Lease an e-bike for your employees
The Netherlands is known across the world as the land of bicycles and cyclists. We not only use bicycles more frequently for commuting for work and leisure than many of our neighbouring countries in Europe, we also have arguably the best integrated facilities and landscape for our trusty two-wheelers. At Expat Centre Maastricht Region we regularly receive questions from international newcomers to the Maastricht Region about purchasing an e-bike or a bakfiets (cargo bike) for their workweek commute or for their growing family. We realise that it may be conducive for employers to offer a lease bicycle to employees.
benVitaal, a Dutch-owned and operated organisation based in the industrial area surrounding Maastricht Aachen Airport, is a well-known regional facilitator for this employee benefit. benFietsen is an online platform offering employers the opportunity to facilitate bicycle lease contracts for their employees. When an employer registers with benFietsen, employees are free to choose from a stadsfiets (town bicycle), e-bike, speed pedelec (high-speed e-bike) or bakfiets, and benFietsen’s free online platform takes care of the administrative burden for the employer.
This form of leasing has no impact on the werkkostenregeling, WKR (work-related expenses scheme) and is financially and logistically more advantageous for employees than purchasing their own bicycle. Another positive is, under this scheme, it is not mandatory to use the bicycle for their work-home commute. Employees may use the lease bicycle for private trips on weekends. The bike lease may also be offered to employees with a lease car.
Employers in the Maastricht Region are eligible for free advice about sustainable employment and hybrid working from Zuid-Limburg Bereikbaar, a government-funded programme focussed on accessibility and sustainable mobility in the Zuid-Limburg region.
Further information for internationals about cycling in the Maastricht region can be found in the Mobility & Transport section of our website.
