Travel/leisure

KLM’s quarterly profit has improved, yet the airline says its financial performance is still not strong enough. CEO Marjan Rintel plans to continue cost‑saving measures while demand for cargo and holiday travel remains high. Meanwhile, Air France‑KLM will cut flights later this year due to soaring fuel prices, affecting short‑ and medium‑haul routes across Europe.

High fuel prices and lower overall running costs are driving more Dutch holidaymakers to travel abroad in electric vehicles this summer, with Fastned reporting a 50 percent surge in foreign charging sessions. EV owners benefit from reduced maintenance expenses, access to European zero-emission zones, and lower fuel costs, leading 55 percent of owners to vacation by car. This trend reflects broader adoption across the Netherlands, where fully electric cars captured a 37 percent market share in the first half of the year.

Dutch holidaymakers are reporting evacuations due to forest fires in France and Spain, mainly around Bordeaux. ANWB and Eurocross say there are no injuries, and travelers are urged to keep an emergency bag ready and follow local guidance.

Foodwatch is calling on Efteling to end its unlimited soft drink refill system, arguing it encourages excessive sugar intake. Efteling says visitors can also choose sugar-free drinks or water and regrets that Foodwatch did not reach out directly.

Train service between Schiedam and Den Haag Hollands Spoor will be suspended from Tuesday 28 July through Friday 31 July while ProRail carries out track maintenance and tunnel inspections. NS is deploying replacement buses, which could add up to 30 minutes to travel times, though passengers can also detour via Gouda.

Hundreds of thousands of people have signed up for NS’s discounted summer rail pass, with many new customers choosing the train for the first time. The government says the promotion is helping to make public transport more attractive as fuel prices remain high.

The Dutch railway operator NS has proposed a ban on placing bags on passenger seats to free up space and reduce social friction. The company plans to change its official terms of service to make luggage racks and laps the default storage spots. While conductors will encourage compliance, NS will focus on awareness campaigns rather than issuing fines to passengers.

Train services south of Rotterdam will stop for four days next week due to major ProRail works. The project affects both domestic and international routes, including EuroCity and Eurostar services. The disruption follows an earlier suspension caused by a cable‑duct fire.