From today (Monday, April 14), it is again allowed to drive 130 kilometers per hour during the day on parts of the Dutch highway. For now, this concerns 3 routes: the A7-Afsluitdijk, between Stevinsluizen and Lorentzsluizen, the A7 between the Winschoten junction and the border with Germany, and the A6 between Lelystad-North and the Ketelbrug. The intention is that by summer, it will also be allowed to drive 130 kilometers per hour during the day on a 4th route, the A37 between junction Holssloot and junction Zwartemeer. Preparations are currently being made for that. In total, this involves 117 kilometers of asphalt.

“Driving a car is important for people and businesses. The car offers flexibility, speed, and comfort. This measure is part of the Action Agenda Car with a broad package of measures aimed at motoring and more freedom for motorists,” explains Minister Barry Madlener (Infrastructure and Water Management).

On the routes, it is only allowed to drive 130 kilometers per hour during the day when there are actually signs along the road. These will be unveiled today (Monday, April 14) at the Afsluitdijk and will be placed by Rijkswaterstaat in the coming days.

Madlener: “We find it important that it is immediately clear that you can drive 130 during the day. Therefore, we will put up enough signs. By the way, you don’t have to drive 130; you can also just drive 100 in the right lane.”

A phased approach has been chosen, where the ministry continuously looks at a number of promising routes where the maximum speed can be increased without extra measures needed regarding noise and nitrogen. Investigating a limited number of routes increases the chance that the maximum speed can be quickly raised in several places. This will also be the approach for the next routes.

Madlener: “With these routes, we are taking the first step and keeping the momentum going. Now we will examine more routes to see where we can drive 130 kilometers per hour. As soon as I have an inventory, expected before summer, I will inform the House of Representatives about it.”

Currently, the ministry is investigating where increasing the maximum speed does not lead to exceeding the noise standards. This is done with indicative calculations. Subsequently, it is calculated whether there are also no significant negative effects on Natura 2000 areas. Research is needed for that.

With the Action Agenda Car, of which the speed increase is a part, the cabinet is taking a package of measures appropriate to the major challenges and developments of this moment. With priority for making new housing construction locations accessible, increasing road safety, maintaining the main road network, and addressing traffic jams. About 70% of all traveled kilometers in the Netherlands are made by car, and therefore the cabinet also wants to do more to increase the mobility of motorists. The cabinet wants to restart 1 paused construction project each year to relieve traffic congestion.