Nationwide train traffic in the Netherlands is expected to face significant disruptions next Tuesday due to an expanded strike by railway unions. The strike stems from an ongoing collective labor agreement dispute between NS, the Dutch national rail operator, and several unions, including FNV, CNV, and VVMC.

The VVMC union accuses NS of failing to adequately address their demands for higher wages and improved working conditions, citing the proposed gradual wage increase as insufficient. The union emphasizes the challenging conditions faced by conductors and train drivers.

The strike, scheduled to last from 4:00 AM to 3:59 AM the following day, will now encompass the North-West region, effectively impacting the entire Randstad area. While the union is open to discussions with Schiphol Airport regarding a minimal train schedule, the overall impact on train services is anticipated to be substantial.

This action follows a previous strike in the Central region last Friday, which brought train traffic to a standstill across the country due to Utrecht’s central role in the rail network. A previously announced strike in the West region for next Tuesday was already set to halt train services in much of South Holland, Zeeland, and West Brabant, affecting travel to and from major cities like The Hague, Rotterdam, and Gouda.

Adding to the disruption, staff from universities and colleges are also planning to strike on Tuesday. A demonstration is planned for that afternoon on Dam Square in Amsterdam, moved from The Hague due to the NS strike. The implications of the expanded train strike on the education demonstration remain uncertain.