Market traders in Groningen will have five years longer to make their fleet more sustainable. The municipality of Groningen has given the market an exemption until 2030 for the zero-emission zone that will come into effect in the city center next year.
He had sleepless nights, confesses market vendor Mark Smit. With his 20 meter long fish cart he stands at the Fish Market in the city center three days a week. He lives off the turnover of those three days. But from April 1, 2025, an environmental zone will apply in the city center: only emission-free commercial vehicles and trucks are allowed to drive within the Diepenring.
For Smit, it would mean the end for his company as it is now. “It kept me awake for a few nights,” he describes. “You start thinking: how can I make that investment for next year? You have to pay around 350,000 euros for a new fish refrigerated car. They are not available second hand yet. I was at a loss, because I could already see my business closing.”
Panic among market vendors
Smit was not the only one who broke out in a sweat. There are about 110 entrepreneurs on the market in Groningen. “Everyone was panicking,” says market master Jordy Bakker.
Fortunately for Smit and his colleagues, it does not get to that point. The municipality of Groningen has decided to grant all market vendors and other itinerant traders such as flower sellers an exemption until 2030. They must apply for this annually, but every application will be granted, assures councilor Philip Broeksma (GroenLinks).
“We don’t want an empty Fish Market,” Broeksma explains the decision. “The market is important to us. For a large part of the market, zero emissions is difficult and sometimes even impossible, because the electric version of a car is simply not available.” Due to the lack of alternatives, the municipality is giving the market more time. “I think this is a workable solution.”
Got extra time
“It is a great relief for the market,” says market master Bakker. Smit endorses that. “We have many colleagues who are dependent on the market in the city. There are also municipalities that do things differently and do not grant an exemption, so I am very happy that this has been resolved.”
Does he think the investment will be feasible in five years? “Then there might be more electric cars. At least we now have some time to do it, I’m happy about that.”
Tags: sleepless nights fishmonger Mark market Groningen receives environmental zone exemption relief
