Low-emission zone check
See by plate or with a few details which low-emission and zero-emission zones your car or van may enter in 2026.
Vehicle details
Sample plates:
Can this vehicle enter the zone?
Enter the fuel and the Euro class, or look up a plate.
Which Dutch cities have a low-emission zone for cars in 2026?
Four cities: Amsterdam, Arnhem, The Hague (Den Haag) and Utrecht. They only restrict diesels. In a green zone a diesel needs at least Euro 4; in a blue zone at least Euro 5. Eindhoven introduces a blue zone on 1 January 2027.
| City | Zone | Diesel cars not allowed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Blue | Euro 4 and lower | Also applies to diesel vans |
| Arnhem | Blue | Euro 4 and lower | Euro 4 barred since 1 June 2026 |
| The Hague | Green | Euro 3 and lower | Vans fall under the zero-emission zone |
| Utrecht | Blue | Euro 4 and lower | Passenger cars only |
| Eindhoven | Blue | Euro 4 and lower | Only from 1 January 2027 |
Source: Milieuzones.nl. The national checker does not include local exemptions; check the city's own website for those.
How do you find out your car's Euro class?
The emissieklasse (Euro emission class) is in the RDW data for your plate, and this check fetches it automatically. The build year is only a first hint, because many cars met a stricter standard early.
| Diesel Euro class | Rough build year | Amsterdam, Utrecht, Arnhem | The Hague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro 3 or lower | up to c. 2005 | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Euro 4 | c. 2006 to 2010 | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Euro 5 | c. 2011 to 2015 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Euro 6 | from c. September 2015 | Allowed | Allowed |
What applies to vans in zero-emission zones?
Zero-emissiezones (zero-emission zones) apply only to vans and trucks. There are more than twenty, growing to around 29 by 2030. Euro 5 vans may enter until 31 December 2026; Euro 4 or lower is already barred. For Euro 6 vans first registered before 2025, the transition period runs until 1 January 2028. In 2026 the government proposed extending that by a year; that is not a decision yet.
Who gets the fine for entering a low-emission zone?
The €130 fine goes to whoever is the registered keeper at the time of the offence. If you sell an older diesel, transfer the registration at the handover and keep the vrijwaringsbewijs (indemnity certificate). That keeps the new driver's fines away from you. Use the handover checklist so nothing is missed.
What does a low-emission zone do to a diesel's value?
A zone shrinks the pool of buyers in and around the cities, which pushes down prices of diesels rated Euro 4 or lower. There are no hard figures on the loss of value. Diesel is already a niche in the used market: 5.5% of used cars sold in 2025 were diesels (BOVAG/RDC). Find out what your car is worth with our car valuation and read more in low-emission zones 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can a petrol car enter a low-emission zone?
Yes. In 2026 the passenger-car zones in Amsterdam, Arnhem, The Hague and Utrecht only restrict diesels. Petrol, LPG, electric and hybrid cars can enter everywhere, whatever their Euro class.
How much is the low-emission zone fine in 2026?
€130. That amount has applied since 26 November 2025. Since 1 January 2026 a new road sign also marks the edge of each zone. The fine goes to the registered keeper at the time of the offence.
Can I get an exemption from a low-emission zone?
Sometimes. Cities can grant exemptions, for example on medical grounds. The national checker on Milieuzones.nl does not include them, so check the city’s own website. A ZE-zone exemption is requested via the official RDW site, not through unofficial sites that charge for it.
Are more low-emission zones coming?
Yes. Eindhoven introduces a blue zone on 1 January 2027, barring diesels rated Euro 4 or lower. The number of zero-emission zones for vans and trucks grows from just over twenty to around 29 cities by 2030.