The problem is that, while checks are strict, they do not cover all market participants to the same extent, which is fuelling growing controversy in the transport industry.
CJIB (Centraal Justitieel Incassobureau, the Netherlands’ Central Fine Collection Agency) has published statistics on penalties imposed since 1 July 2025 for entering zero-emission zones with vehicles subject to the ban. The total number of fines has already reached nearly 41,000 and is still rising.
In the Netherlands, 18 zero-emission zones have been established, with another 10 planned. The ban applies to commercial vehicles with internal combustion engines unless the carrier has a special permit. The regulations cover both light vans up to 3.5 tonnes and heavy goods vehicles, with exemptions including certain ADR operations, abnormal loads and selected types of special-purpose vehicles.
Millions of euros in revenue from fines
The penalty amounts to €120 for vans and €310 for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, which has already translated into around €5 million in budget revenue.
At the same time, the statistics show a decline in the number of offences, which may indicate that the market is gradually adapting to the new regulations. The introduction of restrictive zones has also contributed to the dynamic development of the electric truck market, which is currently among the fastest-growing in Europe.
A loophole in enforcement
The most controversial issue remains the fact that the penalty system does not cover vehicles with foreign licence plates. This means that although vehicles from other countries may be recorded by the system, in practice they do not receive fines.
In the view of part of the market, this leads to unequal treatment of carriers and may have legal consequences, as domestic operators bear the full costs of enforcement, while foreign competitors remain outside the penalty system.
In the view of part of the market, this leads to unequal treatment of carriers and may have legal consequences, as domestic operators bear the full costs of enforcement, while foreign competitors remain outside the penalty system, a concern that echoes wider regulatory cost pressures such as ETS2.
