Dutch government workers to strike nationwide on Tuesday over 2026 pay freeze
Dutch civil servants are set to halt work for 24 hours on Tuesday in a protest over this year’s pay freeze, marking the next escalation in an ongoing labor dispute. The strike could disrupt multiple government services across the country, NOS reports.
The action involves parts of the 160,000-strong Rijksambtenaren, the national civil servants who work for the Dutch central government. Many of these employees are expected to gather in The Hague to protest the government’s decision to implement a so-called "nullijn," which means a pay freeze with no salary increases for 2026.
The trade union FNV said the pay freeze effectively reduces civil servants’ purchasing power. Workers at executive agencies are particularly affected, the union said, noting that these offices have long faced high workloads and staff shortages. "These people do the work that keeps the Netherlands running, but they are not appreciated," FNV stated.
Recent smaller-scale actions included inspectors from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), who halted work this month, causing some slaughterhouses in the eastern provinces to close.
For next Tuesday, FNV acknowledged it is unclear how widespread the impact will be. It is already confirmed, however, that the DUO call center will be closed for the day.
At the Tax Authority, which started its tax filing period Sunday, phone lines could see heavy traffic. The authority said real-time wait times will be posted online, and some appointments at local support centers for filing assistance may be rescheduled.
