Politics
GVB Awarded 11-Year Concession Under Amsterdam Mobility Framework
Amsterdam residents face changes to public transport services, vehicle access rules and new metro planning from 2026 onward.
How we reported this
On 1 July 2025 Vervoerregio Amsterdam awarded operator GVB an 11-year concession to run public transport through 2036. The agreement includes a 4 percent increase in transit services from March 2026. The decision follows the regional Mobility Policy Framework Connecting through Diversity adopted in October 2023, which guides transport investments across the Amsterdam region.
Policy measures now in progress
The city continues work on its Mobility Plan for Amsterdam in 2030 to remove through traffic from the historic centre. Measures include restrictions on car access and expansion of 30 km/h zones. At the same time the Emission-Free Mobility implementation agenda for 2023 to 2026 requires all new taxis, vans and buses inside the A10 ring to be emission-free by 2025.
These steps affect daily travel for residents who use buses, trams and metro lines operated by GVB. The service increase is scheduled to begin in March 2026. Vehicle rules apply to commercial operators working inside the A10 ring and to drivers entering the historic centre.
Infrastructure priorities
Planning now includes a new metro route connecting north and south Amsterdam. The extension of the existing North/South line to Schiphol has been set aside in favour of a new East-West line. Residents in northern and southern districts will see construction activity linked to the north-south connection in coming years.
The 11-year concession and the 2023 regional framework together set the timetable for service changes and infrastructure choices. Residents can expect the 4 percent service increase from March 2026 and continued enforcement of emission and access rules inside the A10 ring and historic centre. Further details on routes and timetables will be released by Vervoerregio Amsterdam and GVB as implementation proceeds.