The Netherlands leading in working from home

Houten, January 24, 2023 – While the pandemic had lasting consequences on all Europeans’ use of mobility solutions, it had an above average impact on Dutch workers’ daily commute, a study by Arval Mobility Observatory (part of BNP Paribas Arval) shows. In collaboration with market research agency Ipsos, the company analyzed the mobility of employees* in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Almost three thousand European employees were asked about their commuting and business travel behavior and perception.

While less than half of the European respondents (47%) indicated that they have been working remotely more often since the pandemic, almost two third of the Dutch respondents (63%) confirmed to do so. At the time the study was conducted, 71% of employees in the Netherlands worked remotely at least one day a week, which is 11 percentage points more than the European average (60%).

Other notable findings:

• Most Dutch live more than 20 kilometers away from their workplace (54%), compared to a European average of 43%.
• For 71% of Europeans, the car is still the most frequently used mode of transportation for commuting. This is also the case for the Dutch but to a significantly lower degree (59%). This difference can be explained by the relatively high adoption rate of (electric) bicycles and scooters as the primary mode of transport in the Netherlands (36%).

Arjos Bot, Head of Arval Mobility Observatory: “Although cars are still the main mode of transportation for commuting in the Netherlands, Dutch employees increasingly choose alternatives like bicycles, scooters and public transportation. They generally have various modes of transportation to choose from and usually receive a mobility budget or travel allowance from their employer. The latter often depends on the location of the workplace. Employers in urban areas are more likely to discourage the use of a car, while this is embraced by employers outside of the city.”

• The majority of Dutch employees (63%) is generally content with the transportation solutions offered by employers, compared to less than half of European respondents (45%).
• When choosing a new job, 64% of Dutch respondents consider the mobility solutions offered by employers as an important criterion.

Wesley van der Wal, Head of Mobility at BNP Paribas Arval: "This study reveals that employees have high expectations of the mobility solutions offered by employers. When choosing an employer, attractive mobility solutions meeting the needs of employees, can be a distinguishing factor. As employers have an important market share of sustainable mobility, they should be aware of its relevance in the labor market and showcase it more."

*Respondents work at companies with more than 100 employees