The Dutch are covering more kilometres by bicycle, with the total reaching 19.1 billion last year, according to new figures from transport associations RAI and Bovag.

In total, the Dutch cycled an average of 1,065 kilometres per person in 2023, compared with 902 kilometres per head 10 years before that.

The increase may be down to the rise of the e-bike, the organisations said. Some 56% of the 804,000 new bikes bought last year were e-bikes and they are particularly popular among older cyclists.

Cycling is also more affordable than public transport or the car. Since 2015, the cost of public transport and running a car has gone up by some 30%, the organisations said.

The Netherlands now has some 24.1 million bikes for a population of 18 million.

Company cars

Meanwhile, national statistics agency CBS said on Thursday that the number of kilometres covered by electric company cars has outstripped diesel-powered vehicles for the first time.

Last year, company car drivers covered 5.9 billion kilometres in fully electric company cars and 3.6 billion in diesel and hybrid diesel vehicles.

Total car use rose 4.3% on 2022, but is still 1.4% down on the pre-coronavirus total in 2019.