From the 1st January 2023 you need a helmet for a ‘snorfiets’ or ‘bromfiets’. I found out the hard way, just driving towards the supermarket and got stopped with flashing blue lights. “Do you know why we stopped you?”, I assumed to wish me a happy new year but no. €100 euro further in to the conversation I pleaded with them to give me a warning but no again. Police in NL wonder why no one gives them any respect! They also said it was all over the TV but if you are like me expats do not watch Dutch TV.

In short they asked me if I wanted to make a statement to which I responded “I didn’t know because I don’t watch TV, I read instead so I am educated enough not to have to be a policeman”.