Police stations closed for 24 hours in protest for early retirement scheme

Police stations throughout the Netherlands will be closed to the public today as police unions protest for a decent early retirement scheme for cops. Wednesday is the second time police stations are closed for 24 hours in this campaign.

Since 2021, police employees have had the option to retire up to three years before the state pension age, with a benefit to bridge the gap. The current Early Retirement Scheme (RVU) expires at the end of this year.

The police unions started protesting for a new early retirement scheme for the police early this year with marches in The Hague. In May, the police stopped writing tickets for minor offenses, including cycling without lights and public urination. Violators who were let off with a warning were also given a pamphlet explaining the reason for the police protest. In the first week alone, officers wrote 6,000 fewer tickets than a year ago. On June 7th, police stations closed for the first time.

Netherlands residents who visit a police station today will find closed doors and a poster explaining the protest. Appointments scheduled for that day will be moved. The police remain available for emergencies.

“Only when politicians, administrators, and employers take the right steps towards a decent RVU will the police unions stop taking action. Until then, the actions will only increase,” the police union NPB said last week.