Dutch parliament wants to delay imminent zero-emission zones to 2029

The Lower House in the Netherlands wants to postpone introducing emission-free zones for company cars and trucks until 2029. However, on January 1, 14 municipalities, including Amsterdam and Rotterdam, wanted to introduce these zones despite resistance from the political Hague and most business owners.

Still, there is little chance that the introduction can be stopped. However, any additional exemptions, such as those for fossil fuel vans owned by entrepreneurs, may still be possible if the cabinet and parliament push through their will, although they may not come until after the introduction early next year.

Exception for entrepreneurs

From January 1, 2025, in 14 municipalities in the Netherlands, only company cars and trucks that are electric or have fuel-efficient diesel engines will be allowed in and around those affected city centers. These are five major cities—Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and Eindhoven—plus provincial cities such as Maastricht, Nijmegen, Leiden, and Zwolle.

The right-wing liberal VVD has now submitted a motion to include nationwide exemptions until 2029 in those zero-emission zones. About six parties, including Geert Wilders’ radical-right PVV, supported the motion.

The motion also states that an exception should apply to “entrepreneurs” because now people question the logic behind the zero-emission zones. For example, people with vans or trucks who don’t use them for business can get exemptions. So, if you buy a diesel bus as a business owner, you can’t enter the city, but if you buy the same bus privately, you can.

However, entrepreneurs who cannot comply with the rules can also apply to the relevant municipality for an exemption, for example, because they lack the financial resources or are still waiting for the delivery of their e-van.

“Not enough charging capacity”

Owners of construction and carpentry companies are relieved by the intention to postpone the phased banning of fossil vans and trucks from certain inner cities. They do not consider switching to electric company cars an option because of “too expensive,” “too limited range,” or “not powerful enough to tow our heavy trailers.”

The entrepreneurs’ association ONL also supports the postponement and expects many municipalities planning to introduce zero-emission zones by January 1 to reconsider the decision.

“Many municipalities are now listening to the concerns of small and medium-sized businesses who are currently struggling incredibly,” said ONL. “After COVID-19 and the energy crisis, they have not been able to build up any reserves to invest in expensive e-vehicles.” Moreover, according to ONL, charging capacity in inner cities is not yet in order, and grid congestion is a problem.

“Unfair and exception for entrepreneurs already exist”

Most industry associations, however, are advocating the introduction of zero-emission zones. After all, there is already a general exception for entrepreneurs who are struggling financially, such as for market vendors, or a transitional arrangement applies. A delay would also be unfair to other entrepreneurs already investing in a more environmentally friendly vehicle.

Moreover, according to Transport and Logistics Netherlands, three-quarters of vans will still be allowed into the city center next year, and municipalities are working hard on the charging infrastructure. The industry associations also refer to a report by a consultancy that called the policy around zero-emission zones “balanced” and “reasonable.”

Municipalities decide

In any case, it seems unlikely that it will still be possible to push back the introduction. According to State Secretary for Public Transport and the Environment Chris Jansen, any means he has would only have an effect after January 1, precisely because municipalities in the Netherlands can decide for themselves on the introduction and rules for zero-emission. Nevertheless, the cabinet can force them to apply the same rules everywhere or delay the introduction, but that would require national regulations that cannot be ready before January 1.

To be clear, switching to a van that does not emit greenhouse gases will have to happen at some point anyway. For business owners, the rules in the 14 inner cities will become stricter step by step until 2030, when only zero-emission commercial vehicles will be welcome in those zones.

The Climate Agreement states that the then-cabinet concluded in 2019 that a reduction of 1 megaton of CO2 compared to 1990 must be achieved.

What’s more, the 14 municipalities that want to introduce zero-emission zones by January 1, 2025, have made it known in a joint statement that they will not be held back by a majority in the Lower House that wants a postponement precisely because the sustainable urban logistics measure was already agreed upon in 2014 and entrepreneurs had time to prepare. The municipalities involved have also indicated that they will not issue fines for the first months.

Besides, 15 other municipalities are working on a zone where CO2 emissions should be significantly reduced from 2030 onwards and air quality improved.

The Netherlands has more than 1 million delivery vans. Of these, over 91% run on diesel, and the rest on gasoline, LPG, and electricity. Twenty-five thousand electric delivery vans are registered. Of the 150,000 trucks, roughly 1,000 are electric.