The rise in e-bike use has also been noted in all other age groups since 2021. In 2021, 29 percent of Dutch cyclists aged 12 and over used an e-bike. This figure increased to 43 percent in 2025, bringing the proportion of people using e-bikes closer to that of people opting for traditional bikes (57 percent).

E-bike use: reasons and purpose

Teenagers mainly use e-bikes to get to school or for shopping or meeting friends. They often still favour using traditional bikes for shorter distances of up to 5 kilometres. Their main reason for using e-bikes is because they’re faster. Older users (55+) tend to opt for an e-bike because they’re easier to cycle on and can cover longer distances. This group mainly uses e-bikes for cycling trips.

Concerns about getting enough exercise

RIVM is concerned about the rapid increase in e-bike use among young people. They’re already less likely to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines and switching to an e-bike could result in them getting even less exercise. For example, because they swap their traditional bike for an e-bike for journeys to school or work. This could have a negative impact on teenagers health.

About this research

RIVM has developed a new webpage on the sportenbewegenincijfers.nl website, dedicated to e-bike use, where it publishes the latest e-bike figures alongside those from previous years. The results are based on data from the Lifestyle Monitor by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and RIVM (2021, 2023, 2025). RIVM had already investigated the pros and cons of the rise in e-bike popularity in previous research.