Dutch Milieuzone 2026: Old Diesels Out, No Sticker Sold
A Dutch milieuzone targets older diesel cars, vans and lorries and is read by camera, with no sticker to buy. Each city sets its own Euro floor.
Dutch milieuzones restrict older diesels below a city-set Euro standard and are enforced by camera with no sticker required, with Amsterdam the strictest and still tightening.
A Dutch milieuzone is aimed at diesel rather than at traffic in general: each city sets a minimum Euro class, most commonly shutting out diesel cars and vans below Euro 4, and petrol cars are usually left alone. Nothing is sold and nothing is displayed, because enforcement is entirely by camera and applies to a foreign plate the same way it applies to a Dutch one. Amsterdam runs the tightest rules and keeps tightening them on a published timetable toward a zero-emission zone for vans and lorries, with Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Arnhem each drawing their own line. Fines are issued automatically and the amount is set city by city, so check the specific zone rather than a national figure.
Check your exact vehicle with the Emission Zone Checker, or browse every in-force Dutch zone below — each links to that city’s full rules.
| City / Zone | Type | Min petrol | Min diesel | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Milieuzone | — | Euro 5 | EUR 130 for passenger cars, vans and buses; EUR 320 for lorries. Nationally fixed Mulder tariff, not a city charge. |
| Arnhem | Milieuzone | — | Euro 5 | EUR 130 for cars, vans and buses; EUR 320 for lorries (since 26 November 2025), plus administrative costs |
| Breda | Milieuzone | — | — | EUR 320 for vrachtauto's (national tariff since 26 Nov 2025, plus administrative costs) |
| Delft | Milieuzone | — | — | Not published by the gemeente for the milieuzone; paid exemptions apply instead, EUR 30.30 per day and EUR 144.70 long-term (2026). Vehicles failing the zero-emission zone rules are fined after camera detection. |
| Eindhoven | Milieuzone | — | — | EUR 130 for a passenger car, van or bus; EUR 320 for a lorry, plus administrative costs. |
| Eindhoven | Milieuzone | — | — | Not established for the bus zone; standard Dutch milieuzone violation fines apply to buses only, not to cars (no car penalty exists) |
| Haarlem | Milieuzone | — | — | Enforcement and fines for vans and lorries from 1 March 2026, after a warning period from 1 June 2025 to 28 February 2026; passenger cars are not subject to the zone |
| Leiden | Milieuzone | — | — | Enforcement applies to commercial vans/trucks entering non-compliant; no fine for passenger cars (cars unrestricted) |
| The Hague | Milieuzone | — | Euro 4 | EUR 130 plus EUR 9 administrative costs (2026 national fine table), issued by the CJIB from ANPR camera evidence. |
| Utrecht | Milieuzone | — | Euro 5 | EUR 130 for passenger cars, vans and buses; EUR 320 for lorries. |
10 zones currently in force · verified against official sources. Click any city for its full rules and the exact sticker or permit.
How the Dutch milieuzone works
The Netherlands relies on camera enforcement, not a sticker. Each city’s milieuzone sets a minimum Euro class — most commonly aimed at diesel cars and vans below Euro 4 — and Amsterdam is phasing in tighter limits year by year on the way to a zero-emission zone for vans and lorries. Petrol cars are usually unaffected, but always confirm, because the rules differ between cities and change on a published timetable.
Before you drive
- Check your diesel’s Euro class — most Dutch zones target older diesels specifically.
- There’s no sticker to buy; enforcement is automatic by plate.
- Amsterdam’s rules are the strictest and tighten regularly — verify the current year’s limit.
For neighbouring countries, see our emission zones in Germany guide and the full State of Europe’s Emission Zones 2026 report.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No sticker is required. Dutch milieuzones are enforced by ANPR camera against your number plate — foreign vehicles included. The zones mainly target older diesel cars, vans and lorries below a set Euro standard.
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Arnhem and others, with Amsterdam running the strictest rules and a roadmap toward zero-emission zones. The full in-force list is in the table below.
Fines are issued automatically by camera and passed to hire drivers with an admin fee. The exact amount and the minimum Euro standard vary by city — check your car and the specific zone before you drive.