Netherlands

2026:

There are no general driving bans.

The cities of Amsterdam, Arnheim, Breda, Den Bosch, Delft, Den Haag, Eindhoven, Leiden, Maastricht, Rijswijk, Rotterdam, Tilburg, Utrecht and Haarlem have established environmental zones that may only be entered by trucks over 3.5 t GVW if they comply at least with the Euro VI-A standard. Registration or an environmental sticker is not required.

For Dutch trucks, the emission class is determined via the license plate using video surveillance; for foreign trucks, on the basis of the vehicle documents. Violations of the emissions regulations are penalized with around 240 euros.

In the Netherlands there is a smoking ban in workplaces and business premises, which also includes the truck driver's cab. Violations are punishable by fines between 450 and 450,000 euros. According to the Federal Association of Road Haulage, Logistics and Disposal, this does not apply “if the vehicle belongs to the driver and is driven only by the driver.” However, it is said to also apply to drivers employed abroad who are operating in the Netherlands. The Dutch logistics association TLN advises all foreign drivers to observe the smoking ban.

In the middle of last year, the neighboring country replaced the vignette requirement with an electronic toll system. Since then, all trucks must be equipped with a corresponding OBU to record the road user charge. You can find more information at www.vrachtwagenheffing.nl/de.