If you’re glued to your window waiting for a DHL Express delivery, here’s your sign to step away from the curtains.
Employees across the south of the Netherlands are striking today, Monday March 23, and your parcel likely isn’t coming.
Five locations are affected: Breda, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Beringe, and Den Hoorn. The action runs from 4 AM to 11 PM, making this the third strike in eight days, following a nationwide walkout on March 16 and a follow-up in Beringe on March 18.
So what’s actually going on?
The workers’ CAO (collective labour agreement) expired on December 31, 2025, and negotiations have been deadlocked ever since.
DHL Express is offering a 3.25% pay rise from July 2026. The unions — FNV and CNV — want 4% backdated to January this year, full sick pay maintained, and overtime properly compensated.
However, DHL wants to cut second-year sick pay from 100% to 90% and quietly ditch overtime supplements through the new agreement.
The union argues this leaves staff worse off in real terms, especially as wages haven’t kept pace with inflation. Meanwhile, DHL Express is posting millions in profit — and sister company DHL e-Commerce employees already got the 4% rise being denied to Express staff.
“The limit has been reached,” said FNV’s Jacqueline Lohle. “Workers are demanding respect, a decent CAO, and fair pay.” Six more depots have reportedly signalled they’re ready to join future strikes.
You can track your shipment via dhlexpress.nl. And while you wait, consider that Dutch delivery hasn’t exactly had a flawless reputation to begin with — at least today there’s a legitimate excuse for why it didn’t ring your bell.
Are you affected by today’s DHL Express strike? Let us know in the comments.
I am waiting for my renewed passport to be delivered which has not arrived and the DHL website has not updated with the expected arrival date yet. O am not able to go to office in case I missed my passport to receive.