Durability, Economy, Mobility, Safety
Benelux and North Rhine-Westphalia join forces against cross-border bicycle theft
04 Nov. 2025
The Benelux countries and the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) are joining forces to tackle the growing issue of cross-border bicycle theft in a structural way. Each year, millions of bicycles disappear across Europe – often stolen by well-organised networks operating across national borders. Through a joint strategy, the partners aim to accelerate investigations and significantly increase the chances of catching bicycle thieves.
During the Benelux Cycling Day titled “Cycling Ahead: Innovative Benelux Policy & Concepts for a Shifting Society” in Brussels, they presented a joint position paper with concrete recommendations for a systematic European approach to organised bicycle theft.
A growing problem with a European dimension
- An estimated 1.3 million bicycles are stolen annually in the EU (European Cyclists’ Federation, ECF).
- In the Netherlands, thousands of bicycles disappear every month (NL Times), while in Germany, tens of thousands are stolen each year and often smuggled across borders (DW).
- The number of stolen e-bikes has increased by 30 percent in recent years across Europe (CORDA).
- According to a French study (FUB & ADMA), 11% of victims stop cycling altogether, and 23% use their bike less frequently.
“Bicycle theft is not a minor issue – it undermines public trust in sustainable mobility and discourages cycling,” says Frans Weekers, Secretary-General of the Benelux. “By addressing this problem across borders, with shared data and police cooperation, the Benelux and North Rhine-Westphalia can truly make a difference.”
Three concrete measures to combat bicycle theft
- Faster detection through harmonised police data
Police forces will improve data exchange, enabling quicker identification and tracking of stolen bicycles – even when they reappear in neighbouring countries. - Strengthened police cooperation
The approach builds on the Benelux Police Treaty of 2023, which facilitates cross-border collaboration, including joint inspections and investigations. - Linking national bicycle registration systems
By connecting systems like Belgium’s MyBike platform – which already has over 130,000 registered bicycles – with neighbouring countries, ownership can be verified more quickly. This helps both in investigations and in protecting buyers on second-hand markets. MyBike has already helped recover 14.5% of stolen bicycles.
A European leadership role
With this cooperation, the Benelux and North Rhine-Westphalia aim to serve as a model for a broader European strategy against bicycle theft. During the Cycling Day, Frans Weekers handed over the position paper to the Luxembourg police, as Luxembourg currently holds the Benelux presidency.
Through this initiative, the partners hope to inspire other EU member states to adopt similar measures.
