Microcar sales surge in the NL, but Amsterdam market collapses after parking rule change
The Netherlands is experiencing a sharp rise in microcars, small four-wheeled vehicles limited to 45 kph and allowed on the road for drivers as young as 16, RTL reports. While national sales continue to accelerate, Amsterdam has seen a steep decline following changes to its parking regulations, which have made it more difficult for microcar owners to find parking spaces in the city.
By the end of last year, nearly 32,650 microcars were registered nationwide, a 42 percent increase compared with 2020, according to data from RDC. Growth is not only continuing but accelerating each year, with more than 3,600 additional vehicles added between 2024 and 2025 alone, the largest annual increase ever recorded.
“What stands out is that growth is accelerating every year. In just the period between 2024 and 2025, more than 3,600 vehicles were added, by far the largest annual jump ever measured,” Mirjam van der Esch, manager at RDC, told RTL.
The strongest percentage growth is occurring outside major cities, particularly in Het Gooi. In Blaricum, the number of microcars rose from 14 in 2020 to 74 at the end of 2025. Laren saw an increase from 22 to 81 vehicles, while Huizen saw the number of cars more than triple from 38 to 122.
“Those are not urban centers, but smaller, affluent commuter municipalities, which suggests that the microcar has found its way as an alternative to a second family car,” van der Esch added.
Amsterdam, once a major growth market for microcars, has seen a reversal. Registrations dropped sharply after the city revised its parking policy, requiring microcar owners who park outside their neighborhood to pay standard parking fees like other motorists.
“What Amsterdam shows is that parking policy can directly slow growth—registrations there fell from 154 to 57 new vehicles per month once the citywide permit expired. That is no coincidence; that is policy,” van der Esch said.
A municipal spokesperson said earlier policy had previously driven a surge in adoption. The city closely monitored microcars because of their small size and electric drive, viewing them as possible replacements for conventional cars. In July 2020, Amsterdam launched a pilot program granting citywide parking permits to 3,000 owners. That cap has now been reached. “The permits run until October. A decision on how to proceed will be made before the summer,” the spokesperson said.
Amsterdam now has about 4,500 registered microcars. Officials also said drivers do not always know where they are required to drive—on the roadway—which has led to dangerous situations on the city’s heavily used bicycle paths, particularly when microcars inadvertently enter these areas, creating risks for cyclists and pedestrians.
Microcars have also been banned from Amsterdam ferries since this year, with enforcement planned going forward. Owners will receive written notices explaining the rules.
