FEHAC: “political classic car café animated and informative”

The old Hague city bus for the Nieuwspoort press center made it clear on 17 January: the FEHAC had its 'political café' there. In a full hall with member vehicle clubs, all other advocates and mainly representatives of political parties, the bottlenecks in regulations of the mobile heritage on the road were discussed. The meeting was interesting and a prelude to the future.

The FEHAC indicates that the Netherlands is an important vintage car country. Patrick Rollet, president of FIVA - also emphasized in The Hague that everywhere in Europe an old-timer is defined as a vehicle that is at least 30 years old and that is well maintained and kept. Moreover, such a vehicle is not used daily. When such principles are rolled out across the Netherlands, there is certainly much room for improvement in tax terms. Rollet also emphasized the importance of retaining professional knowledge about old-timers. Transferring the enthusiasm for mobile heritage to the youth is also a spearhead. He also calls on mobile heritage owners to show their moving museum pieces to the public.

Politics of the party

For the meeting, the political parties were invited to give their views on rules, conservation and legislation for old-timers. In particular, the environmental zones and the transitional arrangement MRB were discussed. The political panel consisted of Barbara Visser (VVD), Erik Ronnes (CDA), Koos Burgman (BOVAG) with Steven van Eijck (RAI association) as the motivated discussion leader.

MRB exemption: CDA clear

The VVD-PvdA coalition has been against changing the current MRB exemption rules with transitional arrangement in recent years. Barbara Visser was therefore not yet able to say whether the VVD would like to improve this tricky theme in a subsequent cabinet. The CDA is clear: it wants a fixed transitional arrangement for 30-40 year old old timers regardless of the fuel type. Member of Parliament Pieter Omtzigt previously submitted a request to bring about such a scheme.

Environmental zones are also covered

The environmental zones were also discussed during the political café. Decentralized regulations cause a great deal of uncertainty. The CDA wants to leave this authority to municipalities, albeit that exemptions must always be possible for mobile heritage. The VVD is against environmental zones anyway, because people think it's symbolic. The VVD also believes that it should be established nationally which vehicles may and may not enter the environmental zones. However, there also seems to be a difference of opinion within the VVD at national level. At the end of 2015 - after the adopted Visser motion against environmental zones - Minister Schultz van Haegen indicated that decision-making authority should remain a local matter.

FEHAC before clarity

The political café is a good initiative, and the FEHAC is also committed to clarity in several areas. That would be something Auto Motor Klassiek with regard to this - should lead to a revival of the Vliet Amendment, to the abolition of environmental zones and, instead, to car-freeing of inner cities, with an exemption for local traffic. At national level that is.