Government

Government fines for late payments in the Netherlands can triple, a practice experts and even the enforcement agency itself deem unfair. The system has become a crucial revenue source for the Ministry of Justice, leading to criticism over its disproportionate impact on those unable to pay.

A new report highlights that Dutch train tickets are among the most expensive in Europe due to strict government requirements for service frequency and a lack of sufficient subsidies, leading to a 6.5% price hike in 2026.