Dutch drivers stalled 1.2 million kilometers in traffic in 2025

Motorists in the Netherlands spent a total of approximately 1.2 million kilometers in traffic jams last year, roughly equivalent to circling the globe 31 times, according to an analysis by ANP using data from Rijkswaterstaat. The number of traffic jams rose slightly, by 3 percent compared with 2024, with over 450,000 incidents reported that collectively lasted the equivalent of twelve years. The heaviest traffic was reported on routes between Den Bosch and Utrecht and between Utrecht and The Hague.

The average traffic jam lasted 14 minutes, virtually unchanged from the previous year. Traffic delays were heaviest on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with 260,000 and 270,000 kilometers of slow-moving traffic recorded on those days, respectively.

The most common cause of congestion was rush-hour traffic, accounting for 70 percent of all jams in 2025. Drivers were stuck for more than 850,000 kilometers due to peak-time congestion. Roadwork caused just over 3 percent of traffic jams, and accidents were responsible for 1 percent.

April saw the highest number of traffic jams, with more than 53,000 incidents covering around 140,000 kilometers. The day with the longest total delays was April 17, when motorists were delayed for 760 hours in total, equal to nearly 10,000 kilometers of travel at a standstill.

According to the ANWB, traffic volumes increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic as many people shifted from public transport to driving. “During the corona period, many more cars appeared on the roads, partly because people could no longer travel by public transport,” the organization noted.