From January 1st, 2025, the city center of The Hague will become a zero-emission zone. This means that vans and trucks driving in this area have to be emission-free – electric or running on hydrogen. The measure should improve air quality and reduce noise pollution, nitrogen deposition, and CO2 emissions in the city.

The same measure will apply to Scheveningen and Kijkduin on the coast one year later. However, a transitional arrangement will be introduced for older trucks and vans until 2030.

The Hague does provide some exceptions. For instance, circus trucks and moving vans can receive an exemption, and vehicles that do not apply to the new rules can receive a day exemption twelve times a year.

‘Milieuzone’

Today, The Hague already has an ‘environmental zone’ or ‘milieuzone’, as the Dutch call it. Old and polluting passenger cars, vans, trucks, and coaches running on diesel are not allowed in the center. Disobeying the rules can lead to a fine. A zero-emission zone, however, is the strictest form of an environmental zone: only cars ‘without exhaust emissions’ are allowed to drive there.

The boundaries of the zero-emission zone are the same as the current environmental zone for diesel cars. Whether your vehicle is allowed to enter the zone depends on its age or ’emissions standard’. People can check The Hague municipal website to see what applies to their vehicle.

Zero-emission zone

The Hague is one of 28 cities in the Netherlands to introduce a zero-emission zone starting in 2025. Conditions in other cities or municipalities, however, may differ. The best is to check the local municipality websites.

The Hague will also introduce a zero-emissions policy for commercial vehicles. By 2030, only commercial trucks and vans without exhaust gases will be allowed to enter the zero-emissions zone.

Subsidies

People interested in switching to a zero-emission vehicle can receive a subsidy of up to €5 000 from the Dutch government until 2025.

Researchers estimate that air pollution takes 13 months off the average person’s life expectancy in the Netherlands. Vulnerable groups, such as children and older people, are more affected by air pollution.