Over 100 roads in Rotterdam to be reduced to a maximum speed of 30 km/h

The municipality of Rotterdam has decided to reduce the maximum speed limit from 50 kilometers per hour to 30 kilometers per hour on 115 roads in the city. The municipality said that these roads are in busy areas with many residents, or have a busier set of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars.

The measure will be implemented in the third quarter of next year. The traffic situation in these places is "so unsafe that something has to change," according to the municipality. This includes West-Kruiskade and parts of Mathenesserlaan and Hofplein.

The municipality said the change is necessary because of Rotterdam's deteriorating road safety. Last year, 1,446 people were wounded in traffic accidents in Rotterdam, almost 300 more than in 2021. Most accidents happened on roads with a top legal speed of 50 kilometers per hour.

Rotterdam said that the new maximum speed will be "clearly visible." New traffic signs will be posted, road markings will be added or removed, and some roads may have speed bumps.

The speed limit on most of the roads in Amsterdam dropped to 30 kilometers per hour at the end of last year. According to the Rotterdam mayor and coalition of aldermen, a measure as strong as that is not necessary because the city was largely rebuilt after the war.

It was also impossible to reduce the maximum speed everywhere in the city due to public transport or emergency services. More than half of the roads in Rotterdam already have a maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour, the municipality added.