Although he is outgoing, Aartsen says that the decision is necessary. “We have not adjusted the amount of fine for almost ten years. We now decide to increase the fines for black driving from 50 euros to 70 euros. The administration costs for people who do not pay their fine are also being raised on time. All this will take effect on 1 October.”
According to Aartsen, who says that social safety in public transport will be at the top of his list in the coming months in the coming months, that is also desperately needed. “We see in practice that it is often black riders who also kick mess,” said the minister. “They often ensure an unsafe feeling. In the evening women no longer dare to go alone on the platform or on the train. And when they go through the gates at the station, they often push people to hitchhike. We have to provide more deterrence,” he says.
A decision by Aartsen shows that the costs for traveling by public transport since 2016 cumulatively increased by no less than 25 percent, but a fine remained the same. “The amount of the fine is an incentive to prevent travel without a valid ticket,” is reported. Previous figures show that carriers often impose these fines (also known as ‘deferment of payment’) annually. In 2023 it went at the Dutch Railways at 283,450 fines, in 2024 it increased to 352,969. In 2023, ARCIVA issued a total of 35,908 fines. In 2024 there were 53,542.
Newcomer in cabinet
Aartsen is a newcomer to the cabinet. The VVD member has been the successor of PVV member Chris Jansen for a week and a half, who also left the cabinet after departure from the coalition of his party. Aartsen has, among other things, received the Public Transport and the Environment portfolios and is going to work on Infrastructure & Water Management under BBB’er and Minister Robert Tieman.
Outgoing State Secretary Thierry Aartsen (VVD) of Infrastructure and Water Management. © ANP / HH
For his sworn as Secretary, Aartsen was in the Chamber for the VVD for seven years. In it he examined the topics, labor market, pensions and entrepreneurs, among other things. Aartsen is a good acquaintance of former VVD party leader Klaas Dijkhoff, with whom he once sat together in the Breda city council on behalf of the Liberals.