Traffic Fines in the Netherlands: Big Brother on Wheels?

If you’ve ever driven through the Netherlands, you might have noticed something: you’re being watched. Not by police cars on every corner, but by the ever-present network of traffic cameras. They are everywhere — hanging above highways, hiding behind bushes, or mounted on small poles in sleepy Dutch villages.

What makes it even more extreme is how little it takes to trigger a fine. Drive just 4 km/h over the speed limit, and your mailbox (or email) will soon host an official letter from the CJIB (the Dutch Central Judicial Collection Agency), politely informing you that you owe them money.

Fined for 4 km/h Over the Limit

In many countries, a few kilometers over the speed limit is tolerated. Not in the Netherlands. The Dutch traffic system is among the strictest in Europe.

Here’s how it typically works:

• Up to 4 km/h over the limit → fine.
• Camera tolerance exists only for minor measurement errors (often 3 km/h deduction), but if you go 4 km/h faster than that, you’re still caught.
• Highways, city roads, bicycle paths — all monitored.

In a 100 km/h zone, going 105 km/h can already mean a fine of €12 to €15. In a 50 km/h zone, that same 4–5 km/h difference can cost around €30.

Small numbers, but they add up — and that’s part of the problem. Many drivers feel that Dutch traffic enforcement has become more about revenue than safety.

A Country Covered in Cameras

With more than 1,000+ fixed speed cameras, hundreds of average speed zones (trajectcontrole), and countless mobile units, the Netherlands has one of the highest camera densities in the world.

Average speed zones are particularly effective: they don’t just measure how fast you go past a single point but calculate your average speed over several kilometers. There’s no way to escape — if you drove too fast even for a short stretch, you’ll get caught.

The Philosophy Behind It

The Dutch government justifies this system with a focus on road safety. They argue that strict enforcement reduces accidents, and the statistics do show that Dutch roads are among the safest in Europe.

However, for many residents, the experience feels more like an automated tax collection system. Unlike police patrols that can use judgment, cameras show no mercy — not even for overtaking safely, accelerating briefly, or avoiding a tailgater.

Tips to Avoid Fines

1. Use navigation apps — most GPS systems (Google Maps, Waze, TomTom) alert you about speed cameras and average-speed zones.
2. Know the limits — outside cities: 80 or 100 km/h; inside: 30 or 50 km/h, and sometimes less in residential zones.
3. Stay alert at yellow boxes — they often hide speed and red-light cameras.
4. Be patient — fines add up fast, and paying them doesn’t give you points or warnings, just an emptier wallet.

Conclusion

The Netherlands has built one of the most advanced and unforgiving traffic surveillance systems in the world. It’s efficient, it’s automated — and it doesn’t forgive small mistakes.

So next time you drive here, remember: even 4 km/h can cost you.
Stay calm, stay slow, and keep your eyes open — not just for cyclists, but for the cameras that never sleep.