Bicycle accidents rise across parts of the Netherlands

Recent research based on Rijkswaterstaat data shows a significant rise in bicycle accidents across several Dutch provinces, particularly involving electric bicycles and fatbikes. In Limburg, accidents increased by 27.5% in 2025 compared to 2019 levels. The municipalities of Venray, Roermond, and Venlo saw the sharpest increases. Venray recorded the highest rate in the province with 17 accidents per 10,000 inhabitants.

In the Gelderland region, Ede reported the highest accident rate with 15.3 incidents per 10,000 inhabitants, followed by Veenendaal. Specific locations, such as roundabouts on Veenderweg and Zandlaan in Ede, have been identified as high-risk hotspots.

Experts note that the rise in accidents is partly driven by the popularity of electric bikes and fatbikes, especially among younger users. Data indicates that injuries among teenagers aged 12 to 17 have increased by 53% over the last decade. While insurance may cover extreme cases like permanent disability or death, many minor injuries may not be fully captured in official statistics.