Electric scooters will soon be allowed on roads in the Netherlands

Electric scooters will soon be allowed to drive on Dutch roads, the government has announced, provided they are fitted with a licence plate and undergo safety checks. 

Dutch government drafting legislation to allow e-scooters on roads

It is currently illegal to drive electric scooters (known as “steps” in Dutch) on roads in the Netherlands, and those caught violating the ban face fines of 380 euros. 

However, Infrastructure Minister Barry Madlener told De Telegraaf this week that he was drafting legislation that would enable e-scooters to be approved for use on roads, like special mopeds (such as segways) and other “light electric vehicles without pedal assistance” that can already be legally driven.

E-scooters will need Dutch licence plates in future

Essentially, Madlener is incorporating electric scooters into existing legislation that will soon require the owners of light electric vehicles to get them registered with the national vehicle authority, RDW, and undergo safety checks. Once registered, these vehicles will be allowed on Dutch roads. 

From July 1, 2025, all newly-manufactured light electric vehicles, electric scooters and special mopeds will need to be registered with the RDW. The owners of existing vehicles will be given 12 months to apply for licence plates. The cost of registering a light vehicle will be subsidised by the government to bring it down to around 18 euros. 

New rules should make enforcement easier

Madlener told De Telegraaf that the shift in policy was designed to improve road safety and simplify enforcement, enabling road users and authorities to tell at a glance whether or not a vehicle was permitted to use the road. “This allows police to enforce the rules more easily and ensures it is immediately visible what the vehicle can and cannot do,” he said. 

He said the legislation was designed to keep pace with new modes of transport that are becoming increasingly common in Dutch cities. “We see new ways emerging for people to get around,” he said. “I want to make space for that. Special mopeds were already allowed, but e-scooters weren’t.”