Netherlands commits €43m to lorry parking crisis

The country is already short of around 4,400 HGV parking spaces, according to industry estimates, with the deficit potentially rising to around 7,000 by 2040 if sufficient additional capacity is not created.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management confirmed on 22 September that it was working with provincial authorities and the transport sector to develop plans for additional parking capacity.

The renewed focus follows warnings from the eastern province of Overijssel, where drivers are struggling to find safe places to rest along the A1 and A28 motorways.

€43 million reserved for new and expanded parking facilities

The funding was originally announced in September 2025 and subsequently included in the Dutch government’s 2026 budget documents, which specify that €43 million is reserved from 2027. The money can be used to acquire land for new lorry parks, expand existing facilities and redesign parking areas to create additional spaces.

The programme is also intended to provide safer rest areas with adequate facilities for drivers.

According to the ministry, investment should be concentrated in locations where demand is greatest. Provincial authorities and transport industry representatives are therefore being involved in identifying suitable sites and determining how the funding should be used.

However, the government has not yet said how many additional parking spaces the €43 million will ultimately deliver.

Overnight parking shortage particularly severe on A1 and A28

Fresh research published by Logistics Overijssel on 21 September found that lorry parking facilities along major freight corridors regularly reach capacity during the evening and overnight periods. The situation is particularly serious along the A1 and A28 motorways, where some drivers resort to stopping on hard shoulders or close to motorway service area entrances and exits when designated spaces are full.

The problem also extends beyond the motorway network. Local authorities and hauliers report trucks regularly being parked on industrial estates and in residential areas, particularly overnight and during weekends and public holidays. According to the province, the consequences include damaged verges, litter, inadequate sanitary facilities and potentially dangerous traffic situations.

Earlier research identified a need for 559 additional lorry parking spaces by 2030 along Overijssel’s main transport routes, preferably at secure facilities. Erwin Hoogland, a member of Overijssel’s provincial executive, said drivers deserved proper facilities in return for the essential work they perform.

“Drivers keep shops stocked and businesses running day and night. They should have a safe, decent place to take their rest,” he said.

The province has previously contributed to improvements at a lorry park near Deventer on the A1. However, Hoogland acknowledged that expanding capacity is difficult because of limited land availability, construction costs and the need for effective enforcement.

He also pointed to opportunities to make better use of existing parking areas and provide drivers with more reliable information about where spaces are available.

National shortage could reach 7,000 spaces

Overijssel’s findings reflect a much wider problem affecting the Dutch road freight sector. A government-commissioned study published in 2023 estimated that the Netherlands was already short of around 4,400 lorry parking spaces.

Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) has warned that the deficit could increase to around 7,000 spaces by 2040 if enough additional capacity is not developed. The shortage creates particular difficulties for long-distance and international drivers, who must comply with mandatory driving and rest periods while travelling through one of Europe’s busiest logistics regions.

TLN has repeatedly argued that additional capacity is needed across much of the country and has been working with government departments, provincial authorities and municipalities to identify suitable locations.

The challenge is not only securing funding, but also finding appropriate land and turning proposed developments into usable parking spaces.

Rotterdam developing parking facility for 483 trucks

Several individual projects are already under development or have recently increased parking capacity. At the Port of Rotterdam, a new secure lorry park is planned at Distripark Maasvlakte West, with capacity for 483 trucks. The port authority issued a tender for the project in June 2026. The planned facility will be built on an undeveloped site connected to Adriatische Zeeweg and will include security infrastructure, lighting, access facilities and electrical connections for refrigerated trailers.

The parking spaces are also due to be prepared for the future installation of electric truck charging infrastructure, allowing chargers to be added without extensive additional groundwork.

Elsewhere, existing motorway service areas along the A2 and A58 have been expanded to accommodate more trucks, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

With demand continuing to outstrip supply, however, the key test for the €43 million programme will be how quickly the funding can be translated into additional parking capacity in the locations where drivers need it most.