A quick glance at the maps app while cycling feels harmless, everyone’s late, everyone does it. But in the Netherlands, holding your phone on the bike is illegal and the fine is steep. Here is the rule, the current amount, the exceptions, and how to ride legally.
The rule: holding is enough
As legal explainers of the bike-phone rule note, since 2019 article 61a of the traffic rules (RVV 1990) bans holding a mobiel elektronisch apparaat (mobile device) while cycling. The key point: just holding it is enough to be fined, you do not have to be texting or calling.
The ban applies while riding; you may hold and use your phone when stationary.
The fine (and the stale number)
Be aware the figure keeps climbing. As guides to the 2026 fine set out, it’s about 170 euros in 2026, plus roughly 9 euros admin (around 179 total). Older sources quoting 160 (or less) are simply out of date, the amount rises most years. It’s issued via the CJIB like other traffic fines.
How to stay legal (and contest a fine)
Avoiding it is easy, as the cyclists’ union lists the rules:
- Use a telefoonhouder (handlebar mount) or go handsfree.
- Never hold the phone while moving, stop and put a foot down to check it.
To contest a fine you believe is wrong, file a bezwaar (objection) with the CJIB within 6 weeks of the dagtekening (the date on the letter), the same process as a flitspaal speeding fine. Objecting suspends payment until a decision, but only with a genuine reason.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de boete / bekeuring | the fine |
| de fiets | the bicycle |
| de telefoonhouder | phone mount |
| handsfree | hands-free |
| het bezwaar | objection |
| de dagtekening | date on the letter |
Where it connects
The bike-phone fine is part of the rules-of-the-road Dutch you pick up here, alongside your identificatieplicht (carrying ID), contesting a flitspaal speeding fine, filling out a schadeformulier after a crash, and the road basics from the CBR driving test.
The bottom line
In the Netherlands, holding your phone while cycling is illegal (RVV 1990, art. 61a), holding alone is enough, and the fine is about 170 euros in 2026 (plus admin), rising most years. Use a telefoonhouder or go handsfree, and only handle the phone when stopped; to contest a wrong fine, bezwaar to the CJIB within 6 weeks of the dagtekening. Learn boete, fiets, telefoonhouder and bezwaar, mount your phone, and keep your money in your pocket.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the road-rules Dutch you need, boete, bekeuring, fiets, bezwaar by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can understand the rules of the Dutch road and any fine instead of guessing at the letter.
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to hold your phone while cycling in the Netherlands?
Yes. Since 2019, article 61a of the traffic rules (RVV 1990) bans holding a mobile electronic device while cycling. Crucially, simply holding the phone is enough to be fined, you don’t have to be texting or calling. The ban applies while you’re riding; you may hold and use your phone when you’re stationary (stopped). Using it in a handlebar mount or hands-free is allowed.
How much is the fine for using your phone on a bike?
About 170 euros in 2026, plus roughly 9 euros in administrative costs (so around 179 euros total). The amount tends to rise most years, so older sources quoting 160 euros are out of date. It’s issued via the CJIB like other traffic fines. It applies to cyclists specifically; the equivalent fine for drivers of motor vehicles is higher.
How can I avoid or contest the fine?
To avoid it: mount your phone in a handlebar holder or use it hands-free, and never hold it while riding (stop and put a foot down if you must check it). To contest a fine you believe is wrong, file a bezwaar (objection) with the CJIB within 6 weeks of the dagtekening (the date printed on the letter). Objecting suspends payment until a decision, but only do so with a genuine reason.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for traffic rules and fines?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the road-rules Dutch you need, boete, bekeuring, fiets, bezwaar, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you understand the rules of the Dutch road and any fine instead of guessing at the letter.
