The Dutch government has announced that helmets will be mandatory for all moped riders in the Netherlands from July 1, 2022. 

Helmets to be mandatory for all moped riders and passengers

From next summer, all moped riders and their passengers will be required to wear a helmet. The House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) and a number of health experts and doctors have been pushing the government to introduce the rule for some time now. However, the Dutch Minister for Infrastructure, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen explained it was difficult to implement as the law doesn’t distinguish between mopeds and other motorised vehicles. 

For example, motorised vehicles with a maximum speed of 25 kilometres per hour are exempt from the rule, as are brombakfietsen (two wheels in the front, one in the back). On the other hand, three-wheelers will fall under the so-called helmet duty.

Dutch government hopes to reduce number of traffic accidents and deaths

The government hopes the rule will reduce the number of traffic accidents and deaths and injuries among moped riders, and anticipates that a number of moped riders will switch to electric bicycles as a result of the new rule, which could prevent up to 10 deaths and 1.100 injuries a year.

Various moped owners have suggested that the traditional scooter or motorcycle helmets are too heavy to wear on a moped. As a result of these complaints, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has commissioned an investigation into the safety of speed pedelec helmets for moped riders.