Rotterdam approves expansion of paid parking citywide

The Rotterdam City Council has approved a plan to expand paid parking to nearly all neighborhoods in the city, with fee increases scheduled to begin this autumn. The coalition, consisting of PRO, D66, VVD, CDA, and Volt, aims to cover most outer districts by 2030, excluding areas such as Hoek van Holland, Pernis, Heijplaat, and Rozenburg.

The rollout is set to begin in the Nesselande residential area on December 1, with subsequent sectors being added every two months. Other areas slated for the expansion include Zevenkamp, Ommoord, Overschie, Schiebroek, Hillegersberg, Oud-IJsselmonde, and Hoogvliet.

The decision has met significant local resistance. The opposition party Leefbaar Rotterdam attempted to trigger a referendum, collecting over 8,000 signatures, but the council rejected the request by a narrow margin of seven votes. During the heated debate, five opposition parties filed a motion of no confidence against Chantal Zeegers, the alderman in charge of mobility. Critics argue the policy fails to protect the budgets of low-income households and local institutions.