The threatening cuts on public transport in the Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague regions must be taken off. The Amsterdam (VRA) transport region and the Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH) Metropolitan Region, the clients of the city and regional transport in 14 municipalities in Noord-Holland and 21 municipalities in South Holland respectively demand that of the government.
VRA and MRDH have officially submitted an objection to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. It is the start of a legal battle over the local public transport. The transport regions want to prevent that from 1 January 2026 will run up to 20 percent fewer buses in and around the big cities and that the rates for buses, trams and subways have to rise sharply.
It is unusual that local authorities start such legal proceedings against the government. In the Netherlands, rich and decentralized authorities generally work together as ‘collegial authorities’. “Making an objection is a heavy measure that we would rather not use,” says Melanie van der Horst, chairman of VRA and alderman in Amsterdam on behalf of D66. The large municipalities previously fought, among other things, unilateral cuts imposed by the government on youth care and the Social Support Act (WMO).
110 million euros less
From 1 January 2026, the public transport around Amsterdam and Rotterdam/The Hague will receive 110 million euros less from the government. That amounts to around 10 percent of their income. The city and regional transport in the Netherlands runs for one half on subsidies, for the other half on ticket sales.
This cutbacks on public transport is the result of a different way in which the government wants to finance municipalities. Now the government provides so -called specific benefits (Spuk’s) that municipalities use for all kinds of projects – often once -, from soil remediation and libraries to sport and culture. A Spuk is earmarked budget, and may not be spent on other things.
City transport also pays the government, through the transport regions, with the help of such a Spuk. That is improper use of a Spuk, the transport regions have been complaining for some time, because city transport is absolutely not a one -off project. Together, the city and regional carriers serve around two thirds of the regional public transport travelers in the Netherlands.
The now demonstrate Cabinet Schoof wants to abolish the Spuk’s, to the delight of municipalities, which thus have to make less financial accountability (only to the city council, no longer to the government). The cabinet has a ‘task’ of 10 percent attached to this. The idea: without all administrative hassle, the budget can also be a tenth lower.
And that now catches city transport. In The Hague, the discount on public transport in and around the big cities is seen as a ‘mistake’ during the coalition negotiations of the Cabinet Schoof. Admit that it is a formation error, MP Pieter Grinwis (CU) called on the cabinet last fall during a debate about public transport.
“The cutback of 110 million on public transport can be traced back to an administrative error,” said Jan van Zanen, chairman of MRDH and mayor of The Hague. “The empire recognizes that too, but does not yet absorb the cutback. With disastrous consequences for public transport travelers.”
The discount for the MRDH amounts to more than 58.5 million euros and for VRA at more than 51 million. In April, the now departed State Secretary Chris Jansen (Infrastructure and Water Management, PVV) reported that he had no money to cancel the already booked saving on public transport. That makes it unlikely that the ministry will honor the announcement of VRA and MRDH today. For both transport regions, the next step is then a corridor to the administrative court.