As of January 2025, 14 Dutch cities have introduced zero-emission zones to reduce the environmental impact of freight transport. These zones include major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague where polluting vans, trucks and delivery vehicles are prohibited from entering, helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions from delivery vehicles.   

The new regulation aims to encourage entrepreneurs to switch to electric vans and cargo bikes, driving the country’s transition to cleaner, less polluting vehicles. The country is on track to have 30 to 40 of these zones by 2025, with more cities expected to adopt similar measures in the near future.   

To ensure effective regulation, cameras will be installed at the zone entrances to monitor vehicle activity. Any vehicle found to be violating the rules will receive an automatic fine. A five-year transition period will allow vehicles that still produce some harmful emissions, such as Euro 5 delivery vans, to enter until 2027, with Euro 6 vans until 2028. By 2030, only zero-emission vehicles will be allowed to enter the zones. 

Over the years, Dutch cities have developed cycling networks and public transport systems that encourage people to move away from car use. Now, the country is tackling freight transport in response to the growing demand from e-commerce. 

“The Netherlands has long been a front-runner in motor traffic evaporation for personal transport,” Dutch Cycling Embassy International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett told Zag Daily.  

“Since the 1970s, cities across the country have implemented an effective ‘carrot and stick’ approach of providing attractive alternatives to driving (such as dense, high-quality cycling and public transport networks) while making it unattractive through traffic calming, circulation and restriction.” 

This latest move by the Dutch government is a step toward cleaner, more sustainable cities and offers lessons for other countries looking to reduce their environmental footprint in urban transport.  

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