The Netherlands want to prepare themselves as best as possible for the introduction of a toll collection system for heavy goods vehicles. They will benefit from the experience of their neighboring countries. The Dutch toll will not start sooner than in five years.
In the coalition agreement of the new Dutch government, there is a provision on the intention to introduce the tolls for heavy goods vehicles „as soon as possible”. As announced by the Minister of Infrastructure Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, the fee system will be launched in 5 years at the earliest. The Dutch want to prepare themselves well.
We would like to make the most of the experience gained by our neighbors who have already launched toll systems for trucks’, emphasizes Van Nieuwenhuizen.
The Dutch plan to make their system compatible with foreign ones, Belgian and German. As a result, a new device would not be needed to service the Dutch toll, according to the transport portal verkehrsrundschau.de.
Controversies surrounding the Dutch toll
Despite the announcement of the minister of infrastructure, the Dutch toll for trucks remains a matter of dispute even among coalition members. The VVD party, a member of which is the head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, is largely opposed to the introduction of tolls, reports „Logistiek”, a Dutch magazine dedicated to the transport industry. Also, van Nieuwenhuizen’s predecessor was against the toll.
Negative opinions concerning the plans of the Minister of Infrastructure also come from the industry, as both the shippers (Evofenedex organization) and the carriers (Transport en Logistiek Nederland) are against the toll.