What rules apply to speed pedelecs?

You see it more and more, Dutch people going to their destination with a speed pedelec. The speed pedelec is the faster version of the well-known e-bike. With a speed pedelec you can easily go up to 45 kilometers per hour.

This allows you to easily cover longer distances with this electric two-wheeler without it costing you any effort.

The fact that the speed pedelec is becoming increasingly popular is also clear from the numbers. According to CBS, in 2021 there were already more than 10,620 speed pedelecs driving around in the Netherlands. Among these bikes there were many speed pedelecs of the brand Stromer which was also the most sold speed pedelec in 2021. It is mainly the people between 45 and 65 years who opt for the speed pedelec and thus also own two thirds of the fast electric bicycles. But in 2022 we will see that the bicycle is also becoming increasingly popular among the younger age.

But which rules now apply to the speed pedelec?

Because the development of e-bikes such as the Gazelle Orange C7 Plus and the speed pedelecs went so fast, the legislation didn’t keep up and kept chasing it. It was therefore a big question mark for many people, especially for speed pedelecs, what exactly the rules were for this bike. Finally, from 2017, clarity came about the rules surrounding the speed pedelec, the speed pedelec was regarded by the government as a moped. The legislation that applies to mopeds therefore also applies to speed pedelecs. With this, the rules for the speed pedelec were finally clear, but which rules now apply to the speed pedelec?

Rules for using speed pedelec

Be at least 16 years old
Have a moped driving license (type AM)
Wear an approved moped helmet or an approved speed pedelec helmet
Have civil liability (WA) insurance
Have the registration certificate with you
Ride on the bicycle/moped path. Or on the roadway. You are therefore not allowed to ride on the bicycle path.