Dutch police unions are to hold informal talks with Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten on Wednesday in a move towards resolving a dispute over pay and conditions.

The ACP and NPB police unions say the meeting is not the start of formal negotiations, but merely an opportunity to hear what offer the minister is prepared to put on the table. They say they are only willing negotiate if they have sufficient confidence that the minister’s offer has the potential to break the deadlock in the pay row.

Police protest actions and strikes are to continue, the unions say. Details of future strikes are to be revealed over the next two weeks.

Police stations have already been closed on specific days and police have stopped handing out fines for minor infractions. The police unions are threatening to schedule strikes during major events such as the Liberation Day festivities and the Amstel Gold road cycle race.

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