Dutch railway company NS must continue to offer train services from Amsterdam’s main railway station to Schiphol airport during Wednesday’s early morning strike, judges ruled on Tuesday after an emergency hearing.

NS workers are due to strike nationwide from 4 am to 8 am on Wednesday, although railway officials say it could take several hours before services return to normal.

Schiphol went to court to force the NS to run an airport service, saying otherwise there could be traffic chaos, leading to dangerous situations.

It is the second time that the courts have found in Schiphol’s favour. In 2019, NS was also told to operate a limited service from the capital to the airport during a strike.

Early retirement

NS workers are going on strike in support of their campaign for a better early retirement scheme. On Tuesday, public transport in the three big cities came to a halt between 4 am and 8 am.

The strikes are part of a series of stoppages by unions in support of a new early retirement scheme for workers in physically taxing jobs. The current ruling is due to expire at the end of this year. The retirement age in the Netherlands is 67.

On Monday it emerged that the government is thinking of making a quota part of a new early retirement package. Social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum said he wants to limit the number of people who take advantage of the option to 15,000 a year, and to exclude people earning over €74,000 a year.

Unions are furious at the suggestion, saying it is a slap in the face to everyone doing physically taxing jobs. “They are acting as if there is a great proposal on the table, but that is far from the case,” the FNV trade union said.

Strikes will follow this week in Rotterdam port, in the construction sector, healthcare and various other heavy industries.