Netherlands sees drop in strikes, rise in worker participation
The number of strikes in the Netherlands fell significantly in 2024, dropping to 36 from 52 in 2023, marking the first decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, more workers took part in strikes last year than the year before, according to new figures published Tuesday by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
A total of 21,300 workers participated in strikes in 2024—approximately 4,000 more than in 2023. While this represents a clear increase in involvement, the total number of working days lost due to strikes fell steeply to 53,700, down from 142,100 in 2023. CBS noted that strikes were more frequently of shorter duration last year: one in four lasted less than a day. By contrast, only 6 percent of strikes in 2023 were shorter than a day.
The Dutch industrial sector recorded the highest number of strikes and the greatest economic impact. There were 17 strikes in the industry in 2024—down from 28 the year before—resulting in 30,000 lost workdays, the most of any sector.
The trade sector had the most striking workers, with 10,000 employees participating in four strikes. In transport and logistics, six strikes involved 7,000 workers and led to 4,000 lost workdays.
The CBS figures also show a historical trend: strike activity rose each year from 2020 to 2023, rebounding from the low of just nine strikes during the first COVID year. The 52 strikes in 2023 marked the highest number in over a decade, before dropping again last year.
The number of people striking in 2024 was still well below peak years. In 2019, 318,700 employees walked out—an all-time high in CBS records going back to 1901. That year, large-scale strikes in education and healthcare drove the high participation rate. In comparison, 2024’s figure of just over 21,000 is modest, even if higher than 2023’s 17,400.
The most cited reason for striking in 2024 was dissatisfaction with collective labor agreements (cao’s). A key issue was the Early Retirement Scheme (RVU), a scheme allowing workers in physically demanding jobs to retire early. While complaints about labor agreements remained the leading cause of strikes, overall satisfaction with cao’s slightly improved. In 2024, 82 percent of Dutch workers said they were (very) satisfied with their collective agreements, up from 81 percent in 2023, according to the National Working Conditions Survey (NEA) by CBS and TNO.
Wage satisfaction also rose marginally. In 2024, 79 percent of workers said they were (very) satisfied with their salary, compared to 78 percent the year before.
Workers in public administration and education reported the highest satisfaction with their labor agreements—92 percent and 91 percent, respectively. The lowest satisfaction was found in the information and communications sector, where only 69 percent expressed contentment.
Wage satisfaction was also highest in public administration, with 89 percent of employees indicating they were happy with their pay. Workers in financial services followed closely, at 88 percent. By contrast, those in retail, transport, and hospitality reported the lowest wage satisfaction, with only 73 percent saying they were (very) satisfied.
Sector-specific shifts in satisfaction were also recorded. The largest increase in cao satisfaction was found in the rental and real estate sector. The strongest improvement in wage satisfaction was observed in public administration.
