Freight transport by Eastern European lorries increased sharply

© CBS
In 2023, international lorries carried a total weight of 103 million tonnes of goods to and from the Netherlands. That was nearly four times as much as in 2007. More than half of these goods were transported by lorries from Eastern Europe, from Poland in particular. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of the latest figures.
The total weight of goods transported by international road hauliers to and from the Netherlands was 194 million tonnes in 2023. Just over half of these goods (53.1 percent) were transported by international lorries. The number of goods carried by international lorries has been steadily increasing over the past few years. For the fourth consecutive year, they have outnumbered goods transported by Dutch lorries.

Weight carried to and from the Netherlands
JaarLorries from other countries (million tonnes)Dutch lorries (million tonnes)
200777.28131.05
200878.21127.26
200972.53115.57
201072.70106.44
201172.18111.26
201272.58106.72
201376.42104.22
201476.57106.63
201584.47102.25
201693.58100.86
201799.75104.07
201895.45105.81
201998.46100.20
2020103.8199.27
2021**104.71102.52
2022**101.9993.05
2023*103.1991.03
* provisional figures ** more detailed provisional figures

More weight carried by Eastern European lorries

There has been a sharp increase in goods transported by Eastern European road hauliers to and from the Netherlands in recent years. In 2023, they carried 55.4 percent of the total weight transported (57 million tonnes of goods), up from 19.4 percent (15 million tons) in 2007.

Western European road hauliers transported fewer goods to and from the Netherlands: 46 million tonnes, 26.1 percent less than in 2007. Dutch lorries transported 91 million tonnes of goods, 30.5 percent less than in 2007.

Poland largest in road haulage to and from the Netherlands

Polish lorries carried the most weight (30 million tonnes) of goods being transported to and from the Netherlands, compared to other international road hauliers in 2023. That was 29.1 percent of the total weight transported by international road hauliers, relative to 10.9 percent in 2007.

Romanian and Lithuanian lorries also carried more goods during 2007-2023, while the share of weight transported by Belgian and German lorries to and from the Netherlands halved during this period.

Weight transported to and from the Netherlands, by country
JaarGermany (%)Belgium (%)Other Western Europe (%)Poland (%)Romania (%)Lithuania (%)Other Eastern Europe (%)
200742.521.516.510.90.91.36.3
200841.32117.710.60.81.17.5
200938.122.415.712.411.39.2
201036.219.816.116.40.61.49.4
201137.218.415.115.11.21.911
201235.319.814.6161.11.711.5
201332.718.215.316.21.82.213.5
201432.117.114.520.31.92.411.7
201529.316.513.921.92.82.613.1
201629.214.213.123.83.32.513.8
201727.415.412.525.54.43.311.5
20182815.112.424.45.34.110.7
201925.212.913.4276.269.4
202024.11311.828.55.56.111
2021**261211.725.75.97.311.4
2022**23.610.112.527.86.77.112.1
2023*221111.529.16.18.811.4
* provisional figures ** more detailed provisional figures

More kilometres covered by Eastern European lorries

Fourteen percent of the total number of kilometres covered by lorries on Dutch roads in 2023 were done by international lorries, which covered over 975 million kilometres, up 40 percent on 2013.

Eastern European lorries covered more than twice the mileage of 2013: 552 million kilometres. This means that the share in the number of kilometres covered by international road hauliers increased from 36 percent in 2013 to 57 percent in 2023. The highest mileage (nearly 280 million kilometres) was covered by Polish lorries, followed by German lorries (177 million kilometres ). Lorries from Romania and Lithuania also increased their mileage significantly during this period.

Kilometres covered
JaarLorries from Eastern Europe (x million)Lorries from Western Europe (x million)
2013251.8444.8
2014284.2430.2
2015330.9425.7
2016396.6435.1
2017445.8436.7
2018445.9442
2019464.5442.2
2020514.1437.2
2021535.6431.4
2022536.6441
2023*552.1423.2
* provisional figures

International lorries on Dutch roads are relatively young

Of all trips to and from the Netherlands by international lorries carrying freight in 2023, 86.7 percent of the vehicles used were seven years old or younger. Nearly half of the Eastern European lorries were three years old or younger.

By contrast, European road hauliers often use older lorries for carrying freight within their national borders. In 2023, 65.1 percent of trips within national borders in Eastern Europe were made by lorries aged eight years or older. Of the trucks travelling to and from the Netherlands, 25.3 percent were eight years old or older.

Road haulage, by age of lorry, 2023*
TypelandenCategorie0-7 yrs (%)8 years or older (%)
To and from NLthe Netherlands82.517.5
To and from NLEastern Europe85.314.7
To and from NLWestern Europe88.511.5
Domesticthe Netherlands74.725.3
DomesticEastern Europe34.965.1
DomesticWestern Europe67.532.5