Toll in the Netherlands vs. abroad: why e-TOL is the future

Since the opening of the A24 (Blankenburg Connection), the Netherlands has its first toll road for motorised traffic permitted on this road, such as cars, vans and lorries. Traffic such as tractors, scooters and mopeds is not permitted here.

Unlike the traditional toll booths you encounter abroad, the Dutch system works entirely electronically via number plate recognition.

This article compares the Dutch e-TOL system with toll abroad and explains why electronic toll payment is becoming the European standard.

Toll abroad: traditional toll booths as the norm

Toll has long been used to finance roads. In many countries this still happens with toll booths. In France and Spain, for example, you stop at a toll plaza and pay per section. In Austria and Switzerland you buy a vignette to use the motorway.

In Belgium only lorries pay toll via Viapass; private cars drive for free. In Germany this works similarly: lorries pay via the Maut system, but private cars do not. In the United Kingdom there are separate toll roads and tunnels, such as the Dartford Crossing.

Portugal and Ireland have extensive toll networks with payment stations or electronic boxes in the car. In Norway, toll has been paid via number plate recognition for many years, particularly in cities such as Oslo and Bergen. Sweden also uses this system in cities for a congestion charge.

The trend is clear: more and more countries are switching to digital, fully contactless forms of toll payment without toll booths or waiting times.

e-TOL on the A24: fully electronic and barrier-free

The Dutch e-TOL system on the A24 works without toll booths or barriers. Overhead gantries with cameras above the road register your number plate. Based on this, it is automatically determined which vehicle category you fall into. You simply drive through without stopping or waiting.

The processing of data takes place in accordance with GDPR regulations. You have two payment options: per trip via e-TOL.nl (up to 72 hours after your trip) or automatically via a provider such as MOVE-IZI.

An advantage of this system is that it is suitable for both occasional and regular users. Do you drive on the A24 occasionally? Then you simply pay per trip via e-TOL.nl, without registration. Do you use the road more frequently? Then automatic payment via MOVE-IZI is convenient, because you no longer need to do anything per trip.

Europe is investing in electronic toll: the harmonised European toll standard

The European Union is working on a harmonised electronic toll system. This initiative encourages countries to switch to systems that work together, so that you can pay toll in multiple countries with one contract. The Netherlands is aligning with this development through its e-TOL system.

For Dutch road users, this means that in the future you may be able to pay toll in various European countries with one contract, once more countries join. The Netherlands is leading the way as a digital toll country.

A toll-free alternative route is always available on the A24

Unlike in some other countries, in the Netherlands you are never obliged to use the A24. Alternative routes without toll are always available. Paying toll on the A24 is therefore a choice, not an obligation.

Automatic e-TOL payment with MOVE-IZI

With MOVE-IZI you register your number plate(s) once and link a payment method. As soon as you pass the A24, the e-TOL is processed automatically. You only pay the official toll rate — with MOVE-IZI there are no additional service costs on top of that.

You can choose between two payment options: prepaid (loading credit in advance) or pay later via direct debit or credit card.

e-TOL and your privacy: safe and GDPR-compliant

When number plate recognition is involved, people often wonder about privacy. On the A24, number plate data is processed in accordance with GDPR rules. This means that the data is only used to calculate toll.

Data is not stored longer than necessary and is only shared when required by law. This distinguishes the Dutch system from countries where cameras are also used for other purposes.

Read also

• Current toll rates on the A24
• e-TOL A24: everything about the Blankenburg Connection
• Register your number plate with MOVE-IZI

Frequently asked questions

Do foreign vehicles also pay toll on the A24?

Yes. Vehicles with a foreign number plate are also required to pay e-TOL on the A24 (Blankenburg Connection).

Is a vignette required for the Netherlands?

No. The Netherlands does not use a vignette. You only pay toll on the A24. On all other Dutch motorways you drive for free.

How does e-TOL differ from a system requiring mandatory equipment?

In many European countries, vehicles (especially lorries) must have extra equipment in the form of On Board Units (OBUs), also known as toll boxes, in the vehicle to pay toll automatically. On the A24 this is not necessary. e-TOL works with number plate recognition, so you can drive and pay without any extra equipment.

Are the toll rates adjusted annually?

Yes. The toll rates on the A24 are adjusted every year via an inflation correction.