Social media exploded over Amsterdam’s trial with a “klushub.” In the Piet Heingarage, a pilot project called Park + Switch Amsterdam is being launched as a transfer point where entrepreneurs can park their vehicles and switch to electric ones.
Online blog GeenStijl commented on the hub: “This pie-in-the-sky idea, dreamed up by desk-jockey bureaucrats, is almost as ridiculous as the nonsense spouted by that GreenLeft ‘White Magica’ who suggested that the last few kilometers should just be done with a handcart.”
Learning from the reactions
VVD Member of Dutch Parliament Veltman tweeted: “If you think a plumber is going to drive to a hub first, transfer all their tools and materials, and then take a shared vehicle to a customer, you’re living in a fantasy world. The result? No Amsterdam city center resident can get a mechanic, electrician, painter, or plumber anymore. The only solution is an exemption for them.”
The responses are both amusing and insightful. Of course, if you need a lot of equipment for a job in the city center, using a hub isn’t practical or affordable. But the city isn’t shutting down.
Attractive city center
Like many other city centers, Amsterdam’s inner city has become more or less car-free—not to punish businesses or drivers, but to make it more attractive for work, living, relaxation, and entrepreneurship. Around 12,000 delivery vans enter the city daily via the A10 ring road, and 15% of these come from service logistics companies.
City logistics traffic continues to grow. That’s why municipalities and businesses are exploring ways to reduce pressure on public spaces. Using smaller, electric vehicles is one solution—not for everyone, but for about 10% of city logistics, including wine merchants, service technicians, couriers, and cleaners.
Use of LEFVs
Major companies like Heineken, Van Dorp CISO, PostNL, Medipoint, Coolblue, and Amazon have already been using light electric freight vehicles (LEFV) in Amsterdam. Van Dorp City Solutions (CISO) is opening a new hub in Amsterdam dedicated to emission-free maintenance of urban building installations. Through smart logistics and sustainable transport, such as bikes and electric vehicles, Van Dorp is helping reduce CO2 emissions in the city center. While some businesses see problems, others see opportunities.
For LEFV deployment to be affordable and reliable, small microhubs across the city are essential. These hubs offer advantages: parking costs, charging, maintenance, and vehicle service are all included in the hub’s pricing. Smaller vehicles can navigate busy city streets more easily and park more conveniently.
Large companies can handle this themselves, but small and medium-sized businesses often can’t. The Amsterdam pilot levels the playing field, allowing these businesses to serve city center customers more efficiently. Earlier pilots in Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Amsterdam struggled to get off the ground, and those lessons are being applied here.
Learning from the hub pilot
The EU supports Amsterdam’s trial as part of the MoLo Hubs project, which spans five European cities. This initiative explores how cities and businesses can successfully implement hubs. The Amsterdam trial will analyze factors like:
- How users interact with the Park + Switch app
- Costs and pricing of the service
- User experiences and benefits
- Impact on the city center
- Which business sectors are best suited for the hub?
The trial will also address whether this should be a public service or a private-sector business model for companies like Qpark or RAI. There’s nothing wrong with experimenting with a hub in Amsterdam—except perhaps its awkward name (which has since been changed to Park + Switch).
Still running on diesel?
Consider your next move if you’re a business owner using diesel vehicles. You won’t be allowed into the zero-emission zone in just a few years (from 2028 to 2029) unless you meet strict zero-emission exceptions. The city of Amsterdam is offering support to help entrepreneurs transition.
For more information: Park + Switch
Walther Ploos van Amstel