30 km/h in Wassenaar
Starting Friday, February 27, the municipality of Wassenaar will introduce a speed limit of 30 km/h on most roads within the built-up area. The measure is based on the advice of the Citizens' Traffic Council, in which a representative group of 100 residents from Wassenaar participated. The measure also has broad support from the Wassenaar municipal council. Lowering the speed limit to 30 km/h will contribute to a livable and safe village, while maintaining Wassenaar's accessibility.
The Citizen's Council on Traffic
In the Citizens' Council on Traffic, which took place in 2023-2024, residents of Wassenaar discussed quality of life, safety, and traffic. Ten thousand Wassenaar residents were invited by letter to participate in the citizens' council. From all the registrations, 100 residents were selected who together represent a good cross-section of Wassenaar society.
Desire for 30 km
The desire to improve road safety with 30 km/h roads (GOW30 roads) was clearly expressed during the citizens' consultation. The residents who participated in the citizens' consultation indicated that they want to improve quality of life and road safety by reducing the speed limit in the village to 30 km/h. The idea behind this is that speed differences will be reduced and fewer dangerous situations will arise. It also provides clear and predictable traffic rules: if 30 km/h applies almost everywhere, it is clear to everyone how fast you are allowed to drive.
The recommendations of the citizens' forum have been further elaborated in the road categorization plan and the advisory report.
When was the measure decided?
At the council meeting of December 17, 2025, the municipal council adopted the road categorization plan by a large majority of 20 votes in favor and 1 vote against.
With the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit in Wassenaar, the Municipal Executive is implementing this council decision taken on December 17, 2025. The decision was made with broad support from the municipal council. It is therefore a widely supported decision, in which the Municipal Executive, the council, and residents have worked together.
That is why the municipality is now responding to the wishes of the residents who participated in the citizens' consultation, to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h and thus improve the quality of life and safety for all road users.
From February 27, 2026, 30 km/h will be the new standard in Wassenaar.
From February 27, 2026, 30 kilometers per hour will be the new standard in Wassenaar. This means that on 98.5% of the roads in the village, the maximum speed will be 30 km/h. This measure will contribute to a more liveable and safer Wassenaar. Lower speeds will ensure quieter roads and greater safety for all road users.
Adjustment of traffic signs to start at the end of January
To make the new speed limit clearly visible, the municipality will be modifying existing traffic signs and installing new ones in the coming period. This involves more than 200 signs throughout the municipality. These modifications will start at the end of January. Residents will notice this in the streetscape in the coming weeks. Clear signs will ensure that everyone knows what the speed limit is.
Planning implementation
- 2026: Prinsenweg
- 2027: Jagerslaan North, part of Wiegmanweg
- 2029: Johan de Witt Street
- 2030: Starrenburg Avenue, Van Cranenburch Avenue, Van Duivenvoordelaan, Oostdorperweg
- 2032 and later: Van der Oudermeulen Avenue, Ter Weer Avenue, Rozenweg
The schedule is subject to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Wassenaar switching to 30 km, and how was this decision made?
In 2024-2025, a citizens' consultation on traffic took place with the question: "What do you consider important for the future of livability, traffic safety, accessibility, and traffic flow in the municipality of Wassenaar?" The citizens' consultation on traffic expressed a strong desire, by a large majority, for the introduction of a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h within the built-up area of Wassenaar.
The introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit is therefore in line with the wishes of the citizens' traffic council, the residents of Wassenaar. The municipality is implementing this wish by introducing a 30 km/h speed limit.
What exactly is a citizens' assembly?
A citizens' council is a group of residents who discuss an important topic together and provide advice to the municipality. It is the highest form of participation with residents.
How did the citizens' assembly on traffic come about?
At the council meeting on December 19, 2023, D66 submitted a motion. In this motion, the party asked the council to organize a citizens' consultation. This motion was adopted. This citizens' consultation was to provide advice on traffic and speed limits within the built-up area of Wassenaar. This allowed a large group of Wassenaar residents to participate in the discussion on traffic and quality of life in Wassenaar. More information about the citizens' consultation on traffic can be found at Citizens' Consultation on Traffic | Wassenaar.
Who was in the citizens' advisory committee on traffic, and how was this group selected?
More than 10,000 Wassenaar residents (over the age of 18) were selected at random and received a personal invitation to participate in the citizens' consultation on traffic. From the registrations, a group of 100 residents was then assembled who together form a good reflection of Wassenaar in terms of age, gender, neighborhood, and education level.
When will the decision for 30 km/h be formally adopted? And by whom?
At thecouncil meeting on December 17, 2025,, the municipal council voted almost unanimously in favor of the proposals put forward by the citizens' traffic council. These proposals have been compiled in the road categorization plan.
With the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit on almost all roads in Wassenaar, the municipality is implementing this council decision taken on December 17, 2025, and the recommendations of the citizens' traffic council. More information about the road categorization plan can be found atwww.wassenaar.nl/wegencategoriseringsplan.
Does the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit still ensure sufficient traffic flow in the village?
Yes. Major thoroughfares, such as Groot Haesebroekseweg, will remain 50 km/h roads.
On most main roads, the speed without delays is between 42 and 48 km/h. During busy periods, this drops to between 34 and 40 km/h. This means that the actual driving speed in built-up areas during rush hour is already often around 35 km/h. The introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit is therefore in line with this and is expected to have a limited effect on traffic flow.
When will the 30 km/h speed limit be introduced?
This will take effect on Friday, February 27, 2026. As residents can see, preparations for the introduction have been underway for some time. At the beginning of February, the municipality started installing the first new traffic signs with temporary stickers.
Will there be an information campaign?
The municipality is supporting the introduction of the 30 km/h speed limit with a public campaign called 'This is our street too', which focuses on the residents of Wassenaar. Attention will also be drawn to the new 30 km/h speed limit in Wassenaar via local media, social channels, posters, and street banners.
Are there more municipalities where the speed limit is 30 km/h (almost) everywhere?
Yes, cities such as Amsterdam, Haarlem, and recently Amersfoort have already preceded Wassenaar. The introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit is also part of a broader national trend in which more and more municipalities are opting for lower speeds within built-up areas.
Is the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit being evaluated?
Yes, the first evaluation is scheduled for mid-2027.
Why is driving at 30 km/h safer?
Research by the Dutch Institute for Road Safety Research (SWOV) shows that the number of serious casualties in built-up areas can be substantially reduced with a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h, varying between 22% and 31%. This picture is also confirmed by the experiences of other cities such as Brussels and Amsterdam, which have introduced a 30 km/h speed limit on a large proportion of their roads and where, since its introduction, significantly fewer pedestrians and cyclists have been injured.
Source: https://swov.nl/system/files/publication-downloads/r-2019-24.pdf?
What about the response times of the emergency services? Can they arrive in time in the event of an emergency or when people are in danger?
The various emergency services, such as the fire department and ambulance service, have calculated that reducing the speed limit will not affect minimum response times and have agreed to the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit in Wassenaar.
Why have so many signs been put up?
Many 30 km/h signs have been placed because a speed limit sign is only legally valid until the next intersection or exit. After each intersection, the maximum speed must therefore be indicated again. In short: there are not "extra" signs, but they are necessary to ensure that the 30 km/h rule officially and clearly applies on all roads and after every intersection.
I can't read the traffic signs properly. Why is there text on them?
The signs that have now been put up still have a temporary sticker with additional text. Once the 30 km/h speed limit comes into effect, these stickers will be removed and residents will see regular 30 km/h signs.
