State Secretary Vincent Karremans is hopeful the Amstel Gold Race will take place: "But it’s still uncertain"

The NATO summit, which will occur in The Hague in June 2025, has significant implications for Dutch cycling. The cycling organizers and the cycling federation KNWU announced this last week. From January 1 to August 31, 2025, no capacity will be available to deploy motorcycle agents to supervise cycling races.

The issue was discussed in the House of Representatives last Tuesday, where concerns were raised about continuing cycling races. Members of Parliament urged the secretary of state to take urgent action and clarify the use of alternative civilian motorcyclists.

State Secretary Vincent Karremans of Youth, Prevention, and Sport acknowledged the problems during the plenary debate. Karremans emphasized that deploying police capacity for the NATO summit has broader societal implications, including cycling. "There are ongoing talks between the police and the KNWU to figure out how we can still make cycling races possible, but there will be an impact on cycling," Karremans said.

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This year's Amstel Gold Race podium

"I still think it is a bizarre story"

Coalition parties VVD and NSC, among others, expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation. Jacqueline van den Hil (VVD) called it unacceptable that until early January, there remains uncertainty about the continuation of major races such as the Amstel Gold Race. "If you organize an Amstel Gold Race, that is not a cycling race for the neighborhood kids around the corner. You have to be prepared for that. Talk does not fill holes. I find that inexcusable if they don't know until early January whether certain races can go ahead."

Ilse Saris (NSC) supported this criticism and wondered why motorcycle officers would be deployed as early as January for the NATO summit when it is not until the end of June. "I understand that the NATO summit requires an extraordinary amount of police capacity, but around cycling races, you need specific officers: the motorcycle officers. I can't imagine that these motorcycle agents are already driving around in January for that and that no motorcycle agent is available at the end of March and mid-April. I still think it is a bizarre story. I would therefore like to support my colleagues and ask all of you to take the necessary action to exert more pressure."

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At the start in Maastricht 

40,000 euros annually to deploy civilian motorcyclists? 

Saris is referring, among other things, to the amendment by the CDA, SP, and GroenlinksPvdA to free up the budget for the cycling union to establish a guideline for using civilian motorcyclists. CDA MP Inge van Dijk states this is now more urgent than ever. "But we are not there yet. Subsequently, 40,000 euros are needed annually to cover the costs incurred by organizers for deploying civilian motorcyclists." The latter, by the way, was not part of the amendment. Karremans promised to take action and engage in discussions about structural solutions, including with civilian motorcyclists. However, there are no guarantees.

He did not give a clear answer as to why motorcycle officers were unavailable during that period. However, he has had discussions with his colleague from Justice to improve the situation. "But unfortunately, no additional agents can be made available. I hope the KNWU, especially for the Amstel Gold Race, can find a good solution with the local authorities, but we must wait and see."

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