Netherlands
assertive drivers, beware cyclist, trams
Generally drivers in Holland are considered to be ‘assertive’ drivers so you may be surprised at their apparent lack of driver courtesy. You will also need to be assertive when driving. Whilst in cities it is a common view that the car is not King; generally the pecking order is pedestrian, cyclist, tram, then car. Oh and mopeds which are allowed on the cycle paths and on the roads too. In the cities just make sure you have eyes in the sides and back of your head. On highways the Dutch are not as crazy as say the Italians but the roads are very busy. You don't have to pay motorway tolls when driving through the Netherlands!
For a link to advice from the AA please click here
*information correct at time of publishing
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Documents you must carry in the vehicle
- Driving licence
- Passport
- Green card (or insurance document) - we supply this for rentals
- VE103 (or log book - photocopy is unacceptable) - we supply this for rentals
- 'Letter of Authority' to rent the vehicle - we supply this for rentals
- Rental Agreement - we supply this for rentals
What you must have in the vehicle
- There are no mandatory requirments apart from the usual need for GB stickers on the vehicle.
- It is always a good idea to use light deflectors, take warning triangle, have a spare wheel or inflation kit, have spare bulb set and take a first aid kit.
Speed
- 31 mph (50 km/h) - Built-up areas
- 49 mph (80 km/h) - Main Roads
- 62 mph (100 km/h) - Dual carriageways
- 80 mph (130 km/h) - Motorways
- Min speed on Motorways 37 mph (60 km/h)
Travelling with Children
- Children under 18 and less than 1.35m cannot travel unless they use a suitable restraint system
- You must deactivate any airbag before carrying a child in the front seat when using a rear facing seat.
- If no front seat belts are fitted the person/child seated in the front seats must be taller than 1.35m
- If no seat belts in the rear the child must be older than 3 years of age.
Do's
- You must give way to buses leaving bus stops in built-up areas.
- You must give way to trams unless traffic lights indicate otherwise.
- Beware of large numbers of cyclists and skaters.
- Do be careful using roundabouts - on some, you have right of way when you're on the roundabout, on others, you have right of way coming onto it.
- Give way to cycles and mopeds as they have right of way over cars. Watch out for cycle lanes - mopeds aren't supposed to use them but often do.
- At junctions, you have right of way where there's a yellow and white diamond-shaped sign - and you have to give way where there's a row of white triangular signs on the road.
- It is recommended that you always carry a warning triangle because you must use one and/or hazard warning lights in case of an accident or breakdown
- The legal limit is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
- A lower limit of 20 milligrams applies to new drivers for the first five years and to moped riders under 24 years of age.
- You must not use your horn in built up areas except in cases of immediate danger.
- You must deactivate the speed camera alert on sat navs or you could be slapped with an on the spot fine.
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