Distribution and modal split models for freight transport in The Netherlands

The Netherlands has a tradition of using mathematical models in policy and decision making in transport (and other sectors). In an effort to improve the information provided to policy makers and to maximise the added value of the existing instruments and available knowledge and data, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment decided to work towards a new freight transport model. The first step in the building process is a basic model called BASGOED (“BAS” stands for “basic” and “GOED” means “good”). This model is meant as fundamental corner stone for an incremental building process leading to a modular, transparent and flexible set of instruments for policy making in the area of freight transport.