-Nederland. But major city operators GVB in Amsterdam and RET in Rotterdam suspended their full schedules until the strike ended, with RET warning that normal operations might not fully resume until at least 11 a.m.
Commuters were advised to work from home if possible, particularly during the morning hours, and to check travel planners before heading out. Road traffic authority ANWB said it did not expect major congestion, partly because fewer school-run commuters are on the roads during this period as vacation season begins. Wednesday mornings also tend to be quieter on Dutch roads compared to other weekdays.
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