Why is the A24 a toll road? | MOVE-IZI

Why the A24 Blankenburg Connection became a toll road

The A24 Blankenburg Connection is the first toll motorway in the Netherlands with a direct payment obligation for all motorised road users. This is remarkable, as most Dutch motorways are free to use. How did this come about? And what does it mean in practice for you as a road user? This article explains the background. The current toll rates on the A24 can be found on the Toll and prices page.

The construction of the A24: a long-awaited connection

The Blankenburg Connection was discussed for years as a necessary expansion of the road network around Rotterdam. The region needed an additional river crossing to relieve pressure on existing routes, particularly the Beneluxtunnel on the A15 and the routes through Rotterdam city centre. After extensive planning and decision-making, the A24 Blankenburg Connection was built and opened as a toll road.

Public-private partnership (PPP) as a financing model

The construction and management of the A24 Blankenburg Connection are financed through a public-private partnership (PPP). In this model, the government enters into a long-term contract with a private consortium for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the infrastructure. In return, the consortium receives a fee over the duration of the contract, to which toll revenue contributes.

This PPP model has long been common in other European countries for major infrastructure projects. In the Netherlands, the A24 Blankenburg Connection is one of the first motorways where this model has been combined with direct toll collection from road users.

Why do road users pay toll instead of the government?

In the traditional approach to financing roads, the government pays for construction from general funds, after which the road is freely available to road users. For the A24, a different model was chosen: the costs of construction, maintenance and management are partly recovered through toll charges levied on the users of the road itself. This reduces direct pressure on the national budget and places the costs with the parties who directly benefit from the connection.

A free alternative is always available

When introducing e-TOL on the A24, the government stipulated as a firm condition that a free alternative route must always be available. As a road user, you are never required to use the A24. This distinguishes the Dutch system from situations in other countries where a toll route is sometimes the only practical connection.

It is also laid down in law that toll collection takes place exclusively via number plate recognition, without toll booths, barriers or payment terminals. This ensures the free flow of traffic on the A24.

e-TOL: a deliberate choice for number plate recognition

The Netherlands has chosen e-TOL: paying toll via automatic number plate recognition by cameras on overhead gantries above the road. This system works without toll booths or toll plazas. Every passage is registered based on the vehicle’s number plate. This allows vehicles to keep moving and avoids dangerous situations caused by vehicles braking or stopping. Furthermore, there is no space in this busy area for large toll plazas. Payment takes place after the fact: via e-TOL.nl up to 72 hours after the passage, or automatically via a registered provider such as MOVE-IZI.

Two rate categories on the A24

The A24 has two rates, based on the maximum permissible mass of the vehicle:

Light vehicles (up to and including 3,500 kg): €1.57 per passage
Heavy vehicles (above 3,500 kg): €9.49 per passage

These amounts are indexed annually based on inflation. The current rates can always be consulted on the Toll and prices page.

The rates mentioned in this article are the rates as of 1 January 2026. Toll rates are indexed annually based on inflation and may change.

How do A24 toll rates compare to other toll roads in Europe?

In many European countries, paying toll on motorways and tunnels is the norm. France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Norway have extensive toll networks. In Belgium, Germany and many other European countries, lorries have been paying per kilometre driven for years, via an on-board unit in the cab. For private vehicles in the Netherlands, the A24 is the first motorway with a direct toll obligation for all motorised vehicles.

What does this mean for you as a regular A24 user?

Do you use the A24 regularly for commuting or business travel? Automatic payment via MOVE-IZI is the most practical solution. You register your number plate once, link a payment method, and then pay automatically per passage. There are no additional service charges on top of the official toll amount.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the A24 the only motorway with e-TOL in the Netherlands?

The A24 Blankenburg Connection was built through a public-private partnership in which toll collection is part of the financing model. The toll is used to recover part of the road’s construction costs. Most other Dutch motorways were built with public funds and without direct toll collection from road users.

Am I required to pay toll if I use the A24?

Yes. If you use the A24 Blankenburg Connection, you pay e-TOL based on your number plate. However, you are never required to use the A24: a free alternative route is always available.

Will the toll collection ever stop?

Toll collection will stop once the road has been paid off. This depends in part on the number of vehicles using the road every day. The expectation is that this will take at least 25 years.

Who collects the toll on the A24?

e-TOL is the official system for toll collection on the A24. You can pay per passage via e-TOL.nl. MOVE-IZI is a provider of automatic toll payment on the A24 via number plate registration. Both e-TOL and MOVE-IZI remit the toll revenue to the national government.

Do I pay toll at the entry and exit of the A24?

No. There are no toll booths as with classic toll roads. Cameras on overhead gantries above the road register your number plate as you drive through. Toll is charged once per passage.