Last year, 684 people died in a traffic accident in the Netherlands, 61 down on 2022. But cyclists accounted for the biggest group for the fourth year in a row and in 40% of cases they were using an e-bike, the CBS said. Some 40% of them were over the age of 75.

In total, 270 cyclists and 194 motorists were killed as were 78 people on some form of motorbike and 53 people using a mobility scooter. An additional 71 passersby were killed in fatal accidents

More than 40% of the cyclists died in a collision with another vehicle.

Most cycling fatalities occurred in Noord Brabant province but the Amsterdam and The Hague regions were most deadly in terms of road density. 

Road safety institute Veilig Verkeer Nederland told news agency ANP that more people are now using bike helmets, although there are no exact figures. Government think tanks have also said making helmets compulsory for children and people using electric bikes would save dozens of lives a year.

However, the Dutch cycling union Fietsersbond is a fervent opponent of compulsory helmets, saying it would strengthen the idea that cycling is not a safe activity in itself.

Lowering the speed limit on roads to 30 kph in places where cyclists and pedestrians are at risk would make streets safer, director Esther van Garderen said on Wednesday. In addition, she said, more needs to be invested in the cycling infrastructure and road safety monitoring.