Rail union demands action on violence against train staff

Rail union VVMC has expressed outrage over the increasing violence against train staff in the Netherlands. In a letter to politicians, the union cited NS figures showing a dramatic increase in reports of aggression and violence against staff, jumping from 2,672 in 2023 to 6,442 in 2025. So far in 2025, there have been 5,088 reported incidents, including 1,368 cases of physical violence and 105 threats with a weapon.

The union emphasized that these are no longer just "unpleasant situations," but serious acts of violence against people performing their public duty. Recent attacks include a conductor being beaten unconscious at Rotterdam Blaak station and a conductor suffering a broken wrist and torn tendons after being bitten at Den Dolder station.

The union also pointed out that senior conductors lost their enforcement powers in 2022, limiting their ability to handle offenders. While senior conductors were given bodycams this year, the union argues that this does not compensate for the lost powers. The union is calling for increased security measures, including more NS security and service staff on trains.

Politicians are urged to take immediate action, the union said, noting that simply stating aggression is unacceptable is no longer sufficient. The letter follows the cabinet's recent announcement about providing public transport enforcement officers with access to the driving licence register. Starting Thursday, employers can apply for this access through the vehicle authority RDW.

Officers will be able to use licence photos to identify fare dodgers and troublemakers who do not have ID, bypassing the need to wait for the police.