Core: Environmental zone versus zero-emission zone: who may enter?

An environmental zone is an area banned for private cars, commercial vehicles, trucks or buses with a diesel engine (Book p.202). This rule therefore also affects ordinary, privately owned diesel cars. A zero-emission zone is a separate, stricter sign: an area banned for vans and trucks (commercial transport), except for emission-free vehicles (electric or hydrogen). Private cars — including hybrid private cars — are not covered by this rule at all: it was simply not written for them. A hybrid commercial vehicle (van) running on fossil fuel does not get automatic access to a zero-emission zone; it follows the emission-class transition rules: Euro 5 vans until 1-1-2027, Euro 6 until 1-1-2028, and new vans must be emission-free from 1-1-2025. A vehicle's emission class is shown on the registration certificate and/or in the RDW vehicle register.