Mobility

Police have arrested Extinction Rebellion activists after they blocked the railway tracks at Utrecht Centraal station. The protest, which follows a sit-in in the station hall, has brought all train traffic in and out of the major rail hub to a complete standstill. Protesters are demanding that the government immediately enforce tougher sanctions against Israel.

The government is launching a discounted off-peak rail pass on 21 June to help passengers save money over the summer. Valid until 1 September, the scheme allows unlimited off-peak travel for just €49 a month, down from the usual €127.95, in an effort to ease the pressure on household budgets caused by the rising cost of living. To get the €118 million plan ready in time, parliament must fast-track a budget change, after which officials will review the summer data to see if the cheaper fares can become permanent.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Commission has issued a stark warning that the government’s new flight plans for Schiphol Airport fail to guarantee adequate protection for local residents. In a critical advisory report, the commission highlighted significant "shortcomings" in the research, suggesting it downplays the true scale of noise and environmental damage while giving the aviation industry too much leeway. Urging a total revision of the report, the experts noted that health risks remain uncertain and that alternative solutions—such as banning night flights—were overlooked, though the Ministry maintained that the final level of protection remains a "political assessment."

Dutch motorways faced record-breaking congestion on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. Total traffic jams exceeded 1,000 kilometres as people departed for the Ascension Day holiday. While accidents worsened the delays, traffic eased after the initial early evening rush.

The caravan is enjoying a significant resurgence in the Netherlands, with new sales figures from trade associations BOVAG and KCI showing an 18 per cent increase in registrations this spring. While caravan sales are currently declining across the rest of Europe in favour of motorhomes, the Dutch market is bucking the trend, driven largely by young families who see them as an ideal way to holiday with children. Industry experts note that since the pandemic, caravans have firmly returned to the radar of younger generations, resulting in over 2,100 new units being sold in just two months.

The IMO reports that around 1,500 ships and 20,000 crew members remain stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Some vessels have been stuck for weeks, and an evacuation plan is being prepared once tensions ease.

Despite sharply rising fuel prices, Dutch motorists are driving more than before. New data shows weekly kilometres and driving days have increased, while many drivers now cross into Belgium or Germany to refuel at lower prices.

Train services between Utrecht and The Hague came to a halt on Monday morning after a signal failure near Moordrecht. ProRail expects the disruption to affect the morning rush hour while engineers investigate the cause. NS is running replacement buses on several routes to support travellers.