Zero-emission zones: municipalities take the lead

While the upcoming national elections in The Netherlands are currently drawing much of the political attention, behind the scenes, municipalities are already preparing for the local elections in March 2026. One topic that is increasingly moving to the forefront is the sustainable transformation of mobility. The introduction of zero-emission zones (ZEZs) is among the most prominent instruments in this transition.

A ZEZ is an area where, over time, only emission-free delivery vans and trucks will be permitted. The idea first took shape in the 2014 Green Deal for Zero-Emission City Logistics, in which governments, businesses, and knowledge institutions made agreements to make urban logistics more efficient and cleaner. Up until 2020, the focus was mainly on local pilots, logistics hubs, and gaining practical experience. Since then, it has developed into a structural process, with municipalities gaining considerable autonomy in shaping their own policies.

Not every city is required to implement a ZEZ, but the national government aims to have 30 to 40 zones established by 2025. If this number falls short, a nationwide mandate may follow as early as 2026, with full implementation no later than 2030. So far, sixteen municipalities have introduced a ZEZ, with more to follow soon. In many cases, entrepreneurs have been granted a penalty-free transition period, with exceptions or delays for certain vehicle types, such as Euro 6 vans. Nevertheless, the introduction of these zones raises many questions among businesses regarding investments, planning, and daily operations.

Intertwining local and national politics

ZEZs clearly illustrate how local and national policies are becoming increasingly interconnected. On the one hand, these zones align seamlessly with the Climate Agreement and the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. On the other hand, tensions arise when local ambitions diverge from national considerations.

For instance, in 2024, former state secretary Chris Jansen (Public Transport & Environment) proposed delaying implementation to 2029, citing concerns over high acquisition costs, limited charging infrastructure, and the impact on small businesses. Ultimately, the policy remained largely unchanged because many municipalities insisted on honoring existing agreements. They had spent years preparing and viewed postponement as unfair to companies that had already invested.

This dynamic demonstrates how political decisions at different levels affect implementation and impact businesses. It also highlights the importance of municipalities providing strong justifications for their policies and communicating them in a timely manner, so stakeholders can adequately prepare.

Economic and societal opportunities and challenges

The implementation of ZEZs brings a wide range of opportunities and challenges, not just for entrepreneurs but for entire cities and regions. For businesses, ZEZs can act as a catalyst to invest in new vehicles, innovative logistics solutions, and sustainable business models. In the long term, they benefit from lower operating costs, tax advantages, and a competitive edge in a market increasingly driven by sustainability.

At the same time, the transition puts significant pressure on physical and economic infrastructure. Many municipalities face the challenge of creating sufficient charging points in already limited public spaces. The growing demand for electricity leads to grid congestion in various regions, causing expansion projects to stall. There is also the question of how spatial planning, traffic flow, and parking policies must be adapted to make emission-free transport feasible and practical.

This calls for close collaboration, sharp decision-making, and clear communication between entrepreneurs, municipalities, and residents regarding what is achievable in the short term and what will require more time. A successful implementation depends not only on the willingness to invest but also on the ability of governments and grid operators to resolve bottlenecks in capacity and infrastructure. It is precisely this convergence of economic feasibility, technical execution, and social impact that makes ZEZs a topic where local politics and everyday practice are tightly intertwined.

What’s at stake in the local elections?

The 2026 municipal elections will significantly determine how ZEZs are shaped in the years ahead. Municipalities not only decide whether and when to introduce a ZEZ but also determine its scope, pace, and conditions. Local election programs offer an initial glimpse into each party’s ambitions: will ZEZs be rolled out more quickly, limited to smaller areas, or postponed until businesses are better prepared?

The question is whether all municipalities will continue to follow national targets in the coming years, or whether local political choices will lead to a different pace. For businesses and organizations, it is therefore important to understand how political parties position themselves. Progressive parties such as GroenLinks (Greens) and D66 (Liberal Democrats) often advocate for rapid implementation and additional investment in charging infrastructure. Parties like the VVD (Conservative Liberals) and various local lists tend to emphasize economic feasibility, smooth transition periods, and avoiding unnecessary burdens on smaller companies.

These differences have direct consequences for practical matters: how strictly will the zones be enforced, what exemptions will apply, and how much time will businesses be given to adapt? It also matters whether ZEZs become a priority in new coalition agreements. By closely monitoring election programs, one can anticipate the direction a municipality is heading and where there is room to raise concerns.

It is clear that ZEZs are not a given: their future depends greatly on local political choices and the extent to which municipalities want to align with national ambitions. For companies and industry associations, now is the time to build knowledge, map out scenarios, and determine where influence can be exerted. This way, the introduction of ZEZs becomes not just a challenge, but also an opportunity to collaborate on a workable, sustainable future.