Amsterdam, Rotterdam transit regions challenge public transport cuts

The Vervoerregio Amsterdam (Amsterdam Transport Region) and the Metropoolregio Rotterdam The Hague (Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Region) have formally objected to planned cuts in public transport funding, calling the reductions "unlawful," officials announced Monday. Both transit regions submitted their objections to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Melanie van der Horst, chairwoman of the Vervoerregio Amsterdam, said, "We see no other option. The national funds exist to properly carry out our tasks: ensuring good public transport so people can get where they need to be. Those tasks have not changed. Therefore, this cut cannot be justified."

The planned budget reductions target the Broad Purpose Grant (Brede Doeluitkering, BDU), which the transit regions say they depend on almost entirely. They warn the cuts will make it impossible to fully perform their public transport responsibilities.

In March, several public and regional transport operators—including GVB (Amsterdam’s public transport company), HTM (The Hague’s public transport company), RET (Rotterdam’s public transport company), Connexxion, and EBS—protested the proposed cuts by briefly halting vehicles for 110 seconds, symbolizing the 110 euros million reduction.