When driving in Iceland, it's important to be aware of various factors to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
In the Netherlands, driving is on the right side of the road, consistent with most European countries and North America.
In urban areas, the standard limit is 50 km/h, while rural roads are usually set at 80 km/h, and motorways (autosnelwegen) allow up to 100 km/h during the day (between 6:00–19:00) and 120 or 130 km/h at night (between 19:00–6:00), depending on the road.
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05%, so it's advisable to abstain from alcohol entirely while driving.
Dutch drivers are courteous and follow rules closely, but there's a unique local dynamic: bicycles are king. Cyclists are given high priority, even at roundabouts and intersections, and often have their own dedicated traffic lights and lanes. As a driver, you must yield to cyclists when required and take extra care when turning or crossing bike paths — failure to do so is both dangerous and heavily penalized. Pedestrians, buses, and trams also have priority in many city areas, and inner city driving requires a high degree of attention to these rules.
Parking in Dutch cities can be expensive and limited. Many areas have paid zones, time limits, or residential-only permits, and fines or towing for violations are not uncommon. To avoid this, consider using Park & Ride (P+R) locations on the edge of major cities, where you can park at reduced rates and travel into the center via public transport. Outside cities, however, parking is often free or more accessible.
Fuel stations are plentiful across the country and operate self-service. You’ll find diesel (diesel) and petrol (benzine), typically E10 unleaded. Many accept credit and debit cards, though some stations (especially unmanned ones) only accept Dutch-specific bank cards, so carry a Visa or Mastercard with a chip and PIN, or consider fueling at staffed stations.
If you need help while in the Netherlands, don't hesitate to contact our office. In an emergency, the national emergency number is 112.