Police unions announce action: no deployment at FC Twente-Sparta match

The police unions are organizing actions at two Eredivisie football matches this weekend. The unions are organizing rallies for a better Early Retirement Scheme (RVU) and are calling on their members to stay away from the FC Twente-Sparta match in Enschede. There will also be actions at the NAC-Ajax match in Breda on Sunday afternoon, which means that the police will not be present at the NAC stadium in Breda.

Since 2021, police officers have been able to leave the service three years before reaching the state pension age, but this arrangement is only temporary. The trade unions want a permanent arrangement. "The fact that police work is hard work is unfortunately too often evident at football matches," the four unions stated in a press release.

The police unions called on the government to support the union's demand for a better early retirement plan. "The government must take explicit and visible steps to make early retirement possible for police officers. The mayors and KNVB administrators can contribute by explicitly supporting and promoting the call to the minister."

Every weekend, the unions choose matches from the Eredivisie to take action. The actions start in Enschede. An hour before the start of the match between FC Twente and Sparta, the police unions hold an action meeting outside the stadium. The meeting starts at 5:45 p.m. and lasts until an hour after the final whistle.

The spokesman for the National Action Center did not say how many police officers are normally deployed at football matches. "The police do not make any statements about the deployment of people in connection with security. We respect that."