Growing criticism of GVB, yet it is always granted the right to operate here: why?

Despite mounting criticism over service disruptions, safety incidents, and mismanagement, Amsterdam’s public transport provider GVB was recently granted a new 11-year exclusive operating contract. While large public contracts typically require competitive bidding under EU rules, Dutch law allows major cities to award transport concessions directly to ensure network stability and leverage long-standing local expertise. The Amsterdam city council has since ordered an external investigation into the company’s operations following recent failures, including the use of unauthorized buses and poor employee relations.