September car sales in the Netherlands were 17 percent down on last year. Car dealer umbrella groups Bovag and RAI say that the Dutch bought 34,000 new cars last month, against 41,000 in 2008. In August, the year-on-year decline was even steeper, measuring 29 percent.

A nationwide cash-for-scrap scheme to stimulate the car industry prompted many people to trade in their car in exchange for ready money, up to 1,000 euros. Amsterdam's local government, eager to reduce traffic congestion, topped that up with another 250 to 1,000 euros. About a quarter of the car owners actually purchased a new vehicle.

The Bovag group is convinced of the benefits of the scrapping scheme, despite the fall in car sales, and says it hopes other city and region administrations will follow Amsterdam's generous example.