Much infrastructure is so outdated that municipalities and provinces are concerned about the accessibility of the Netherlands. They want more money from the government for repairs and replacement.
If municipalities and provinces do not receive more money, everyone will notice this in daily life, says deputy Harry van der Maas from Zeeland on behalf of the Interprovincial Consultation. Some roads then have to be closed for a long time, says Maas. “And at certain bridges you have to introduce a weight restriction, so that certain trucks are no longer allowed to cross.”
He does not specify which roads and bridges are involved.
Bridges in Brabant are at risk
There are also vulnerable points in the infrastructure in Brabant. For example, in April 2025 it was announced that the Cadet Camp on the A27 near Breda, the Railway Viaduct on the A67 near Geldrop and the Oosterhoutse Bridge on the A27 near Oosterhout must be replaced within five years. These three bridges are at risk of hairline cracks in the structures and are given priority in the planning.
Due for replacement
Municipalities and provinces are together responsible for about 80 percent of the infrastructure in the Netherlands. Many bridges, viaducts, locks, tunnels, quay walls and pumping stations are about 50 to 60 years old and need to be replaced.
Maintenance requires 1.5 billion euros annually, according to a study commissioned by the Interprovincial Consultation, the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management in February.
It has been known for a long time that many bridges and viaducts need to be replaced about now, says Van der Maas against NOS. But according to him, the costs are higher than previously thought. “We have seen it coming our way, but not the amounts.”
This is partly due to increasingly heavy freight and passenger transport and increased demands in the field of sustainability and safety. In addition, the costs of materials and personnel have risen sharply due to inflation.
Minister Karremans and State Secretary Bertram wrote to the House of Representatives in March that “tight choices” will have to be made. Once again, in response to questions from NOS, they say that priorities must be set.
Sharp choices
“We think so too,” says Van der Maas. He is also thinking of solutions such as spreading traffic more widely and relieving the pressure on the roads through public transport. But municipalities and provinces still need significantly more money for Dutch infrastructure, says Van der Maas.
“That infrastructure has made us great, in Europe, in the world. We are located in a delta area, we are on the sea, we have beautiful ports. If we do not arrange this together now, we will all feel the consequences.”
