Use of the road

In the Netherlands you drive on the right. On a road with several lanes in your direction you use the right lane, except when you overtake. Move back to the right afterwards.

So on the motorway you do not stay in the middle or left lane without a reason.

If there are no speed signs, these limits apply to a car:

• 50 km/h in a built-up area (bebouwde kom)
• 80 km/h outside a built-up area
• 100 km/h on an expressway (autoweg)
• On the motorway (autosnelweg) you follow the signs and matrix signs; the highest is 130 km/h

With a trailer you may not go faster than 90 km/h on a motorway or expressway. Always adjust your speed to the weather and traffic.

When you turn right, keep as far right as possible. When you turn left, move as far left as possible on your own half of the road, or into the lane with the left arrow.

When turning right, always check your mirror and over your shoulder: you must not cut off cyclists going straight on.

• Solid line: you may not cross it or drive on it.
• Broken line: you may cross it, for example to overtake.
• Double line (one solid, one broken): the line on your side counts. If it is broken, you may cross.

Overtaking a cyclist with a solid centre line is only allowed if you stay fully on your own half of the road.

On a slip road you speed up to about the speed of the traffic on the main carriageway. Traffic on the main carriageway goes first.

If your lane ends, you change lanes and let traffic in the other lane go first. In heavy traffic you merge in turn (zip merging, ritsen).

A red cross on a matrix sign: that lane is closed. The hard shoulder (vluchtstrook) is only for emergencies.

You must always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear. If you can see less far, because of fog, a bend or a dark road, you drive slower.

Also adjust your speed near schools, in busy streets, on slippery roads and when visibility is poor.

On the motorway (autosnelweg) the signs decide, up to 130 km/h. On many motorways it is 100 km/h during the day (6:00–19:00) and higher in the evening and at night; the signs show this.

With a trailer the limit on motorways and expressways is 90 km/h.

Matrix signs above the road showing a speed in a red ring are mandatory.

Normally you overtake on the left. Overtaking on the right is only allowed:

• when the driver ahead has moved to the left and is signalling to turn left;
• with a tram: you usually overtake it on the right;
• when traffic in several lanes moves in rows side by side, for example in a queue.

You overtake a cyclist or moped rider on the left.

You do not overtake:

• just before or on a zebra crossing;
• where sign F1 (no overtaking) stands;
• if you would have to cross a solid line;
• if you cannot see far enough ahead, for example before a bend or the top of a hill.

If you cannot get back to the right safely, do not start.

When you change lanes, you let traffic in the lane you are moving into go first.

1. Check your interior mirror and door mirror.
2. Signal in good time.
3. Look over your shoulder into your blind spot.
4. Move over gradually.

Reversing, making a U-turn and pulling out of a parking space are special manoeuvres. During these you let all other traffic go first, including pedestrians.

On motorways and expressways, U-turns and reversing are forbidden.