United Kingdom → Netherlands

Driving in the Netherlands when you know the UK

Differences first, worst-to-get-wrong first. Rules that match are folded away at the bottom.

Driving to the Netherlands from the UK: what to check before you go

These are the key destination rules to check first. The comparison below shows every verified difference. Follow local signs and instructions on the road.

Which side of the road do you drive on in the Netherlands?: In the Netherlands you drive on the right.
What is the speed limit in the Netherlands?: 100 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on dual carriageways, 80 km/h on country roads and 50 km/h in towns and cities. Those are the national default limits, which apply where no sign says otherwise.
What is the drink driving limit in the Netherlands?: The legal limit in the Netherlands is 0.5 g/l. Drivers who passed their test recently are held to 0.2 g/l.
What do you have to carry in your car in the Netherlands?: Nothing. The Netherlands requires no equipment by law.

Read the full driving rules in the Netherlands and the required car equipment in the Netherlands .

Looking to rent a car? Rental agencies often have their own rules on driving ages and equipment, make sure you check with them before you travel.
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What's different (12)

Which side of the road you drive on

Critical

UK · homeLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationRightChecked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on the motorway

Critical

UK · home70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destination100 km/h — about 62 mphDuring the day, 06:00 to 19:00, on nearly all motorways. In the evening and at night most rise to 120 or 130, and a few routes are 130 all day. The overhead matrix signs always show the limit that applies — follow them, not the clock.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on country roads

Critical

UK · home60 mph — about 97 km/hSingle carriageway roads.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destination80 km/h — about 50 mphOrdinary roads outside built-up areas, below the autoweg class.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in towns and cities

CriticalVaries by region

UK · home30 mph — about 48 km/hEngland and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Wales20 mph — about 32 km/hThe default in built-up areas. Some roads are signed back up to 30.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destination50 km/h — about 31 mphMany streets are signed 30.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

How much alcohol you may have in your blood

CriticalStricter than at homeVaries by region

UK · home80 mg/100ml — about 0.8 g/lEngland and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Scotland50 mg/100ml — about 0.5 g/lChecked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destination0.5 g/l — about 50 mg/100mlChecked 14 Sep 2026 · official source

Whether you need an International Driving Permit

Critical

UK · homeNot requiredA full foreign licence is accepted on its own for visits.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationDepends on where your licence is fromAn EU or EEA licence is enough on its own. A licence from anywhere else is accepted while you are visiting, as long as its categories are the standard A, B, C, D and E. If yours uses different names for them, carry an International Driving Permit alongside it.Checked 20 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

Important

UK · home70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destination100 km/h — about 62 mphThe autoweg — a main road signed with a white car on a blue rectangle, not the red-bordered motorway sign. It stays 100 all day, so in the daytime it runs at the same speed as the motorway.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Largest motorbike or scooter you may ride on a car licence

Important

UK · home

Engine up to 50 cc

A full car licence lets you ride a moped up to this engine size without L plates or a moped test. If you passed your car test on or after 1 February 2001 you must first complete a compulsory basic training (CBT) course. Anything larger needs CBT and the motorcycle tests. The Highway Code's Annex 2 defines the two-wheeled moped class by a maximum design speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) rather than by engine size; that figure is not on the page cited here. Stated for licences issued in Great Britain; the source does not say whether foreign car licences get the same allowance.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Netherlands · destination

Engine up to 50 cc
Top speed up to 45 km/h

A Dutch car licence (B) gets category AM added automatically, with no extra exam — that rule is on the Rijksoverheid licence page. AM covers mopeds, scooters, light mopeds, speed pedelecs and microcars. The RDW defines the light two-wheeler class they belong to by both limits at once: an engine of at most 50 cc and a top speed of 45 km/h. Nothing larger is covered. The RDW page on foreign licences does not say whether a foreign B licence gets the same allowance.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Smallest motorbike allowed on the motorway

Good to know

UK · home

Engine at least 50 cc
Power at least 4 kW

The rule is set by engine size, not vehicle class: riders of motorcycles under 50 cc (4 kW) must not use motorways, so a machine of exactly 50 cc is allowed. The Highway Code gives the power figure in brackets as the equivalent of the engine size rather than as a separate test. Riders holding only a provisional motorcycle licence must not use motorways either.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Netherlands · destination

Top speed at least 60 km/h

Article 42 of the RVV 1990: the motorway is open only to drivers of a motor vehicle that may and can be driven at 60 km/h or more, so exactly 60 is enough. The autoweg has the same rule at 50 km/h. That shuts out mopeds (45 km/h), light mopeds and speed pedelecs; they ride on the moped path or, where there is none, on the road.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Headlights on a motorbike in daytime

Good to know

UK · homeNot requiredDipped headlights in daylight are advised to make the rider easier to see, but they are not required.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Netherlands · destinationOnly in poor visibilityArticle 32 of the RVV 1990: dipped headlights at night, and by day only when visibility is seriously reduced. The same rule as for cars. Riding with the headlight on all day is advised but not required.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Low-emission zones

Good to know

UK · homeIn many citiesLondon has its own ultra low emission zone. Clean air zones operate in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside, and Scottish cities have separate low emission zones. Most only charge vehicles that miss emissions standards.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationIn some citiesZones in Amsterdam, Arnhem, The Hague and Utrecht apply to DIESEL cars only, by emission class — petrol and electric cars always enter. Check a diesel's plate on the government's milieuzones.nl before driving in.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Emergency number

Good to know

UK · home999112 also works and reaches the same service.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destination112Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Known on one side only (19)

Which side you overtake on

UK · homeRightChecked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan

UK · home

Motorway — 60 mph
Dual carriageway — 60 mph
Country roads — 50 mph

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently

UK · homeNot yet verified

Netherlands · destination0.2 g/lFor the first five years of holding a licence.Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source

Turning at a red light

UK · homeNot allowedRed means stop for every direction. A separate green arrow is the only exception.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Priority to traffic coming from the right

UK · homeNot yet verified

Netherlands · destinationYes — traffic from the right goes first at unmarked junctionsArticle 15 of the RVV 1990: at a junction you give way to drivers coming from your right. It applies wherever there are no priority signs, shark's teeth or lights — which is most residential streets.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Age below which a child needs a child seat

UK · home12 yearsUntil age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Height below which a child needs a child seat

UK · home135 cmUntil 135 cm tall or age 12, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

What the lines and painted kerbs mean

UK · home

Double yellow line — no parking. No waiting at any time, even without an upright sign.
Single yellow line — no parking during signed hours. The hours are on nearby time plates, not on the road.
Double red line — no stopping. Red routes. No stopping at any time.
Single red line — no stopping. Red routes. Applies during the times shown on nearby signs.
White zigzag line — no stopping. Marks the approach to a pedestrian crossing.

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Winter tyres

UK · homeNot requiredChecked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

How you pay for motorways

UK · home

Toll booths
City charges

Almost all motorways are free. The M6 Toll and several bridges and tunnels charge. London and Durham charge to drive in the city centre.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

How long you may drive on your own licence

UK · home12 monthsCounted from when you last entered Great Britain.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

When you must switch your headlights on

UK · homeNot requiredHeadlights are required at night and when visibility is seriously reduced.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Parking on the pavement

Varies by region

UK · homeNo single national answer:

EnglandAllowedExcept London, where it is banned. Discouraged everywhere, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

ScotlandNot allowedChecked 3 Aug 2026

WalesAllowedDiscouraged, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Parking facing against the traffic

UK · homeAllowedBy day only. At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

How far you must park from a junction or crossing

UK · home

A junction — 10 m

Advisory rather than a fixed law, except where markings say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Congestion charges

UK · homeIn some citiesLondon and Durham.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Whether police can fine you on the spot

UK · homeYes — visitors must pay at the roadsideFixed penalties are normally paid later, not at the roadside. A driver who cannot give a UK address must pay a deposit on the spot.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

What you should carry, but do not have to

UK · home

Warning triangle
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
High-visibility vest

Advised, not required. One motorway exception is worth knowing: do not set a warning triangle out on a motorway hard shoulder — get behind the barrier instead.Checked 20 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Typical fines

UK · home

Holding a phone — fine from 200 GBP, 6 points (Drivers who passed their test within the last 2 years lose their licence instead.)

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Netherlands · destinationNot yet verified

Same in both (10)

What you must carry in the car — Nothing — no equipment is legally required official source
Youngest age you may drive — 17 years official source
Holding a phone while driving — Not allowed official source
Who must wear a seatbelt — Everyone, in every seat official source
Helmets on a motorbike or scooter — Required for rider and passenger official source
What a rider must wear or carry — Nothing beyond a helmet official source
Hands-free phone calls — Allowed official source
Who has priority at a roundabout — Traffic already on the roundabout goes first official source
Youngest age you may ride the smallest class of scooter — 16 years official source
Riding between lanes of slow traffic — Allowed official source