Netherlands to allow e-scooters on roads with mandatory registration
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
The Netherlands is set to legalise electric scooters and other light electric vehicles on public roads from July 2025, provided they are registered and display a licence plate.
The change, announced by Infrastructure Minister Barry Madlener, is intended to improve road safety and enforcement by clearly identifying which vehicles are road-legal.
Vehicles known as ‘light electric vehicles without pedal assistance’ are technically banned from public roads, however under the new rules a number of approved models will be road legal provided they are registered with the national vehicle authority (RDW), while existing vehicles will have one year from the start date to comply.
The policy includes specific vehicles like the BSO-bus, a moped used by childcare workers to transport children, which will also require registration, with Madlener stating that the move would make enforcement easier and ensure it is immediately clear whether a vehicle is permitted on the road.
Madlener noted that the Government is adapting to the rise of new transport modes in urban areas and confirmed that although no e-scooters—also called e-steps—have yet been approved, applications are expected soon.
The registration fee for existing special mopeds has been capped at €18 (£15), with the Government covering the rest in an effort to keep the system affordable.
Road safety advocates welcomed the change but called for quicker implementation to address current enforcement gaps, with some commuters expressing doubts about how unregistered vehicles would be tracked and penalised in practice.
Local councils, including Rotterdam, supported the policy but called for national funding to aid enforcement and public awareness, while the Ministry of Infrastructure insists the new framework will enhance clarity and improve safety for all road users.
UK -based cycling bodies, including the ACT, have expressed endorsement of the move and suggested UK cities could consider similar measures to manage growing e-bike and e-scooter usage.