ABN Amro says toll roads and waterway tolls only solution to Dutch infrastructure crisis
Two major waterways in Amsterdam have been blocked after recently renovated bridges failed, adding to a growing national crisis over aging and collapsing infrastructure. At the same time, ABN Amro warned in a new report Tuesday that only toll roads and waterway tolls can cover the billions of euros needed to repair failing bridges, roads, and viaducts across the Netherlands.
The Scharrebiersluis bridge at Kadijksplein, overhauled as recently as 2022–23, has not opened since last week, cutting off the key water connection between the Amstel and the IJ waterbody. The failure is under investigation, and Amsterdam may hold contractor Vialis liable under its warranty.
At the same time, Brug Ouderkerk — renovated two years ago for 46 million euros — was closed for seven months this week to fix design flaws. The only remaining route to the IJ waterbody, via the Kostverlorenvaart and the Schinkel, is already blocked because the Willemsbrug at Haarlemmerplein no longer opens.
These breakdowns reflect a national pattern. Much of the Netherlands’ infrastructure, built in the 1960s and 1970s, is reaching the end of its lifespan. Bridges and waterworks across the country are deteriorating, with urgent repairs also needed on the Van Brienenoordbrug in Rotterdam.
ABN Amro’s economists say action cannot be delayed. “Intervention is inevitable to prevent further delays for citizens and businesses,” the report stated.
The financial shortfall is reportedly enormous. Rijkswaterstaat faces a deficit of at least 35 billion euros over the next 13 years for highway and waterway repairs, while ProRail needs 1.8 billion euros for rail maintenance. Provincial and municipal needs add billions more.
Mileage-based road pricing has been discussed in government and party programs, but ABN Amro argues that it is not enough. “Even then there will be a large financial gap for overdue maintenance, renewal, and expansion,” Albert Jan Swart, the bank’s transport economist, told Het Parool.
Swart said toll roads and waterway tolls are a more effective solution. “If you levy tolls, you kill two birds with one stone: you price specific routes — if necessary at certain times — to prevent traffic jams and you raise money. Toll roads finance themselves.” He said toll systems also distribute costs more fairly, as electric drivers currently contribute less.
He acknowledged that toll roads may be easier to implement nationally than waterway tolls at the city level. For Amsterdam, he suggested higher fees for bridges, locks, and berths on waterways, as well as congestion charges for cars, like those in London, New York, and Singapore. Swart added that long-term tolling also helps finance loans. “Toll revenues can serve as collateral for institutional financing from banks and pension funds,” he told the newspaper.
Making travel more expensive is unavoidable, he argued. “Paying tolls is annoying, but the alternative is even more traffic jams and detours. Fast transport at low cost is important. The transport sector is not against tolls if it delivers results. As long as the proceeds are funneled back into road transport.”
