Europe strikes, late October to December 2026: Italy, France and the Netherlands

What this covers

Last checked: 16 October 2026, 14:15 IST.

Transport strikes formally called in Italy, France and the Netherlands for the weeks ahead. We scanned Germany, the UK, Spain, Portugal and Greece through news reports only and found nothing major listed, but we have not checked those countries against official sources. A called strike can still be revoked, postponed or scaled back, so read every date as "listed", not "certain".

Italy

Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport keeps a public register of every transport strike called. These are the entries that could affect a visitor, in date order.

Wednesday 28 to Thursday 29 October — Emilia-Romagna. Trenitalia customer-operations staff at Bologna, Reggio Emilia (including the Mediopadana high-speed station) and Rimini, from 21:00 on the 28th to 21:00 on the 29th.

Friday 30 October — national general strike, and Pisa and Florence airports. The USB union’s general strike covers the public and private sectors. For rail it is listed from 21:00 on Thursday 29 October to 20:59 on Friday 30 October, and for motorway staff from 22:00 on the 29th. On the same day, ground staff at Pisa and Florence airports (Toscana Aeroporti and its handling companies) are listed for a 24-hour strike. If you are flying into or out of Tuscany on the 30th, flights and trains may both be affected.

Friday 6 November — Bari. Air traffic control at Bari airport, 13:00 to 17:00.

Friday 13 November — Milan and Venice local transport. A 24-hour strike at ATM, which runs Milan’s metro, trams and buses, called by a small union, so the effect is uncertain. Also a 24-hour strike at ATVO, which runs buses between Venice Marco Polo airport, Piazzale Roma and Mestre.

Friday 20 to Saturday 21 November — rail. A national rail strike from 21:00 on 20 November to 20:00 on 21 November (CUB Trasporti and SGB). Some regional transport operators are also listed for the 21st.

Saturday 21 November — air traffic control. A national four-hour strike by ENAV staff, 13:00 to 17:00.

Sunday 22 November — Milan Malpensa and Venice. Twenty-four hours by air traffic control staff at Milan Malpensa, and separately by security staff at Venice Marco Polo.

Further ahead: a national general strike on Friday 4 December (rail from 21:00 on 3 December), and Rome airports ground handling on Monday 14 December.

Italy requires minimum services during transport strikes, and airlines and rail operators publish the services they will run. We have not confirmed the protected hours with the Italian aviation authority, so we are not quoting them. Your airline’s or rail operator’s list for the day is what counts. Background: our Italy strike alert.

France

Thursday 5 November — national strike and protest day. France’s five main union confederations (CFDT, CGT, FO, UNSA and FSU) have called a public- and private-sector strike day against the 2027 budget. On 15 October the main SNCF rail unions said they would join. No service forecast has been published yet; SNCF and Paris transport operator RATP normally publish one a day or two before. Until those forecasts appear, assume trains may be disrupted, and allow extra time if you are relying on a train to reach Charles de Gaulle airport. We have seen no request from the French civil aviation authority to cut flights. This falls three days before Diwali (8 November), when many Indian families travel.

Still suspended: the pilot and cabin crew strike of 17–21 October. The unions suspended their notice on 9 October pending a promised pension decree, and as of 16 October there is no newer union statement. Suspended is not cancelled, but there is nothing to act on unless the notice is revived. Detail: our France strike article.

The Netherlands

Weekly regional transport strikes planned, dates at short notice. The first national strike day in Dutch regional and city transport went ahead on 14 October; CNV says most buses in the areas covered stayed off the road. The CNV union says that unless employers respond, it and FNV will take action every week until Christmas, announcing details only shortly beforehand. City transport in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague is outside the dispute, and national rail operator NS is not involved. If your plans rely on regional buses or regional trains outside those three cities, check your journey planner the evening before.

Sensible precautions

Check two days before, and again on the day, on your airline’s or rail operator’s own website or app.

Rely on the operator’s confirmed service list for the day, not on general rules about protected hours.

Keep your contact details current on the booking so the airline can reach you.

Know which mode is listed. Italy 29–30 October: trains from the evening of the 29th, plus Pisa and Florence airports on the 30th. 21–22 November: flights. France 5 November: mainly trains and city transport.

For a tight airport connection by train on a strike day, allow a taxi or earlier train as a fallback.

Where to check

Italy: the transport ministry’s strike register (scioperi.mit.gov.it) and your airline or rail operator.

France: SNCF Connect and RATP for trains; your airline for flights.

Netherlands: your operator’s journey planner (9292 or the operator’s app).

Trip planning: Italy, France, Netherlands.

Belgium: no further national strike date announced as of 16 October.

Sources

This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.

• Scioperi — strike register (read 16 October 2026) — Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti, 16 October 2026
• Le 5 novembre, grandes grèves intersyndicales dans tout le pays — CGT, 05 October 2026
• SNCF : les syndicats appellent à la grève le 5 novembre — L’Express via 6Médias, 15 October 2026
• Défense de la CRPN : responsabilité et avancées concrètes — SNPNC-FO, 09 October 2026
• Buschauffeurs geven massaal gehoor aan stakingsoproep — CNV, 14 October 2026
• Woensdag 14 oktober landelijke staking busvervoer — CNV, 09 October 2026
• NMBS press room (no new strike notice) — NMBS/SNCB, 16 October 2026