The BWI-affiliated FNV in the Netherlands held its congress on 4–5 June 2026 in Amsterdam, bringing together around 650 FNV members. Many international guests from different sectors, including BWI, were present to hear from and meet the new leadership elected one month ago.

According to FNV President Hans Spekman, a former member of the Dutch Parliament and former president of the Dutch Labour Party, “There is a lot at stake in our country.” He clearly underlined that FNV is ready to enter the battle with the cabinet and make the union relevant again. Indeed, a minority cabinet is proposing significant cuts to social security.

There are plans to accelerate the increase in the state pension age, shorten the duration of unemployment benefits from two years to one year, and cut back on the WIA, the disability benefit scheme. The Netherlands is also facing numerous other challenges, including purchasing power, job security, social services, and the dismantling of public and health services. Spekman said that these plans “must be taken off the table.” The union will demonstrate later this month and show its “power of movement.” “We need more members. We must win this fight together,” he added.

A moving moment during the congress was the address by Esther Mary Vergeer, a Dutch former professional Paralympic tennis player widely regarded as the most dominant athlete in the sport’s history, who shared her personal story. It was also inspiring to see around 80 young FNV members on the podium, who committed to carrying on the fight while chanting the congress theme, “The Power of Movement.”

Another powerful moment was the “Justice 4 Pawel” call, highlighting the case of Pawel Rudzki, a Polish temporary worker who was fired by Albert Heijn, the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, after striking for better rights for temporary workers. Rudzki has emerged as a symbol of the struggle for the rights of Eastern European migrant workers. He ultimately won his case before the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favour, granting him a permanent contract retroactively and reinstating him to his position. The ruling represents an important victory for temporary workers across the country.

Two workshops were organised for international guests. One focused on deregulation and its impact on workers’ rights across different sectors, while also examining the importance of coalition-building and collective action in future campaigning. The other focused on competitiveness, its impact on quality jobs, and the concrete effects throughout value chains.

BWI had the opportunity to meet with FNV delegates to explain the work being carried out at the international level. BWI expressed its gratitude for the recent women’s event organised by FNV in India around International Women’s Day, “Colours of Empowerment,” which included BWI and several of its European affiliates. Throughout the congress, Spekman repeatedly stressed the importance of continuing international cooperation, given the strong values of solidarity deeply anchored within FNV.

FNV has recently faced complex internal challenges, and the new leadership is committed to driving a clear cultural change.