Delivering goods safely and cleanly – and collecting waste efficiently – in our city centers is a significant challenge. This is especially true since the introduction of zero-emission zones on January 1, 2025, while urban populations continue to grow. The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) predicts that by 2035, the four largest cities will experience population growth of between 12% and 26%. That means more parcels, more deliveries to restaurants and offices, more construction and renovation projects, and more waste. The question is: how do we keep urban transport workable, safe, and sustainable?
Transport and Logistics Netherlands (TLN) has gathered real-life stories in the report Stadslogistiek tot in de kern (“City Logistics to the Core”). Carriers from all segments – from construction to supermarkets and from parcel delivery to hospitality – share their challenges and solutions. Their message is clear: keeping goods transport viable is only possible if governments, businesses, and logistics partners work together more closely.
Challenges in the city center
Carriers experience every day how complex urban distribution has become. Each municipality has its own rules for permits, vehicle lengths, or time windows. Companies spend tens of thousands of euros on fees and lose time on paperwork. Time restrictions and access barriers (pollers) often lead to more trucks on the streets: because all deliveries must be completed before 11:00 a.m., more vehicles are needed to meet the deadline.
Traffic safety is another primary concern. Deliveries to schools or daycare centers during drop-off times pose additional risks. The lack of suitable loading and unloading bays sometimes forces drivers to stop in unsafe places, leading to fines and dangerous situations.
There is also a tension between livability and accessibility. Cities want to make room for pedestrians and cyclists, terraces, and events. At the same time, they need daily deliveries of everything from sandwiches and parcels to window frames and building materials.
Practical tips from carriers
Carriers contribute more than just problems. Their practical stories include concrete tips that municipalities and policymakers can apply right away:
- Work toward collaboration and consistency. Harmonize rules and permits as much as possible. One clear point of contact saves carriers time and money.
- Think in terms of the chain. Traffic safety is not just a carrier’s responsibility. Clients and recipients can help by planning deliveries more thoughtfully.
- Facilitate loading zones. Well-placed, accessible loading bays improve safety and efficiency.
- Reward clean vehicles. Access to bus lanes or extended delivery windows can accelerate the adoption of zero-emission fleets.
- Spread deliveries over the day. Flexible time windows help prevent morning peaks.
- Use existing hubs. New urban hubs only work if there is scale. Build on existing structures and encourage collaboration.
- Stimulate full loads. Higher load factors reduce vehicle movements.
- Involve carriers early. Consult the sector about roadworks or traffic circulation plans to avoid unnecessary detours.
It is not only Amsterdam or Rotterdam that struggle with city logistics. Medium-sized cities with compact centers face the same challenges, and the balance between livability, tourism, and supply is often even more delicate. Carriers call for tailor-made solutions, but within a national framework.
Sector-specific challenges
Each sector has its own bottlenecks:
- Retail and hospitality benefit from spacious loading zones and spread-out delivery times.
- Supermarkets need deliveries outside customer peak hours to avoid congestion.
- Parcel companies stress the importance of hubs and consolidation to reduce van traffic.
- Construction transport depends on early access and clear rules for vehicle size and weight.
- Waste collection can be more efficient with smart routing and broader delivery windows.
Conclusion: moving forward together
These stories show that carriers are not just complaining; they are contributing practical solutions. Their advice is often simple yet effective. The key is collaboration: connect, walk the streets together, and engage in meaningful dialogue. City logistics is far too complex to be managed from behind a desk.
With clear rules, better coordination, and privileges for clean vehicles, our city centers can remain accessible, livable, and sustainable. Everyone benefits: residents, businesses, municipalities, and carriers themselves. For professionals in cities, logistics, and policy, the sector’s invitation is clear: step in, ride along, listen, and observe. Only together can we keep our cities supplied – safely, efficiently, and emission-free.
Walther Ploos van Amstel.