Campers face tighter Dutch weight rules and Spain lifts parking bans

The Dutch ministry plans to prohibit the practice of “terugkeuren”, an administrative reduction of a vehicle’s maximum permissible mass. The change would affect electric cars, commercial vehicles, campers and caravans, preventing owners from re‑classifying a heavier vehicle to a lower legal weight limit. Industry groups BOVAG, KCI and NKC argue the proposal is disproportionate, poorly justified and could reduce road safety by forcing the purchase of lighter chassis with smaller safety margins. The measure could be enacted by the minister without a full parliamentary debate.

In Spain, a new decree (Real Decreto 518/2026) will take effect on 1 October 2026, removing separate “no campers” signs and treating campers as ordinary vehicles for parking. Owners may park wherever cars may, provided the vehicle’s dimensions stay within the space, wheels remain on the ground and no fluids are released. Municipalities may no longer single out campers, though they can apply general restrictions that affect all vehicles. The law distinguishes parking from camping and retains limits on staying overnight or on oversized vehicles.

Both developments signal a shift in European regulatory approaches to recreational vehicles, with the Netherlands tightening weight‑classification rules and Spain liberalising parking treatment.