Arriva to deliver more options for European rail journeys

Train lovers will soon have more options in the Netherlands, Belgium and France with the imminent arrival of new services from continental heavyweight Arriva. 

The company is pressing ahead with plans to expand international rail services, unveiling proposals for new direct routes between the Netherlands, Belgium and Paris that could launch from February, 2028.

Arriva has businesses in 11 countries across Europe, including operating businesses in 10 countries and a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.

The operator has formally notified the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) of its intention to operate two additional international services linking The Hague and Amersfoort with Paris, news service Travel Mole reports. 

The filing is a required step before launching new open-access passenger rail services in the Netherlands.

If approved, the new routes would complement Arriva’s previously announced Groningen-Paris service, creating three direct rail links between the Netherlands and Paris.

The proposed The Hague-Paris service would operate three daily round trips. In the Netherlands, trains would call at Rotterdam and Roosendaal before crossing into Belgium. 

Stops would then include Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South and Mons, before continuing to Paris.

A second route from Amersfoort would run twice daily via Utrecht, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Breda. After entering Belgium, it would follow the same international corridor through Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South and Mons before reaching Paris.

The services are planned to begin as soon as operational approvals, train paths and infrastructure access are secured.

The expansion is part of Arriva’s wider strategy to challenge incumbent international rail operators by offering more direct cross-border services. The company is positioning itself as an alternative to existing high-speed operators on one of Europe’s busiest international rail corridors.

Arriva is the largest competitor to Dutch state-owned rail operator NS in the regional rail market and has steadily expanded its international ambitions. 

The company already operates the Three Countries Train, linking Liège, Maastricht and Aachen, providing cross-border passenger services between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Amsterdam tells tourists: Pay up, or on your bike

Amsterdam is a small city with narrow thoroughfares and limited resources. 

Now the Dutch city is cracking down further on overtourism. 

Amsterdam authorities are planning to introduce new tourism measures which will make the city one of the toughest in Europe in managing tourism amid a growing hostility towards tourists, news hub Travel Mole reports.

 

Among the changes is a gradual increase in its tourist tax to 20% by the end of the decade, as city leaders seek to curb overtourism and improve the quality of life for residents.

The Dutch citg already charges one of the highest visitor taxes in Europe. Overnight visitors currently pay a tourist tax equivalent to 12% of their accommodation cost, while day visitors arriving by cruise ship pay a separate fee fixed at €15 per day.

Under proposals unveiled by the city’s new coalition government, the overnight tourist tax would rise to 16% next year before increasing by one percentage point annually until it reaches 20% in 2030.

City officials say the higher levy is designed to ensure visitors contribute more fairly to the costs associated with maintaining one of Europe’s most-visited destinations.

Amsterdam welcomed 9.5 millions guests last year. That makes tourism one of the city’s most important economic drivers but local authorities say the growing number of visitors has also placed mounting pressure on public spaces, municipal services, neighborhoods, and infrastructure.

According to the coalition agreement, tourism remains vital to the city’s economy, but the associated costs of managing large visitor numbers have become increasingly significant.

The proposed tax increase forms part of a much broader tourism management strategy designed to create what city leaders describe as a more balanced visitor economy.

Another proposal would see increases to Amsterdam’s entertainment levy, which currently applies to activities such as canal boat tours, canoe rentals, and other recreational services operating on the city’s famous waterways.

Taxing times: Amsterdam hits tourists the hardest

If you think your hotel room in Amsterdam is a little expensive, you can blame the local taxes. 

The biggest city in the Netherlands has claimed the top spot as the European city with the highest tourist tax, new rankings compiled by Holidu.pt, the Portuguese branch of the holiday rental technology company Holidu. 

The ranking is based on data from Euromonitor’s “Top 100 City Destinations.”

As of now, Amsterdam charges tourists an average of €18.45 per night, applying a 12.5% tax on the total value of accommodations. 

The measure is part of the city’s strategy to tackle over-tourism, support public infrastructure, and ensure that tourism contributes to Amsterdam’s economy.

Second place is shared by four Greek destinations -Athens, Heraklion, Rhodes and Thessaloniki - which apply an average daily tax of €8.17. 

Dubbed a “climate resilience tax”, it is designed to fund infrastructure upgrades and sustainable tourism. Rates vary by accommodation type and are lower during the off-season (November to March).

Berlin ranks sixth, following a recent tax increase. Since January 1, the German capital imposes a 7.5% levy on the net cost of accommodation, averaging €7.38 per night. Notably, the tax now also applies to business travellers, marking a departure from previous exemptions common in German cities.

Italy is also included  in the top 10, with Milan leading among Italian cities. The city raised its maximum tourist tax to €7 per person, per night, for guests in 4- and 5-star hotels. The average rate now stands at €6.44. 

Rome and Florence share eighth position, with an average rate of €6.18. In Rome, tourists pay €10 per night in 5-star hotels, €7.50 in 4-star, and as little as €4 in 1-star accommodations. Florence applies similar rates, with 5-star hotels at €8, 4-star at €7, and 1-star at €3.50.

Interestingly, some of Europe’s most popular tourist cities do not top the list. 

Barcelona, Paris, and Nice rank 11th and equa 12th. 

While Barcelona charges an average of €5.81 tourist tax, Nice and Paris stand at €5.65 per night. 

On your bike: a new element to barge holidays

There is a growing trend towards active holidays and as Australians return to Europe in growing numbers, many are upgrading the classic barge cruise with a new twist: the bicycle.

Bike and Barge holidays, where travellers cycle each day and stay aboard a floating hotel each night, are surging in popularity, offering an active yet relaxed alternative to traditional river cruising.

The trend reflects a broader shift in the way Australians want to travel: slowing down, staying active, and experiencing Europe more intimately.

"It’s an effortless way to explore," says Kate Baker, general manager at UTracks, a specialist in small-group active holidays.

"You cycle as much or as little as you like during the day, then come home to a warm meal and your own cabin; no bags to move, no rushing around, just pure travel enjoyment."

On a typical Bike and Barge tour, travellers can cycle scenic paths through vineyards, farmland, and historic towns by day, and return to their barge, a cosy vessel carrying between 12-140 guests, each evening for relaxed communal meals and sunset drinks on deck.

With the same cabin each night, there’s no need to pack and unpack, and no long coach transfers interrupting the flow of the journey.

“More Australians are choosing to add this active element to their river cruise experience,” Baker says. “It’s a way to stay healthy on holiday, while also creating more memorable and personal encounters, whether that’s chatting with a local in a village square or stopping spontaneously at a market or café.”

With electric bikes available, the holidays are accessible to a wide range of fitness levels. Now you are talking!

Here are some suggested UTracks Bike and Barge options open for 2026 bookings.

The Danube by Bike & Barge
Cycle along the Danube River, discovering charming Austrian villages, grand riverside castles, and vibrant cultural hubs between Passau and Vienna. Gentle, scenic cycling routes lead to baroque abbeys, vineyards, and the historic heart of the Habsburg Empire.
https://www.utracks.com/Austria/Bike-Boat/The-Danube-by-Bike-Boat

Amsterdam to Bruges Bike & Barge
Journey through the Netherlands and Belgium, cycling past windmills, vibrant tulip fields (in season), and canal-laced cities. Each night, a comfortable barge awaits, docked near bustling market squares or picturesque waterways.
https://www.utracks.com/Netherlands/Bike-Boat/Amsterdam-to-Bruges-Bike-Barge-Comfort

Veneto Bike & Barge
Cycle through the stunning landscapes of Italy’s Veneto region, from the enchanting city of Venice along the canals and waterways of the Po River. The route offers a mix of Renaissance architecture, fantastic food and wine, and serene country trails.
https://www.utracks.com/Italy/Bike-Boat/Veneto-Bike-Boat

Provence Bike & Barge
Follow in the footsteps of great artists as you cycle through Provence’s lavender fields, vineyards, and historic villages. The route passes through the Rhône Valley, with opportunities to sample local wines and Provençal delicacies before returning to the comfort of your barge.
https://www.utracks.com/France/Bike-Boat/Provence-Bike-Boat

Tulip Tour Bike & Barge
Cycling through the tulip capital of the world while based on board a comfortable river barge. The journey takes in springtime highlights including the world's largest flower gardens of Keukenhof in Lisse, where plants such as hyacinths, crocuses and, of course, tulips will dazzle with their colour. 

https://www.utracks.com/Netherlands/Bike-Boat/Tulip-Tour-Bike-Barge-Comfort

Amsterdam to say "no" to cruise ships

Amsterdam is set to ban cruise ships from its waters and close its cruise terminal.

The largest city in the Netherlands has taken the move cut pollution and overcrowding in the city, Travel Mole reports.

The city has annually welcomed more than 100 cruise ships a year.

“Cruise ships in the centre don’t fit in with Amsterdam’s task of cutting the number of tourists,” said Ilana Rooderkerk of the D66 party, which controls the city along with the Labour party and environmentalists.

The city has been pushing measures to crack down on too much tourism and nuisance behaviour, including smoking cannabis in public.

This has involves cleaning up the red light district and shunning stag and hen's parties.

As yet, there has been no timeline given for the cruise terminal closure.

The ban will not lead to the end of shore excursions to Amsterdam.

Cruise lines also offer trips to Amsterdam when docking at Ijmuiden and Rotterdam.

Amsterdam attracts up to 20 million annual visitors.

Rooderkerk recently compared cruise tourists to a "plague of locusts" descending all at once on the city.