The new system brings several important changes. Most notably, the requirement to hold a Eurovignette in the Netherlands will be scrapped. It will be replaced by a distance-based toll system, in which charges depend on the number of kilometres driven.
Importantly, the revenue from the new toll will not go into the general state budget – it will be allocated to the development and modernisation of road transport, particularly projects related to the electrification and decarbonisation of heavy goods vehicles. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has announced investments in, among other things, electric lorries and hydrogen-powered trucks.
How much will hauliers pay? Sample rates
The toll rate for a truck will depend on two factors:
- the vehicle’s weight (guidance on how to determine the permissible technical weight is available on the website of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management),
- its CO₂ emissions class.
Under Dutch law, the toll service provider determines the CO₂ class of a given vehicle:
- Vehicles first registered before 1 July 2019 – CO₂ class 1. Classification is based on data from the registration certificate.
- Zero-emission vehicles (100% electric) – CO₂ class 5, also determined from the registration certificate.
In other cases, classification is made by the provider using the RDW register or additional documents from the vehicle owner (e.g. Certificate of Conformity – CVO, or Customer Information File – CIF).
If the vehicle owner already has a contract with the provider in another toll country (e.g. Belgium, Germany, Austria), the classification previously adopted may be used.
The rates were outlined in legislation passed by the lower house of parliament in April 2025. Depending on vehicle weight and CO₂ class, the tolls will vary. For example:
- a 16-tonne vehicle with a Euro 6 engine – €0.156/km,
- the same vehicle in an electric version – €0.034/km,
- a truck over 32 tonnes with Euro 6 – €0.195/km,
- a zero-emission equivalent – €0.038/km.
Final rates for 2026 may be adjusted for inflation.
OBUs and satellites instead of toll gates
The toll system will rely on GPS-based devices – known as OBUs (On-Board Units) – which will be mandatory in every vehicle subject to the toll. These units, using 5G technology, will record the vehicle’s route, and the data will be sent to the service provider, who will issue the relevant invoice. There will be no physical toll gates or conventional toll booths, reports the industry body Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN).
Service providers and operator choice
According to TLN, hauliers will be able to choose from two types of providers:
- a national provider obliged to serve all customers (operating only in the Netherlands),
- commercial EETS providers, offering OBUs valid in several European countries. These providers must first be approved for operation within the Dutch system.
Enforcement and exemptions
The system includes exemptions and enforcement mechanisms aligned with EU directives. Vehicles with dealer plates (handelaarskenteken), one-day registration plates, speed-limited vehicles (MMBS), and zero-emission HGVs weighing up to 4,250 kg will be exempt from tolls.
If a fee is not paid, the vehicle owner’s details will be shared with the authorities in the country of registration to enable a fine to be issued. In extreme cases, the Dutch Transport Inspectorate (ILT) may impound the vehicle.
Denmark’s example: How not to do it
Denmark’s withdrawal from the Eurovignette and switch to a similar distance-based toll system has faced significant technical issues and widespread criticism from the transport sector.
Since the launch of the KmToll system in January this year, hauliers have repeatedly reported technical glitches and wrongly issued fines – many of which have not been cancelled, even when appeals were successful. The situation has become so serious that the Danish hauliers’ association ITD has lodged a complaint with the European Commission.
There is hope that the Netherlands will learn from Denmark’s mistakes and implement its system in a transparent way, reflecting the needs and realities of the haulage industry.
