Municipalities may charge lower parking fees for electric cars starting next year. Parking permits for electric cars may also be made cheaper. This was announced by State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen (Infrastructure and Water Management).

With this, the cabinet wants more clean air in cities and towns and less noise. “I think that is important. Depending on the situation in their municipality, they can choose whether they want to make use of this,” said Heijnen.

Municipalities are allowed to set their own parking rates. An amendment to the Municipalities Act allows municipalities to give electric cars discounts starting next year.

The discount is for cars that do not emit exhaust fumes, such as electric cars and hydrogen-powered cars. The rebate may not apply to hybrid cars.

Currently, almost 300,000 of the 9 million cars in the Netherlands are completely clean. The Netherlands wants all cars on the road to be completely clean by 2050.