Long lines at stations and red-hot telephones at taxi centers due to malfunction

The taxi company brings many people to Schiphol, but it is also busy on other routes. Hamdi says that taxi companies from the region are also hiring more self-employed drivers to meet the demand. “The prices remain the same, because they are set by law,” he says.

Taxi Zwart from Heiloo is also busier than usual on Sundays. “We were already busy,” says the owner. “We therefore have more calls that we cannot take.” So those rides stay put.

Amsterdam Central

Many people are stranded at Amsterdam Central Station. Photos show that there are long queues at the service counters.

Transporting passengers by bus is currently not possible, due to the large numbers of people waiting at Centraal. “The group of travelers is simply too large, 1000 people fit in an Intercity, about 50 people fit in such a bus,” said Erik Kroeze spokesman for the NS.

Text continues below the video.

It is also busy at the Amsterdam taxi company TCA. If you call the number to book a taxi, it is not always possible to get hold of someone. Customers then hear a voicemail, which tells them that it is very busy. People can book a taxi via the app, or they can try to hail one.

Text continues below the photo.

The Alkmaar company Taxi 072 also receives more calls. “I now also have two people in the car who have to go to Eindhoven and Venlo,” says one of the drivers. “It is forced, but they have to pay for it themselves.” The driver believes that NS should compensate people for the costs they incur, because a taxi is more expensive than a train ticket.

The crowds are not noticed in all places in the province. Taxi Centrale Haarlem only had one phone call at the beginning of the afternoon about the train failure. “He wanted to go to Venlo, but that was too expensive,” says an employee of the company. It is also still quiet at the Hoornse Taxi Centrale. “We also have a driver at the station, but he hasn’t had anything yet.”