Speed limit can possibly rise to 130 km/h on four motorway sections

The government is looking at four sections of motorways where it may be possible to increase the speed limit back to 130 kilometers per hour, Minister Barry Madlener (PVV) of Infrastructure and Water Management announced. He added that more research is necessary to determine whether increasing the speed limit wouldn’t impact protected nature with more nitrogen deposition.

The four highway sections Madlener is considering are a bit of the A6 between Lelystad Noord and the Ketelbrug, a large part of the Afsluitdijk, the A7 between Groningen Zuidbroek and the German border, and a few kilometers of the A37 in Drenthe between the Holsloot and Zwartemeer interchanges.

The four chosen motorway sections may not require any additional measures to limit nitrogen deposition or noise with a higher speed limit. Road users can already drive 130 km/h on these motorways at night.

The new Cabinet promised to increase the speed limits again where possible. They were reduced from 130 km/h to 100 km/h in 2020 to reduce nitrogen emissions. It quickly became clear that raising the speed limits again would not be possible on a large scale.

According to the PVV Minister, “mobility is an important condition for freedom and prosperity” and higher speed limits play a part in that. “I am pleased that the first sections where it will soon be possible to drive 130 kilometers per hour during the day have been identified. The point now is that we complete all the necessary research so that motorists can drive fast where possible.”

Madlener plans to decide on increasing the speed limits on these four sections of highways in the first quarter of next year.