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# Dutch Cycling Season in Peril as NATO Summit Pushes
Police Resources to the Limit
The upcoming NATO summit, scheduled for June 24 and 25, 2025, at The Hague’s World Forum, threatens to derail the entire Dutch cycling season. The event, requiring extensive police deployment, will leave motorcycle officers, crucial for ensuring race safety, unavailable for eight months. This disruption begins in January 2025, impacting nearly half the year and leaving organizers scrambling for solutions.
Even prestigious events like the WorldTour Amstel Gold race, the crown jewel of Dutch cycling, could be at risk.
“This two-day summit has thrown Dutch cycling into an unprecedented crisis,” said Maurice Leeser, Managing Director of the Royal Dutch Cycling Union (KNWU). “We’re tirelessly trying to salvage the 2025 season, but without swift action, organizers face impossible choices.”
The shortage of police motorcycle officers for races is a recurring issue, but its severity in 2025 is unprecedented. In recent years, Dutch cycling events have struggled to secure mandatory police escorts. As a response, the KNWU has already scaled back the number of races requiring police involvement and shifted many to closed-circuit courses.
However,
this latest challenge demands an entirely different solution. The KNWU is now exploring the feasibility of relying on civilian motor traffic marshals to replace police officers during races. This idea, while innovative, is backed by a government-funded study conducted by the Antea Group. Completed in September 2024, the study concluded that, when properly trained, equipped with communication tools, and highly visible, civilian marshals could effectively ensure the safety of cyclists and spectators.
“It’s frustrating that a single event can have such far-reaching consequences for Dutch cycling,” Leeser admitted. “We urgently need the government’s support to expedite this solution so that races can continue safely.”
The recent news came as a shock to many. “We had already heard rumors about potential issues after April 2025,” said race director Leo van Vliet. “Learning that the shortage extends to January and affects the entire cycling season took us by surprise.”
Fortunately, awareness at the highest levels of government is gaining momentum. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, MP Inge van Dijk, along with colleagues Mohandis and Van Nispen, proposed an amendment to secure funding for the KNWU’s plan to train and deploy civilian marshals.
The amendment will be debated during the upcoming Sports Legislative session on December the 2nd. What began as a crisis for Dutch cycling may find resolution through political action.
“This goes beyond logistical challenges,” Leeser emphasized. “This is about preserving the future of Dutch cycling, a tradition and passion that we simply cannot afford to lose.”
What are the potential consequences of the NATO summit on the 2025 Dutch cycling season?
## Interview with Maurice Leeser, Managing Director of the Royal Dutch Cycling Union (KNWU)
**Host**: Maurice, thank you for joining us today. The upcoming NATO summit in The Hague has sent shockwaves through the Dutch cycling community. Can you explain the situation?
**Leeser**: It’s a critical situation, that’s for sure. This two-day summit necessitates a massive police presence, which unfortunately means that all motorcycle officers, essential for ensuring safety at our races, will be unavailable for a staggering eight months starting in January 2025 [[1](https://www.ksl.com/article/51200260/nato-summit-in-the-netherlands-threatens-to-derail-2025-dutch-cycling-season)].
**Host**: Eight months! How will this impact the cycling season?
**Leeser**: It throws the entire season into jeopardy. We’re talking about potentially cancelling races, including major events like the prestigious Amstel Gold Race.
Without police escorts, these races cannot be held safely, and organizers are left with impossible choices.
**Host**: This shortage of motorcycle officers for cycling events isn’t new, is it?
**Leeser**: Correct. We’ve faced challenges securing police escorts in preceding years, but nothing to this magnitude. This summit exacerbates an already difficult situation.
**Host**: What steps is the KNWU taking to mitigate this crisis?
**Leeser**: We are working tirelessly to find solutions, engaging with authorities and exploring alternative safety measures. However, time is of the essence, and we need swift action to salvage the 2025 season.
**Host**: What message do you have for cycling fans concerned about the future of Dutch cycling?
**Leeser**: We understand the anxiety and disappointment. We share your passion for cycling and are dedicated to finding a way forward. We’ll continue to fight for our sport and keep the public informed of our progress. We urge everyone to stay engaged and support us in this difficult time.
