Uber recorded six times more advance bookings than usual during the nationwide public transport strike in the Netherlands.
The company confirmed the increase on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Uber did not reveal the total number of journeys booked.
A company spokesperson said advance reservations helped drivers prepare for the increased demand.
“Because a lot of passengers had reserved their rides in advance, drivers were able to be prepared and also focus on regular and the few unexpected rides, for example near stations and airports.”
The strike stopped almost all trains, buses, trams and metro services across the Netherlands.
Many travellers turned to taxis, private cars and ride-hailing services to reach work, airports and other destinations.
Amsterdam taxi company TCA warned customers that it could not guarantee the availability of a car.
The company also stopped offering fixed prices for pre-booked journeys during the disruption.
“We are also only using the price per meter; all pre-arranged prices are unavailable. We are doing our utmost best to transport everyone as quickly as possible!” TCA said.
The company had advised passengers to reserve their taxis before the strike began.
The Haagse Taxi Centrale in The Hague also experienced higher demand early Wednesday morning.
An employee said the situation became especially busy around Schiphol Airport.
“One colleague still hasn’t returned after 2.5 hours,” he said.
Demand in The Hague became calmer around midday. However, the company expected bookings to increase again later in the day.
Taxicentrale Schiphol also reported a busy day.
Traffic delays affected journeys towards the airport’s departure halls.
A tunnel near Schiphol had closed earlier after a truck exceeded its height limit. The closure added to delays in the area.
Despite complaints from taxi drivers, the ANWB traffic service said traffic around Schiphol was not unusually heavy at the time of its assessment.
The public transport strike started at 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday and was scheduled to end at 2:00 a.m. on Thursday.
