7 Things that will get you fined while Cycling in the Netherlands
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Loading... - Lucas Moreau
- 11 Jul 2022
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I was cycling through the streets of Utrecht one evening when I was suddenly flagged down by the police. Before I knew what was happening — BAM, a fine of €55 for not having bike lights.
I also got a €90 fine for not carrying my ID, which I left at home for the day, together with my wallet. This little bike adventure cost me a nice lump sum of €145. Rough.
To ensure that your biking trip doesn’t become as unnecessarily expensive as mine here’s a basic guide to Dutch fines while cycling. Just remember that’s not all of them. So, make sure you’re familiar with the law before jumping on your favourite two-wheeler.
1. Cycling without lights or reflectors
Cycling in the dark without bike lights is probably the most common reason for getting a fine. Like me, many people forget to buy new bike lights and they frequently get stolen.
You need to have both front and backlights for it to count, otherwise, you will still get a €55 fine. You can also get a €35 fine for not having reflectors on your bike.
On the bright side (as the officer who fined me also ironically said), bike lights are only like €4 or €5 at the HEMA. A pretty small price to pay for safety, right?
2. Cycling under the influence
This one is a little more than self-evident. Clearly, you shouldn’t step into any kind of vehicle drunk. In the Netherlands, this applies to cycling too. You can be fined up to €200 if your alcohol blood level is above 0,54 mg/ml.
This translates to roughly two and a half beers, so watch out! In addition to this, you can get an €85 fine for not cooperating with the alcohol test.
Next time you’re coming home after drinking, consider walking your bike instead.
3. Not indicating the direction
If you’ve ever cycled in the Netherlands you’ve seen people sticking their arms out when changing direction on a bike. While it may sometimes seem extravagant, it is actually very handy to avoid accidents.
Beyond this, not indicating direction can land you a €35 fine. So stick those arms out people!
4. Not having a bell (and other stuff)
