DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
Third of public transport will disappear if Dutch government cuts aid
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Third of public transport will disappear if Dutch government cuts aid

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Travelling during the coronavirus crisis: What are your rights?Travelling during the coronavirus crisis: What are your rights?
August 2022: 6 things expats in the Netherlands need to knowAugust 2022: 6 things expats in the Netherlands need to know
NS running reduced train services from MondayNS running reduced train services from Monday
NS unveils plan to be back at full capacity from AprilNS unveils plan to be back at full capacity from April
Disruption expected as NS International workers strike on WednesdayDisruption expected as NS International workers strike on Wednesday
July 2023: 17 things expats in the Netherlands need to know July 2023: 17 things expats in the Netherlands need to know
Public transport workers in The Hague to strike on June 2Public transport workers in The Hague to strike on June 2
Quarter of people fly less due to flight shame, Dutch survey revealsQuarter of people fly less due to flight shame, Dutch survey reveals
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Jun 15, 2022
Victoria Séveno
Victoria grew up in Amsterdam, before moving to the UK to study English and Related Literature at the University of York and completing her NCTJ course at the Press Association in London. She has a love for all things movies, animals, and food. Read more

Cities and municipalities across the Netherlands have warned that if the Dutch government goes ahead with cutting financial support for public transport operators, up to a third of routes across the country could disappear in 2023. 

No more financial support for public transport in the Netherlands? 

During the coronavirus pandemic, public transport in the Netherlands saw passenger numbers drop by around 50 percent, meaning the government had to step in to help operators make it through the crisis. Over the past two years, Dutch public transport companies have continued to receive emergency financial support from the government - but new information reveals that Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s cabinet plans to bring this to an end before the end of the year. 

A recent report published by the Knowledge Institute for Mobility Policy predicts that 97 percent of public transport users will return to the country’s trains, trams, buses and metros by 2023. Sources in The Hague say that this report has left the cabinet feeling positive about the future of public transport in the Netherlands. 

20 to 30 percent of Dutch public transport could disappear

In response to the news, representatives from the Netherlands’ provinces have argued that government support is crucial for the future survival of the country’s extensive public transport network. They state that public transport is still not as widely used as it was before the pandemic, and expect passenger numbers won’t return to 2019 levels before 2026. 

Together with Dutch political parties and transport operators, the provinces have warned that slashing government support would mean that up to 30 percent of services would be cut from 2023. They’ve called on Rutte’s cabinet to commit to a 500-million euro investment that would, if necessary, absorb the losses companies face as a result of reduced passenger numbers. 

"Either we commit tens of millions of euros a year to maintain our network, or we cancel up to 30 percent of the public transport lines,” Arne Schaddelee, who's responsible for Mobility in the province of Utrecht, told NOS. He went on to say that thousands of people, specifically those with lower incomes and without cars, rely on public transport in their daily lives. 

GVB planning reduced timetable in Amsterdam for 2023

Some more rural areas have already faced significant cuts to public transport services in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Bus lines have faced the biggest changes, with services in Leeuwarden, Den Bosch and Deventer being cancelled or reduced over the past several months. 

But the big cities are also worried: the GVB in Amsterdam has already warned passengers that next year’s timetable faces considerable cuts. Transport alderman Melanie van der Horst has raised her concerns, saying reducing the number of services by the planned 20 to 30 percent “will affect so many people.”

By Victoria Séveno