Emmentaler AOP Tram Now Rolling Through Basel

Following its successful performance in Bern, the Emmentaler AOP Tram through Basel since the end of May 2026. The distinctive hole design is set to be a part of Basel’s cityscape on tram lines 15 and 16—collectively known as the «Panorama Line»—until May 23, 2027, creating a striking visual presence.

The iconic hole design continues

The distinctive hole design has been closely associated with Emmentaler AOP for decades and has brought the Swiss cheese international recognition, according to the press release. The motif had already become popular in the 1990s thanks to the legendary ski suits worn by the Swiss Alpine Ski Team, including Vreni Schneider, Bruno Kernen, and Franz Heinzer. Now the cheese-inspired look is gaining momentum once again: Following its successful debut on Bern’s tram tracks, the rolling design is now bringing smiles and amazement to the people of Basel as well.

For Urs Schluechter, director of Emmentaler Switzerland, one thing is clear: «Emmentaler AOP is as much a part of Switzerland as the »Drämmli’ is to Basel. The tram brings our Swiss original right into the daily lives of the people of Basel.”

Right in the Heart of Everyday Life in Basel

Tram lines 15 and 16 connect historic neighborhoods and the bustling city center with the green Bruderholz district. The route passes through the Marktplatz, the Kunstmuseum, the Wettsteinplatz, and the Messeplatz on its way to Bruderholz. Thousands of people ride the «Panorama Line» every day, making the Emmentaler AOP tram a daily companion for commuters, visitors, and tourists.

With approximately 116 million passengers annually and its long tradition of streetcars, the city at the border triangle is, according to Emmentaler Switzerland, one of Switzerland’s best-known public transit cities. Basel thus offers the ideal platform for combining Swiss tradition, everyday life, and urban mobility.

Schluechter adds: «Emmentaler AOP combines origin, tradition, and the Swiss way of life. It is precisely this way of life that we are now bringing to Basel with the tram.»

Emmentaler Switzerland: Visibility Beyond the Federal Capital

With this initiative in Basel, Emmentaler Switzerland is building on its successful campaign in Bern and strengthening the brand’s visibility beyond the federal capital, the press release continues. As a moving advertisement for Swiss cheese culture and craftsmanship, the tram is intended to bring authenticity and a connection to nature into everyday urban life—values that, according to the Emmentaler AOP variety organization, are just as representative of the Emmentaler AOP as they are of Bruderholz, the route’s final stop.

For more information on Emmentaler AOP and Emmentaler Switzerland: https://www.emmentaler.ch