Netherlands E-Step RDW Approval: Only 10 Models Can Carry a Plate
As of 23 October 2026, only 10 e-step models hold the Dutch e-step RDW approval needed for a kenteken, and since 1 July 2026 every bijzondere bromfiets must carry a plate. RDW states that an unapproved step cannot be registered at all, so it cannot legally reach the road.
What changed on 1 July 2026?
From that date the registration duty covers two groups: bijzondere bromfietsen with a national type approval, and the 17 special vehicles designated individually by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The bijzondere bromfiets kenteken is issued per vehicle, not per model, so every unit in a shipment needs its own inspection and plate. A step without one may not be ridden on public roads, and the rider risks a fine.
Two lists matter, published separately because they follow different legal routes. RDW's e-step page is the practical register for scooters; the ministry designation list covers vehicles such as the Stint and the older Segway PT types. Neither expands because a supplier presents a CE declaration.
How many e-step models hold e-step RDW approval?
Ten. RDW's e-step page, checked on 23 October 2026, names each model and, for the newer approvals, the type code that must appear on the Certificate of Conformity (CvO):
- Yedoo Mezeq, Kickbike Luxury, Kickbike Fat Max and Kickbike Cruise — the four kick-style models on the list.
- Selana Alpha (type bondi.007.NL001) and LEV one (type one).
- Segway eKickScooter Ninebot MAX G3 (type 051601NL).
- Air6 Pro+ Suspension (type SH32).
- NAVEE GT3 Pro (type GT3 Pro-NL) and NAVEE ST3 Pro (type ST3 Pro-NL).
Everything else marketed as an electric step in the EU sits outside it. A dealer who buys on CE marking alone is buying goods that can be invoiced but cannot be plated: without e-step RDW approval there is no route to a Dutch plate.
Is it legal to sell an e-step that is not on the RDW list?
A bijzondere bromfiets is a Dutch national vehicle category for small electric vehicles that cannot obtain EU type approval under Regulation (EU) 168/2013. That is why the Netherlands runs its own admission route instead of relying on CE marking alone. Dutch road rules target use rather than sale: RDW says a plate cannot be requested for a model that is not listed, and Rijksoverheid says police may fine the rider and seize the vehicle. For a dealer the practical result is stock that can only be sold off-road, with the returns and liability exposure that follows.
There is one legal bypass. A step with pedal assistance, no throttle, a 25 km/h limit and a 250 W motor is treated like an e-bike and needs no plate. A step fitted with both pedal assistance and a throttle is not permitted at all. Both look identical on a container manifest.
What must importers and dealers do before the next container?
For e-step dealers in the Netherlands, five checks decide whether a container can be registered.
- Match the trade name and type code against RDW's list — the CvO must show the same type, or the inspection station will refuse the registration.
- Buy only models covered by a national type approval held by the manufacturer; approval is model-specific and does not extend to a similar-looking SKU.
- Agree in the purchase contract who books the inspection, because a wrong appointment is charged even when the vehicle is rejected.
- Register each unit before delivery — the bijzondere bromfiets kenteken is issued per vehicle: VIN, DigiD or eHerkenning appointment at an RDW station, inspection, kentekenbewijs within 10 working days, then a plate from a recognised supplier.
- Send the kenteken and meldcode to the insurer before handover — WA cover is compulsory and is checked against the plate.
How AURORIDE supports Benelux dealers
The Dutch market is a registration gate, not a certification market. Ten approved models is a deliberately short list, and it will not lengthen because a buyer forwards a test report. Our judgement for 2027: treat the Netherlands as its own SKU decision rather than an extension of a German or Belgian catalogue, and do not let a Benelux order absorb stock that has no Dutch type approval. A single container of unapproved steps is not a slow-moving product line; it is a capital loss with a storage bill attached.
E-step dealers in the Netherlands should ask for the model-level position in writing before the order is confirmed — type approval status, CvO availability and the plate route for each SKU — so that what arrives is what can be registered. Start with our European dealer programme, apply through the dealer application page, check availability in our European warehouses, review terms under warranty support, or browse the current product range.