Utrecht is tightening up the rules for its environmental zone. Diesel cars from before 2005 will be banned from the city center from next spring.
As of April 1, only emission class 4 diesels or newer diesel cars may enter the city center of Utrecht. In concrete terms, this means that diesel cars built in 2004 or before are no longer welcome. With this, the municipal council wants to improve the air quality in the center of the city. Diesel cars are responsible for a relatively large amount of particulate matter emissions. “It is important that every Utrecht can breathe healthy air. That is why we are working so hard to improve the air quality in the city. The tightening up of the environmental zone is an important step in this,” says alderman Eelco Eerenberg (Environment and Emissionless transport) Tuesday.
That is not the only planned tightening. Utrecht will also make the environmental zone stricter for trucks in 2022. In 2025, the zone will then also be closed to diesel cars for emission class 4 diesels. Then only diesel-powered passenger cars from after September 2009 will be allowed in and then “… there will be an emission-free zone for delivery vans and trucks,” says Eerenberg.
Violators will first receive a warning letter until the summer. From 1 July, a fine of at least € 95 will be issued immediately. Residents with a polluting car can receive a subsidy to have their car (with emission class 3 or older) scrapped. Entrepreneurs and companies from surrounding municipalities can also claim this money.