Netherlands Vrachtwagenheffing 2026: Truck Toll Guide
Since 1 July 2026 the Netherlands charges a distance-based truck toll, the vrachtwagenheffing, on almost all motorways and a set of provincial and municipal roads. It replaced the Eurovignette for Dutch roads. If you route freight through Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Venlo or the German and Belgian borders, this charge is now part of every quote.
This guide covers who pays, the rates that apply right now, the temporary 22.3% discount running until the end of 2026, the road network, and what to expect in 2027.
Verified 3 September 2026 directly against the official RDW/Ministry of Infrastructure portal vrachtwagenheffing.nl and Rijksoverheid.nl. All figures are EUR per kilometre and are set by technical maximum mass, EURO class and CO2 emission class.
Who Pays the Vrachtwagenheffing?
- Vehicle categories N2 and N3 with a technical maximum mass above 3,500 kg — Dutch and foreign-registered alike.
- It applies regardless of what the vehicle is used for, and whether it is running loaded or empty.
- The criterion is the technical maximum mass from the registration documents, not the actual weight on the day.
- Motorhomes registered with the RDW as “Kampeerwagen (SA)” are among the exempt categories.
What Changed on 1 September 2026: a 22.3% Temporary Discount
On 22 May 2026 the Dutch government announced a temporary reduction of 22.3% on all vrachtwagenheffing rates, for all truck categories, in response to sharply higher fuel costs. It applies from 1 September 2026 to 31 December 2026. The government states that the average rate falls from EUR 0.191 to EUR 0.148 per kilometre as a result.
Two related measures for the same period: the Dutch motor vehicle tax (mrb) for trucks is set to a zero rate from 1 July 2026 to 1 January 2027, and the Eurovignette no longer applies in the Netherlands since 1 July 2026 (it continues in Sweden and Luxembourg).
Current Rates: 1 September – 31 December 2026 (Discount Applied)
CO2 Emission Class 1, by EURO Class (EUR/km)
| EURO 0 | EURO 1 | EURO 2 | EURO 3 | EURO 4 | EURO 5 | EURO 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 - 12,000 kg | 0.211 | 0.172 | 0.164 | 0.143 | 0.126 | 0.102 | 0.088 |
| 12,000 - 18,000 kg | 0.304 | 0.244 | 0.232 | 0.206 | 0.178 | 0.145 | 0.125 |
| 18,000 - 32,000 kg | 0.337 | 0.283 | 0.269 | 0.239 | 0.205 | 0.165 | 0.141 |
| over 32,000 kg | 0.379 | 0.318 | 0.305 | 0.271 | 0.231 | 0.183 | 0.156 |
CO2 Emission Classes 2–5 (EUR/km)
| CO2 class 2 | CO2 class 3 | CO2 class 4 | CO2 class 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 - 12,000 kg | 0.079 | 0.071 | 0.049 | 0.019 |
| 12,000 - 18,000 kg | 0.113 | 0.100 | 0.069 | 0.027 |
| 18,000 - 32,000 kg | 0.128 | 0.114 | 0.078 | 0.028 |
| over 32,000 kg | 0.143 | 0.129 | 0.087 | 0.030 |
Worked example: a 40-tonne EURO 6 tractor-trailer in CO2 class 1 pays EUR 0.156/km from September. A 200 km transit Venlo → Rotterdam on tolled roads costs roughly EUR 31 in vrachtwagenheffing. The same combination as a zero-emission truck (CO2 class 5) pays EUR 0.030/km — about EUR 6.
Standard Rates for Reference: 1 July – 31 August 2026
These are the rates without the temporary discount. The September table above is exactly these figures reduced by 22.3%. Unless the discount is extended, the standard level (indexed for inflation) returns on 1 January 2027.
CO2 Emission Class 1, by EURO Class (EUR/km)
| EURO 0 | EURO 1 | EURO 2 | EURO 3 | EURO 4 | EURO 5 | EURO 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 - 12,000 kg | 0.272 | 0.221 | 0.211 | 0.184 | 0.162 | 0.131 | 0.113 |
| 12,000 - 18,000 kg | 0.392 | 0.315 | 0.300 | 0.266 | 0.229 | 0.186 | 0.160 |
| 18,000 - 32,000 kg | 0.432 | 0.364 | 0.347 | 0.308 | 0.264 | 0.212 | 0.182 |
| over 32,000 kg | 0.487 | 0.409 | 0.392 | 0.349 | 0.298 | 0.236 | 0.201 |
CO2 Emission Classes 2–5 (EUR/km)
| CO2 class 2 | CO2 class 3 | CO2 class 4 | CO2 class 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 - 12,000 kg | 0.103 | 0.092 | 0.063 | 0.025 |
| 12,000 - 18,000 kg | 0.145 | 0.129 | 0.088 | 0.035 |
| 18,000 - 32,000 kg | 0.165 | 0.148 | 0.100 | 0.037 |
| over 32,000 kg | 0.183 | 0.165 | 0.111 | 0.038 |
How the Charge Is Built
Each rate is the sum of three components: an infrastructure charge, an external-cost charge for air pollution and noise, and an external-cost charge for CO2 emissions. That is why the same weight band pays very different amounts across EURO and CO2 classes — and why a CO2 class better than 1 is worth checking for any truck registered since mid-2019.
2027 Outlook
The operator has announced that rates rise by 2.6% on 1 January 2027 (inflation indexation), which would put a diesel EURO 6 truck over 32,000 kg at about 20.6 cents/km and an electric truck of the same class at about 4.0 cents/km. The portal notes these 2027 figures are not yet formally adopted; formal publication in the Staatscourant is expected in September 2026. Treat them as indicative until then.
Which Roads Are Tolled?
Officially: almost all motorways plus some provincial and municipal roads. The binding list is the annex to article 2(1) of the Wet vrachtwagenheffing, published by the RDW.
- National roads (Rijkswegen): A1, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A12, A13, A15, A16, A17, A18, A20, A22, A27, A28, A29, A30, A32, A35, A37, A38, A44, A50, A58, A59, A65, A67, A73, A74, A76, A77, A200, A205, A208 and sections of the N2, N11, N44, N50, N65 and N79 — some with kilometre limits (for example the A58 up to km 171.3 and the A73 up to km 108.6).
- Provincial roads: among others the A256, A325, A326, A348 and a set of N-roads such as the N201, N207, N209, N212, N214, N221, N225, N230, N235, N237, N244, N246, N247, N260, N263, N268, N278, N279, N280, N281, N282, N285, N321–N325, N401, N470, N640, N641 and N781.
- Municipal roads: selected routes in Rotterdam (parallel to the A15: Rijnweg, Moezelweg, Botlekweg, Vondelingenweg), Maastricht (two routes from the Belgian border to the A2/Noorderbrug), ’s-Hertogenbosch (Vlijmenseweg–Randweg) and Utrecht (Waterlinieweg).
Check the official road list and map on vrachtwagenheffing.nl before quoting a route that leaves the motorway network — the provincial and municipal segments are the ones that catch planners out.
Tips for Freight Forwarders
- Quote with the September table until 31 December 2026, then switch back to the standard level — a fixed-price contract that runs into January will otherwise be under-priced by roughly 29%.
- Check the CO2 class of every EURO 6 truck. The gap between CO2 class 1 and class 4 for a 40-tonne combination is EUR 0.156 vs EUR 0.087/km in September — about 44% less.
- Do not assume “no motorway, no toll”. Provincial routes around Rotterdam, Utrecht, Maastricht and ’s-Hertogenbosch are on the list.
- Technical maximum mass decides the band, not payload — a light combination rated above 32,000 kg pays the top band even when it runs half-empty.
Estimate toll costs on this route with NSRoute — free.
FAQ
Does the vrachtwagenheffing apply to foreign trucks?
Yes. It applies to Dutch and foreign-registered vehicles in categories N2 and N3 with a technical maximum mass above 3,500 kg.
How long does the 22.3% discount last?
From 1 September 2026 to 31 December 2026, for all truck categories. From 1 January 2027 the standard (inflation-indexed) rates are expected to return.
Is the Eurovignette still needed in the Netherlands?
No. The Eurovignette ended in the Netherlands on 1 July 2026 when the vrachtwagenheffing started. It still applies in Sweden and Luxembourg.
Which weight counts — actual or technical maximum?
The technical maximum mass from the registration documents. Actual load on the day does not matter, and empty runs are charged too.
Are the 2027 rates final?
Not yet. The announced 2.6% increase for 1 January 2027 is indicative until formal publication in the Staatscourant, expected in September 2026.