Dutch politicians just voted to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025

Josh Barrie Read more April 18, 2016

The Netherlands is known for its love of bicycles, green energy and liberal thinking. If you’ve ever been to Amsterdam, you’ll know all about that.

Dutch politicians just voted to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025

Today, although not all that fitting with a stereotypical Holland, petrol and diesel cars remain significant in the European nation. But that might be about to change.

Dutch politicians have just voted in favour of a motion that would put an end to the sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025. The country’s rulers, it seems, see entirely electric avenues in the foreseeable future. Currently, electric car ownership in the Netherlands is just under 10%.

The vote at this stage has only passed through the lower house of parliament in the Netherlands. It also needs to be approved by the Dutch senate to become legally binding, The Guardian writes.

Still, this remains a bold step towards the future of automobiles – a country fuelled and transported by electricity (and bikes and boats). It’s certainly a sign that Dutch officials want to reduce pollution and begin phasing out motorcars as we know them, and have known them for decades.

The motion was initially proposed by the Labour Party (PvdA), which is part of the country’s coalition government. Its aim and focus to begin with was to ban petrol and diesel cars completely. However, the plan was diluted, evidently.

Instead, were the move to come to pass it would now put an end to sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025, or at least that would be the government’s intention. It might prove easier said than done, we feel.

Petrol and diesel cars already on the road would be allowed to continue. It’d be a very slow burn to see an end resolutely.

Although the vote came out in favour in Dutch parliament, many oppose the idea, including some in the coalition.

The centre-right party the VVD, which is part of the coalition, has some of those people against the ban. VVD leader Halbe Zijlstra called the plan “unrealistic”, according the Dutch state broadcaster NOS.

But the PvdA is pushing on. Leader Diederik Samsom says the motion is feasible and told Dutch media that “we are ambitious, perhaps other parties are less so”.

We suppose if any country could make it happen, it’s the Netherlands.