Motorcycle and licence ownership up among the over-50s

© Hollandse Hoogte / Ton Toemen
On 1 January of this year, there were nearly 680 thousand registered motorcycles in the Netherlands. This is 4 percent more than in 2014. The number of motorcycle licence holders was up as well on six years previously, namely by 4.4 percent. This year, motorcycle and licence ownership rates are lower among people under the age of 50 relative to 2014, but higher in the group aged 50 and over. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of new figures.

With 79 motorcycles per thousand inhabitants on 1 January 2020, the motorcycle ownership rate was highest among people between the ages of 50 and 65, up by 15 percent on 2014. Conversely, ownership declined by 14 percent among people under the age of 50.

Among people aged 65 and over, motorcycle ownership rose by 47 percent to slightly over 24 motorcycles per thousand inhabitants, relative to 2014. Of all registered motorcycles in the Netherlands as of 1 January this year, 664 thousand were privately owned.

More people with a motorcycle licence

On 1 January 2020, there were almost 1.5 million people with a Dutch motorcycle licence. This is nearly 63 thousand (+4.4 percent) more than in 2014. There were 106 licence holders per thousand inhabitants aged 18 and over.
Not only motorcycle ownership, but also motorcycle licence ownership is highest among people between the ages of 50 and 65. There are 166 licence owners per thousand inhabitants in this age group. Licence ownership is lowest among people under 30, with 37 licence holders per thousand inhabitants.

Relative to 2014, licence ownership rates were lower among people under 50 at the beginning of this year (-17 percent), but higher among the over-50s (+16 percent).

26 thousand new motorcycle licence holders

In 2019, over 26 thousand persons obtained a motorcycle licence, more than in the previous years. In each of the past four years, an average of 25 thousand new motorcycle licence holders were added to the total.

Among these new licence holders, 62 percent were under the age of 30 while 6 percent were 50 years or older. These shares have remained virtually unchanged every year since 2016.

Vast majority of licence holders are male

Men make up the vast majority of motorcycle licence holders at 81 percent. Currently, 17 percent of all men aged 18 and up have a motorcycle licence, against 4 percent of all women.

Male licence holders are slightly older on average; 54 years is the average age, against 50 years among women.

Relatively many licence holders in Dalfsen

Relatively high shares of motorcycle licence holders are found in Dalfsen (Overijssel province), Bronckhorst (Gelderland) and Wolden (Drenthe). In these three municipalities, the share of licence holders stands at 188, 179 and 178 persons per thousand inhabitants respectively.
Licence ownership rates are relatively lowest in the cities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam at 55 and 60 persons per thousand inhabitants respectively.

Sources