From 1 July 2026, the Netherlands will introduce a lorry charge. Lorries and heavy goods vehicles will then be charged per kilometre driven on almost all motorways and on a number of main provincial and municipal roads. The charge applies to vehicles in categories N2 and N3: goods vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of over 3,500 kilograms.
The levy does not usually apply to standard delivery vans weighing up to 3,500 kg. However, heavier refrigerated lorries, box lorries and distribution lorries may be subject to the scheme. It is therefore important for food businesses to check the vehicle registration document. The vehicle category and maximum technical mass are decisive factors.
The charges depend on weight and emissions. In 2026, the charges will range from approximately 2.5 to 48.7 cents per kilometre. A modern Euro 6 lorry weighing between 3.5 and 12 tonnes will pay 11.3 cents per kilometre. A Euro 6 vehicle weighing between 12 and 18 tonnes will pay 16 cents per kilometre. Heavier or older vehicles will pay more. Zero-emission vehicles will pay less.
At the same time, the Eurovignette will be abolished in the Netherlands and road tax for lorries will be reduced or abolished. The revenue from the levy will be used to make road transport more sustainable, for example through cleaner vehicles and charging infrastructure.
For the food sector, the lorry charge is not just another transport issue. Fresh produce requires fast, reliable and often refrigerated distribution. Think of meat, fish, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, bread, ready meals and catering supplies.
It is precisely this type of logistics that involves numerous stops, fixed time slots and, at times, smaller volumes. As a result, every additional kilometre can have a direct impact on profit margins. A major logistics player can often spread or pass on costs more easily. For regional suppliers, short supply chains and SMEs with their own refrigerated vehicles, the situation is different.
A vehicle that travels 200 taxable kilometres a day at 16 pence per kilometre comes to 32 euros a day. At five days a week, that’s roughly 160 euros a week. On an annual basis, this amounts to €8,000 per vehicle, before taking into account lower fixed costs.
The impact is greatest for companies that cover a lot of mileage with heavy or older vehicles and have limited scope to become more sustainable quickly. In the food sector, this mainly concerns regional distributors, fish wholesalers, meat and dairy suppliers, catering wholesalers and artisanal producers with their own heavier lorries or refrigerated vehicles.
Short supply chains can also be affected. The distances are often shorter, but the volumes are smaller and the loads are less full than in large-scale distribution. As a result, the economies of scale are limited.
Food businesses must determine in good time which vehicles are covered by the scheme via . Check the vehicle registration certificate for the vehicle category, the maximum technical mass and the emission class. Then calculate the rate per kilometre and multiply this by the number of taxable kilometres per week. To do this, use the tool provided by the RDW.
It must then be clear how these costs are to be accounted for. This can be done through adjusted transport rates, fuel and mileage clauses, delivery charges, delivery terms or product prices. Without clear agreements, the levy becomes a hidden cost.
Route planning also deserves attention. Partially empty journeys, urgent deliveries and inefficient routes are becoming more costly. Consolidating deliveries, fixed delivery days and collaboration between regional producers can help to minimise the impact.
The lorry charge is being introduced as a means of ensuring fairer road use and making transport more sustainable. For the food sector, it primarily represents a new variable cost in logistics.
That calls for preparation. Not just in July 2026, but now. Inspect vehicles, calculate the impact and agree on costs. The levy could have a particularly significant impact on refrigerated, regional and fine-mesh distribution.
For food companies, the bottom line is simple: every kilometre will soon come at a cost. Those who fail to factor in the full cost of their logistics run the risk of seeing that cost quietly eat into their margins.
https://www.vrachtwagenheffing.nl/dit-gaat-u-betalen
