All moped users will have to wear a helmet from next year

In Amsterdam mopeds are banned from the cycle path. Photo: DutchNews.nl
New road markings direct scooters onto the main roadway in Amsterdam. Photo: DutchNews.nl

All moped users will be required by law to wear a helmet from July 2022 as part of efforts to reduce death and injury, ministers have decided.

Dozens of people a year are killed on low-powered mopeds known as snorfietsen, which carry blue license plates and are allowed on cycle paths – apart from in Amsterdam – provided they have a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

Helmets are only required for larger scooters with yellow plates, which have to use the roads.

MPs first called for compulsory helmets in 2019 after more than 100 doctors signed a letter pointing out that the Netherlands is the only country in Europe where helmets are not compulsory for all types of scooter.

In 2020, there were 765,000 of the light mopeds in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam made helmets compulsory for all moped users in 2019 when it banned the vehicles from most of the city’s bike paths.

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