The Netherlands is a good vacation spot for all lovers of architecture and art. It is associated with windmills, tulips and bicycles. It is worth seeing with your own eyes beautiful tulip fields or feeling the atmosphere of small picturesque towns. Let’s check how to prepare for such a trip.
Toll roads and highways in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has a well-developed road network. This country has the highest density of expressways per 1000 km in the world. The length of the network of motorways in the Netherlands is almost 2400 km. The good news for all travelers is that there are no tolls on motorways and expressways. In the Netherlands, national highways are designated by the letter “A” and international highways by the letter “E”. Below is a map of the Netherlands with marked highways.
Road tolls in the Netherlands
Motorways and expressways are free, but tunnels are charged:
- Dordse Kil connects Gravendeel 217 with Dordrecht,
- The Vesterschelde connecting the island of Zeeland with the mainland is the Baarland-Terneusen section.
However, commissions are small. A vehicle up to 6m long and up to 3m high costs €7.45 to drive through the Westerschelde. However, driving on Dordse Kil in a car up to 2.3 meters high costs 2 euros.
Vignettes in the Netherlands
Vignettes are not used in the Netherlands. You can also drive on highways without additional fees.
Are there vignettes in the countries on the way to the Netherlands?
When traveling to the Netherlands, you must pass through Germany. There are no vignettes in Germany, so you can travel without additional fees.
Auto equipment in the Netherlands
Going on a trip to the Netherlands, you should find out what you need to equip your car with. A warning triangle is mandatory. When traveling with a trailer, you must have two emergency triangles. It is also worth having a car equipped with:
- first aid kit,
- extinguisher,
- a set of spare light bulbs.
Although not required, a set of spare bulbs can make traveling easier after an unexpected breakdown.
The Netherlands – the most important traffic rules and speed limits
Fines in the Netherlands are very high. In this regard, the rules are very restrictive and should be followed. Seat belts are mandatory on Dutch roads for the driver and all passengers. Dipped headlights must be turned on at night, and during the day only in bad weather conditions.
Speed limits in the Netherlands:
- freeway 120 km/h, and in some sections even 130 km/h, for transport with a trailer 90 km/h,
- expressways (for cars and trucks up to 3.5 tons) 100 km/h, for vehicles with a trailer 90 km/h,
- roads outside populated areas 80 km/h,
- roads in populated areas 50 km/h.
People traveling with children under 3 years of age should remember to use a car seat in the back seat. In the Netherlands, it is illegal to transport children under the age of 12 and under 150 cm tall in the front seat, unless it is equipped with a suitable child seat. The seat is part of the car’s equipment, and most companies cover it with air conditioning insurance.
Important phone numbers when traveling in the Netherlands
Going to the Netherlands, it is also worth preparing for crisis situations. You can save numbers in your phone that may be useful, for example, in case of an accident. This will speed up the call for help.
- European emergency number: 112
- Roadside assistance: +31 70 314 14 14