Our story

The Dutch tradition of mobility planning

The Netherlands is renowned worldwide for its expertise in water management: we have a coastline on the North Sea and a large part of our country lies below sea level. And a population of 18 million within an area of only 41,865 km² makes us one of the most densely populated countries in the world. That's why – from very early on in their existence – the Dutch had to think about the design of their living environment and the role that mobility plays in it.

By the early 1960s, the Netherlands had almost completed the work of post-war reconstruction and prosperity was increasing. That had an impact on how we travelled: in 1950, there were only 12 cars per thousand inhabitants but by 1960 that figure had more than tripled to 41 per thousand. To make space for all this (car) mobility, city centres – including some historic areas – were torn down and redesigned. The authorities focused primarily on traffic engineering and management, designing new roads to be as safe as possible.

Call for an integrated approach

According to Henk Goudappel, an urban planning researcher at what is now Delft University of Technology, an entirely different approach was called for. In his view, what was needed was an integrated approach to traffic, combined with urban planning. Mobility, he believed, needed to be properly organised if our cities were to remain liveable. In 1963, he therefore set up the first Dutch consultancy firm dedicated to integrated traffic research and planning. 

In the years that followed, the Netherlands developed into the country we know today. Cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht are renowned internationally for their high quality of life. Our transport system is one of the safest and most reliable in the world, with a smooth-running and cost-efficient public transport network, pleasant station surroundings, and convenient first and last-mile connections (more than 50% of train passengers start or end their journey by bicycle). We are a global leader in cycling and road safety, thanks to the excellent cycling infrastructure and bicycle parking facilities. 

Dutch market and knowledge leader

Goudappel made a significant contribution to this development in the Netherlands. We were involved right from the beginning in the creation of new cities such as Almere and Zoetermeer, worked on the expansion of Utrecht, and designed the world-famous cycling infrastructure in Houten. We developed national guidelines for traffic generation and traffic design. We also fostered the development of transport models so that policymakers would understand the impact of their policy choices in advance. 

Goudappel is now the Dutch market and knowledge leader in mobility planning and transport modelling. We work for more than 90% of all Dutch municipalities and provinces and, over the past five years, have been instrumental in producing more than 40 Dutch mobility plans. We are also a regular advisor to Dutch metropolitan regions, regional partnerships, and central government. Our regular clients also include more than 80% of Dutch transport companies, as well as international organisations such as ASML, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, IKEA, and McDonalds. Some 80% of Dutch municipal transport models are developed and managed by us using OmniTRANS, our proprietary transport modelling software. In 2026, we launched a completely new and advanced version, OmniTRANS Powered by Bentley OpenPaths.

Integrated advice for a sustainable society in which everyone can move around comfortably

What was already clear to Henk Goudappel back in 1963 is still the basis of our thinking today: effective mobility planning delivers far more than just improved accessibility. Mobility can also have a positive impact on sustainability, health, economic vitality, and social inclusion – all of which are factors that influence people's well-being. As dedicated mobility experts, we believe in a society that values every individual and in which everyone is able to travel conveniently and safely from A to B. 

That’s why our aim is to guide clients towards the best possible choices for shaping that sustainable society. We compile an overview of possible policy and design choices and analyse what effect they will have on people and the environment. We also show how those effects are interrelated. What impact will a measure to improve traffic flow have on CO2 emissions, for example? And what will the cancellation of a bus route mean for the future prospects of various target groups? By offering answers to such questions, we provide clients with integrated decision-making information to support their plans.

300 specialists with a single shared mission

Goudappel employs nearly 300 specialists – from strategists and designers to public transport and road safety experts, parking specialists, behavioural researchers, modellers, and data scientists. Our team of international colleagues is also growing, contributing valuable local knowledge and experience. 

We work from the conviction that it's only a diversity of insights and perspectives that can generate the best solutions. With that in mind, we create a work environment in which everyone enjoys respect, equal treatment, and opportunities for growth. Our employees are given the freedom to do what they do best. But regardless of our diversity, everyone at Goudappel shares a single major goal: we feel driven to devise integrated solutions that have an impact on society.

Applicable internationally 

Every location has its own set of problems, but there are also many challenges that they have in common. At Goudappel, we are convinced that lessons learned in the Netherlands can also lead to success elsewhere, provided they are carefully embedded in the local context. That's why we collaborate with an extensive international network of local-based partners on shared projects for municipalities and provinces throughout the world. We’ve drawn up sustainable mobility plans in Flanders, Germany and Turkey, for example.

We operate according to the principle of combining our Dutch know-how and experience with the local expertise of our partners. Together, we work to provide advice that’s tailored to the local situation in every context

We also share our know-how through international networks including Connekt and the Dutch Cycling Embassy, and at international conferences such as the European Transport Conference. Acting on behalf of the European Investment Bank, we are actively involved in the European training programme for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs).

Innovative data-driven solutions

Our roots are in the open Dutch economy, so innovation is part of our DNA, and we spend at least 5% of our turnover on it every year. We develop reliable data sources and smart software solutions to unlock, analyse, and present data. All that reliable data then forms the basis for our advice, ensuring that clients receive the best possible information for decision-making. We also took the initiative for the Dutch Metropolitan Innovations (DMI) ecosystem, in which we work with public authorities, the business community, and knowledge institutes to investigate how available data and information technology can be combined to deliver solutions that make urban mobility smart and sustainable.

Inspired by the Netherlands, tailored for the world

Much has changed since Goudappel was set up in 1963, but what has remained is our passion for our work. Every day, we work towards a future in which mobility has a positive impact on people and society worldwide. We do so in collaboration with our partners, because lessons learned in the Netherlands only become meaningful when they are adapted to the local context. As we like to put it: ‘inspired by the Netherlands, tailored for the world’.