On Tuesday 13 October, organisations for older people handed MPs a petition with more than 50,000 signatures, hoping to stop the government scrapping the public transport discount for over-65s.
They presented it while the House of Representatives was debating the cut.
Nearly one and a half million seniors currently get 34% off bus, tram and metro tickets on regional transport.
Government cites rising prosperity
After a quarter of a century, the government wants to end the scheme, arguing that older people have become wealthier.
Travel for primary school children would become free instead, and regions could still introduce their own senior discounts.
Fear of a patchwork
The older people’s associations in the Seniorencollectief fear that dropping the national scheme will create an unfair patchwork of regional rules.
Simon van Herpen, a spokesperson for ANBO-PCOB, said someone in Hoorn might pay half price while a relative in Enschede would not.
The discount dates back to the pink strippenkaart of 1980.
Since 2011, the OV-chipkaart has applied it automatically once a traveller turns 65.
As the OV-chipkaart applies the discount, it is worth knowing what a personal card in your own name offers.