The EU Commission has called on the Netherlands to improve competition on the rail network. According to the Brussels authority, there are indications that the country unlawfully gives priority to its state railway on congested tracks. This potentially violates European competition law.
The Dutch Railways (NS) are 100 percent state-owned and the country’s largest passenger transport company. Since 2025, the Netherlands has had to allow other rail operators to offer passenger services on main lines. However, national rules give NS priority if not all requests for train paths can be fulfilled. This could distort competition in international traffic, according to the Commission’s preliminary assessment.
The Netherlands now has two months to respond to the allegations. If the EU Commission finds sufficient evidence of a violation, it can demand that the state address the concerns. There is no deadline for concluding the investigation.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
