Dutch cities & towns will create emissions-free zones by 2029; MP’s want a delay

The 14 municipalities that are aiming to implement emissions-free zones from January 1, 2025, will not be stopped by a majority of parliament who want the plans to be delayed. The motion to have national exceptions built into the free-emissions zones that was initiated by the VVD was supported by the PVV, BBB, CDA, SGP, Denk, FVD, and JA21 on Tuesday.

Despite this, the municipalities have said that they are continuing with their preparations for the so-called emissions-free zones in their city, they said in a joint statement. “We feel supported in this by all the reactions from the business world.”

The municipalities have been working on this with the government and business associations for many years and want to be a “trustworthy government,” they explained.

In addition, the cities pointed out that the implementation of the zones without polluting trucks and commercial vehicles is a municipal responsibility. “It is annoying that doubt is again being sown by national politics about the emission-free zones and that it is being suggested that the introduction can be stopped nationwide at the last moment. For us, the most important thing now is that entrepreneurs have clarity and that we as a government are reliable towards them."

The alderperson responsible for this in Utrecht, Eva Oosters, said that it would be a huge disappointment if the Cabinet decided to block this now. “We have been working for years on this important step towards a cleaner and healthier city.”

Alderman for Urban Development and Economy in Tilburg, Bas van der Pol, responded by saying: "The Cabinet has yet to make an official response, but we are certain that we will introduce the first phase of the zero-emission zone on January 1."

Zwolle has said that they feel the same way. The municipality said that they are in talks with business owners and see 2025 as a joint learning year. "We also recognize the concerns that exist, and we offer plenty of room for customization and time to find solutions (together) to make the transition to zero-emission transport," said a spokesperson.

The emissions-free zones are planned for the start of next year in Gouda, Eindhoven, Assen, Amersfoort, Nijmegen, Maastricht, Zwolle, Delft, Utrecht, The Hague, Tilburg, Leiden, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.

The Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, recognizes that it is unlikely that they will succeed in pushing back the implementation. State Secretary for Public Transport and Environment, Chris Jansen, said last week during a debate that all the resources he has to delay the implementation would only have an effect after January 1.

However, he would not rule anything out, especially because the Coalition parties agreed in the Coalition Agreements to look into delaying the implementation. Any exceptions may, therefore, only come into effect after the introduction early next year.

In the motion, it is stated that exceptions should be made for “entrepreneurs,” however, the emissions-free zones only apply to entrepreneurs. People who have vans or trucks without using them for a company can receive an exception.

The rules for entrepreneurs in the 14 inner cities will gradually become stricter, until by 2030, only company cars that do not emit greenhouse gases will be welcome.

Coalition party NSC voted against the motion. Olger van Dijk of NSC does feel there should be an exception for market vendors, and small independent entrepreneurs, but also said that he does not want to obstruct municipalities from starting the plans next year.

He believes that the VVD proposition is "too general and creates confusion about generic deferral.”