# Hundreds of Rotterdam seniors march against ending free transport

> From 2027 most older Rotterdammers would have to pay to travel by public transport, and the municipal council is to debate the plan this week.

Society · published 2026-11-10 20:41 · https://nlnow.nl/a/hundreds-of-rotterdam-seniors-march-against-end-of-free-transport/

Hundreds of older people demonstrated in Rotterdam on Tuesday against the city's plan to abolish free public transport for seniors. They gathered at Rotterdam Centraal with signs, flags and banners, then marched to city hall on the Coolsingel.

**Why it matters**

- From 2027, most older people in Rotterdam would pay for public transport.
- Only state pensioners with an income of at most 110% of the statutory social minimum would keep travelling free, and only off-peak.

The municipality wants to end free travel for most older people from 2027. Recipients of the state pension (AOW) on a low income would be the exception. The municipal council is due to discuss the proposed decision this week.

The plan has caused discontent among many older people, especially those whose income is only slightly above the 110% threshold.

Protesters say they use public transport to reach clubs, to do things with their grandchildren and to do volunteer work. "If this really goes ahead, we'll be confined to our homes. We'll end up sitting behind the geraniums," said Nelly.

Nilva called the abolition the last straw, pointing also to paid parking being introduced in all Rotterdam neighbourhoods. "It's all about the money," she said. "Rotterdam doesn't want to invest in older people."

A 75-year-old woman said she might be able to afford the fare, "but my neighbour can't. That's why I came to protest."

Nationwide, 2.2% of people aged 75 and over used public transport in 2025, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) figures show. The share was 3.2% in 2018 and fell to 1.1% in 2020. It has since risen again, reaching 2.3% in 2024, the highest since 2019.

**Public transport use among people aged 75 and over has not regained its 2018 level** (%; source: CBS)

- 2018: 3.2
- 2019: 2.9
- 2020: 1.1
- 2021: 1.2
- 2022: 1.8
- 2023: 2.2
- 2024: 2.3
- 2025: 2.2

## Background

- **AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet)**: The AOW is the Dutch state pension, a basic pension paid by the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) to people who have reached the AOW age. It is not based on earlier earnings; the amount depends on how many years a person lived or worked in the Netherlands. Because it is a basic income for older people, municipal schemes for discounts or free services often use receipt of the AOW, combined with a low income, as the eligibility test.
- **gemeenteraad**: The municipal council is the locally elected body of a Dutch municipality that decides on local rules, policy and the municipal budget. It votes on proposals put forward by the college van burgemeester en wethouders, the municipal executive of mayor and aldermen. Its decisions are binding for the municipality, so a proposed local change only takes effect after the council has approved it.

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