Based on research commissioned by the Mobility Alliance, the National Institute for Budget Information (Nibud) has reported that the cost of using transport in the Netherlands is more expensive than what average-income households can afford.  

Using transport in the Netherlands too expensive for average incomes

According to Nibud, families and couples who earn an average income cannot afford transport costs. If these households do not make cuts to other expenses, they will be short 200 to 900 euros per month for mobility.

Between 2015 and 2023, the price of transport increased by almost 30 percent, which is higher than the inflation of 26 percent. The Mobility Alliance, which includes various transport companies such as NS, GVB, Arriva and RET, pointed out that the new research shows that the group of people who experience financial difficulties when getting to work or school is much larger than the initial estimation of 10 percent of the Dutch population. 

Residents who earn minimum wage or closer to the average gross income of 44.000 euros can only afford the cost of transport if it is used minimally. However, the average mobility use is more affordable to a household with two working individuals who earn an income of one and a half times the average.  

Higher transport costs in the Netherlands affect society

Lower-income households with children are especially affected by the increasing costs of transport. While travelling by car has become a faster and more affordable option than public transport, owning a car in the Netherlands is still out of reach for a lot of families. 

Other transport options such as cycling can also be costly due to initial costs and maintenance. Even if it is more affordable than public transport or driving, schools, workplaces and even food shops can be difficult to access.

“Access to affordable mobility is a prerequisite for being able to participate in society,” said Marga de Jager, chair of the Mobility Alliance. “Whether that is to go to work or a job interview, to visit a parent to provide informal care or to take children to the sports club. This research shows that large groups of Dutch people can no longer afford this and increasingly have to make difficult choices in this regard.”

According to the Mobility Alliance, expensive transport has negative consequences for the “security of existence, health and freedom to travel” of families and couples living in the Netherlands. “Our society is the loser in this.”

Tackling low affordability of transport in the Netherlands

The Mobility Alliance has suggested three possible solutions to tackle the mobility problems in the country. One approach could be to make better use of allowances for travel, as it is currently not standard for lower incomes. Companies could also broaden the travel expenses they cover to include not only cars, motorcycles and public transport, but also bicycles and scooters.

Another solution would be to bring housing, workplaces and facilities closer together, which would bring travel costs down. Finally, the organisation believes that better insights should be given into the costs of mobility so that people can have a clearer picture of the prices of different transport options so they can make well-informed choices. 

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