From June 1 motorised vehicles will need a permit based on a vehicle registration number in order to enter the city centre.
The area of the city that was previously closed off by electronic moving bollards (posts) will be subject to the new rules.
The bollards will disappear, and in their place cameras will be taking photos of the registration plates of vehicles entering the area, which will be checked against the list of authorised permits. The cameras will be at the Voorstraat, Oude Delft, Vesteplein, Molslaan, Vrouwjuttenland and Nieuwe Langendijk access points. This “prevents collision damage, gives less stagnation on the roads, is more user friendly and cheaper,” according to Gemeente Delft. There have been numerous reports of cars being trapped on the moving bollards. If you don’t have a valid permit, you must use one of the three parking garages instead. “To get used to the system in the early days, for a first offence you will only receive a warning letter,” stated Gemeente Delft. Thereafter, fines will be issued to those that infringe the rules.
If you wish to enter the city to load or unload, for moving house for example, it’s possible to get a day permit via delft.nl/kentekentoegang or at the Phoenixstraat municipality office. These are not valid on Fridays between 18.00 and 21.00, or on Saturdays between 11.00 and 17.00. For the time being they’ll be free. An online application takes just seconds, and you can use your DigiD code if you have one, but it’s not necessary. You do need a vehicle registration number though, so if you plan to use a rental car for moving day you have a problem, since most rental companies won’t provide this information before collection. Residents within the zone, businesses and delivery drivers are eligible for permanent permits.
The new rules are potentially confusing to non-residents and tourists. However, Delta spoke with a representative at Gemeente Delft who assured us that the road signs would be made clear to non-Dutch speakers. “At all entrances to the city there’ll be clear signage,” they stated. LED lights on the ground will draw the attention of approaching vehicles too. The literature provided by Gemeente Delft is in Dutch only, but you can watch the explanatory film with English subtitles.
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