Congestion Pricing in the Netherlands

In this paper I study the congestion in the Netherlands, specifically Rotterdam. Congestion is one of the biggest problems that economies are facing nowadays. Economic growth, along with the population growth, is one of the main causes of congestion. At the same time, this growth is under pressure because of congestion. Something has to be done. In London there is a good working congestion pricing system, the London Congestion Charge. A closer look at this system learns that its success is mainly due to a positive public opinion and a reliable public transport system. The absence of these two make it very doubtful that a similar congestion charge could work in Rotterdam. I therefore started to look for other possible solutions and came across the slot reservation system. The system is not yet implemented anywhere. This not only makes it hard to compare but this also brings some favourable and unfavourable features with it. I think Rotterdam and the Netherlands are not yet ready for the implementation of such a system. A comparison of the two systems learns that the congestion charge is slightly better, mainly because of the applicability of an existing system compared to that of a new one. Overall can be concluded, that the Netherlands are not yet ready to implement a [new] congestion pricing system. As long as there is no shift in dogma, chances are that implementation will lead to failure.