I’m writing this blog while sitting on a train to Amsterdam. Once I arrive and walk to my destination, I’ll need to watch out for a fairly recent phenomenon: fatbikes. I live in a quiet little village, so I thought it wasn’t that big of a deal. But whenever I come to Amsterdam, I suddenly understand the alarming Dutch news headlines much better. These things can be dangerous!
Dozens of them zoom past, often ridden by very young people going at high speeds. It’s no wonder they’ve already caused so many accidents. The issue has caught the attention of politicians as well, and as is often the case, you’re immediately bombarded with half-baked solutions. The most popular ones? A minimum age requirement and mandatory helmets.
But what’s really going on here?
Anyone with a bit of e-bike knowledge can easily spot the two main issues. Firstly, these bikes often significantly exceed speeds of 25 km/h. Secondly, they are often equipped with a throttle feature, allowing for little to no pedaling effort to maintain motion. Hence, these bikes aren’t allowed on Dutch roads without proper type approval. Plus, if they had the proper approval, the same rules would already apply: a minimum age and mandatory helmets.
Problem solved, right?
But for politicians, simple solutions often seem too difficult. Instead of addressing the issue at its core, they’d rather spend time and money creating more rules that will just end up being ignored – because what exactly is the definition of a fatbike, anyway? Or are they planning to lump all e-bikes together and impose a blanket age limit and helmet rule? That’s bound to stir things up in a country as bike-crazy as the Netherlands.
In recent months, Dutch authorities have seized thousands of fatbikes because they didn’t comply with the regulations. This is a great example of how it can be done, as the problem needs to be tackled at its source through effective enforcement.
What else can been done?
Quite a lot, if enforcers only had the necessary resources. When fatbikes are sold online, their specifications can sometimes tell you right away if they’re legal or not. Enforcers have the power to conduct internet “sweeps” to track down violators. Moreover, manufacturers outside the EU are not allowed to sell in the EU without having a “Responsible Person” in the EU who can be held accountable for product safety. A Responsible Person could, for example, be the fatbike’s importer. It’s important to note that if dealers (including webshops) directly import fatbikes into the EU, they will each be considered an importer. If there is no importer in the EU (e.g., in case of direct sales to consumers), the manufacturer must appoint an Authorised Representative within the EU.
The details of this Responsible Person must be included on the fatbike or its packaging. And as of 13 December 2024 (when the General Product Safety Regulation enters into force), the online offer must indicate who the Responsible Person is. If there’s no Responsible Person in the EU, selling the product in the EU will automatically be illegal, making it much easier to take action. If there is a Responsible Person, authorities can proactively request them to provide the technical documentation for the fatbike in question. If they cannot provide it, or if the documentation reveals that the bike does not comply with regulations, it will have to be withdrawn or recalled from the market.
Politicians need to be aware
It seems that politicians (and their advisors) are unaware of the existing legal framework that allows for the removal of illegal fatbikes from the market. I urge them to invest in resources for enforcement, rather than coming up with these endless half-solutions. It may not solve the problem entirely, but it will be far more effective. What good are (new) rules if there aren’t enough resources to enforce them?
My train just pulled into Amsterdam. Now, where’s my helmet…

Rutger Oldenhuis is the founder and owner of RecallDesk, specialist in product compliance, safety and recalls. Contact: rutger@recalldesk.com