Dutch traffic rules · in English

All 59 Dutch traffic rules, one at a time

Every rule you need for the Dutch driving licence (rijbewijs B), explained in plain English with the Dutch terms from the CBR exam: who goes first, shark teeth, roundabouts, trams, cyclists, the motorway and more. Each rule is also a lesson you can drive in the game.

  1. 1First drive in AmsterdamRechts houden & 30 km/uDrive on the right side of the road, and never faster than the sign: 30 km/h on most Amsterdam streets.
  2. 2Priority to the rightVoorrang van rechtsAt an equal junction (no signs, no shark teeth, no lights) traffic from the RIGHT goes first.
  3. 3Shark teethHaaientanden & B6Shark teeth (haaientanden) and sign B6: give way to all traffic on the road you are entering.
  4. 4Cyclists count tooFietsers van rechtsPriority to the right counts for cyclists too: a bike from the right goes first.
  5. 5The STOP signStopbord (B7)At a STOP sign (B7) you stop completely at the line, every time, and then give way.
  6. 6The priority road bendsVoorrangsweg maakt een bochtWhen the priority road bends, you keep priority if you follow it, but you still signal, because you change direction.
  7. 7Turning across a bike laneAfslaan & dode hoekTurning right across a bike lane, cyclists going straight on (beside or behind you) go first. Check the blind spot.
  8. 8Fast e-bikesSnelle (e-)fietsersTurning across a cycle path, cyclists going straight on go first: also the fast e-bike that was far behind a moment ago.
  9. 9Turning leftLinksaf: tegenliggers gaan voorTurning left you give way to oncoming traffic going straight on or turning right, and to traffic from the right.
  10. 10Traffic lightsVerkeerslichtenRed: stop before the stop line. Amber: stop, unless you are so close you cannot stop safely.
  11. 11Turning at traffic lightsAfslaan bij verkeerslichtenTurning at a green light, pedestrians and cyclists going straight on with their own green still go first.
  12. 12Choosing your laneVoorsorterenBefore the junction, choose the lane whose arrow matches your turn, and do it while the lines are still broken.
  13. 13Turning with two lanesMeerdere rijstroken afslaanWith two lanes turning together, stay in your lane through the turn: from the left lane into the left lane.
  14. 14Changing lanesVan rijstrook wisselenChanging lanes is a special manoeuvre: traffic already in the lane you move into goes first.
  15. 15Lane ends: merge in turnRitsenYour lane ends: the lane change is yours, so traffic in the other lane goes first. In a slow queue, merge in turn near the end (ritsen).
  16. 16The tram goes firstTram heeft voorrangThe tram goes first, unless the tram itself faces shark teeth or a stop sign.
  17. 17Zebra crossingZebrapadAt a zebra crossing, pedestrians who are crossing or about to cross go first.
  18. 18Recap drive: the cityHerhaling: de stadNo new rule today: priority to the right, cyclists, the zebra crossing and the STOP sign, all in one drive.
  19. 19One-way streetsEenrichtingsverkeerA one-way street (the blue C3 at the start, the red C2 "no entry" at the other end): drive in the direction of the arrow only.
  20. 20WoonerfErf: stapvoetsLeaving a woonerf (living street) you give way to all other traffic.
  21. 21FietsstraatAuto te gastIn a fietsstraat the car is a guest ("auto te gast"): stay behind the cyclists and drive at their pace.
  22. 22Passing a cyclistFietsers inhalenOvertake a cyclist only when the road ahead is clear for long enough, and with plenty of room.
  23. 23RoundaboutRotondeMost Dutch roundabouts: shark teeth on the way in, so traffic already on the roundabout goes first.
  24. 24Sirens!VoorrangsvoertuigenBlue lights AND a siren: make way, and do not block the junction.
  25. 25Sirens on a road with a bus laneSirene op de busbaanBlue lights and a siren: make way. Where there is a bus lane, emergency vehicles often use it: keep your lane, never swerve into it.
  26. 26Out of town: 80 km/hBuiten de bebouwde komOutside the built-up area the limit is 80 km/h unless signs say otherwise. Only overtake where you can see it is clear.
  27. 27Following distanceVolgafstand: 2 secondenKeep at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front.
  28. 28Level crossingSpoorwegovergangRed lights flashing at a level crossing: STOP. Never drive around half barriers, never stop on the tracks.
  29. 29Opening bridgeBeweegbare brugWhen the bridge lights flash red, stop before the stop line: the barriers come down and the bridge opens.
  30. 30Hill startWegrijden op een hellingOn a slope, hold the car with the brake (or handbrake) and only release when the engine pulls: never roll back.
  31. 31Merging onto the motorwayInvoegen op de A10Merging: match the speed on the motorway, signal, and slot into a gap. Traffic on the motorway goes first.
  32. 32Motorway drivingRechts houden & uitvoegenOn the motorway keep right; overtake on the LEFT only. Signal before every lane change.
  33. 33Through the tunnelTunnelIn a tunnel: dipped headlights, keep your distance, and stay in your lane (the lines are solid).
  34. 34Driving at nightIn het donkerAt night dipped headlights are mandatory. Main beam only when you dazzle nobody.
  35. 35FogMistIn fog: dipped headlights, a speed that fits the visibility, and the rear fog lamp only below 50 m visibility.
  36. 36RainRegen: afstand verdubbelenOn a wet road double your following distance to at least 4 seconds, and slow down in heavy rain.
  37. 37Bus leaving the stopBus vertrekt van de halteInside the built-up area, let a bus that signals to leave its stop pull out.
  38. 38Bus lanesBusbaan: alleen voor de busA bus lane (F17) is only for buses (and sometimes taxis or trams): stay out of it.
  39. 39Horses on the roadRuiters & landbouwverkeerPass horses and riders at walking-to-cycling speed, with plenty of room, and without sudden noise.
  40. 40Parallel parkingFileparkerenParallel parking: reverse in slowly, using mirrors and looking around; touching a parked car is a fault.
  41. 41Where may you park?Legaal parkerenYellow dashed kerb line: no parking. Yellow solid: no stopping. E9 spaces: permit holders only.
  42. 42Stopping or parking?Stilstaan of parkerenStopping (letting someone in or out, loading straight away) is not parking. E1 bans parking; E2 and a solid yellow line ban stopping too.
  43. 43The blue zoneParkeerschijfIn a blue zone (E10) set the parking disc to the next half hour after you arrive, and leave within the time on the sign.
  44. 44Turning aroundKeren (halve draai)Turning around (keren) is a special manoeuvre: all other traffic goes first.
  45. 45Emergency stopNoodstopEmergency stop: brake as hard as you can at once, keep the wheel straight, hold the brake until you stand still.
  46. 46Reversing around a cornerAchteruit de hoek omReversing around a corner: slowly, close to the kerb, looking around all the time.
  47. 47Reversing in a straight lineAchteruit rechtdoorReversing is a special manoeuvre: all other traffic goes first. Go slowly, and look back through the rear window.
  48. 48Lights out of orderVerkeerslichten buiten werkingFlashing amber lights give nobody priority: the signs apply, and where there are none, priority to the right.
  49. 49The traffic controllerVerkeersregelaarA traffic controller's signals overrule everything: lights, signs and priority rules.
  50. 50White caneBlinde voetgangerA pedestrian with a white cane (or a guide dog) always goes first.
  51. 51Cycle crossingFietsoversteekAt a cycle crossing with shark teeth on your side, the cyclists on it go first.
  52. 52Roundabout out of townRotonde buiten de bebouwde komOutside the built-up area, cyclists crossing at a roundabout usually do NOT have priority: they wait for you.
  53. 53Leaving the car parkUitrit: parkeerterrein verlatenLeaving a driveway, car park or petrol station (an "uitrit") you give way to everyone, pedestrians on the pavement too.
  54. 54Bay parkingVakparkerenPark in the bay, straight and between the lines. Reversing in is the exam way.
  55. 55RoadworksWerk in uitvoeringAt the F5 sign (red arrow for you) let oncoming traffic through the narrow part first.
  56. 56Snow and iceSneeuw en ijzelOn snow and ice your braking distance can be many times longer: drive slowly, brake early and gently.
  57. 57Breakdown on the motorwayPech onderwegBreakdown on the motorway: hazard lights, onto the hard shoulder, everyone out behind the crash barrier.
  58. 58Rush-hour lane and red crossesSpitsstrook & matrixbordenA red cross above a lane means that lane is closed: leave it and never drive under it.
  59. 59Recap drive: everything togetherHerhaling: alles samenEverything together: a zebra crossing, a cyclist from the right, the tram, a car leaving a woonerf, and an emergency vehicle.