Driving in the Netherlands and Benelux
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These are the ubiquitous ANWB Driving Route marker signs. If you see one of these you should follow the route.
The large arrow directs traffic, and the small sign reminds you to lock your car and take your valuables.
Don't forget to pay for parking. Amsterdam uses the Denver boot to punish parking violators.
You could probably drive without a map thanks to these useful directional signs.
The red circle and white background means NO cars or bikes, and the tow truck is probably self-explanatory: TOW AWAY PARKING.
This sign appears where two way roads narrow down to one lane. Because our arrow is red, it means to yeild to oncoming traffic.
Here is an ANWB route marker for the Goeree - Overflakke driving route in Zuid-Holland
This sign on the side of the highway north of Middelburg explains the upcoming intersection. We turn right toward Gapinge and Veere.
Practical Tips and Photos Page
Why Visit Small Towns in Holland?
Driving in the Netherlands
Maps, Routes, and the ANWB
Brugge -- Amsterdam Suggestions
ZEELAND and ZUID-HOLLAND DRIVES
Brugge -- Sluis -- Terneuzen --Breskens -- Middelburg
Middelburg -- Veere -- Delta Expo -- Burgh Haamstede -- Grevelingen
Goeree-Overflakke Driving Route - Zeeland
NOORD-HOLLAND DRIVES
Haarlem -- Zandfoort -- Vogelezang -- Noordwijk
Driving in Holland
As I mention on the Why Visit Small Towns in the Netherlands page, there is so much more to the Netherlands than just Amsterdam. If you are the type of person who likes to take drives in the countryside, you need to rent a car in the Netherlands. I grew up in California where a two hour drive seems a bit long, and it takes four hours to leave the state. If you drive four hours in the Netherlands you won't be in the Netherlands any longer.Speaking of the United States, if you're from the US you must know about AAA, the American Automobile Association. Members can visit AAA offices for travel services, free maps, hotel guides, and tickets for popular attractions. The Dutch version of AAA is called the ANWB. While the VVV exists in cities for carless tourists, most of the VVV offices in rural towns also have ANWB driving information as well. Please see my page about the VVV and ANWB.
The ANWB Middelburg offices in Noordwijk, Middelburg and Middelharnis were well stocked with helpful books and maps. The books are often in Dutch, but they still contain useful information, especially for me because I can read some Dutch.
Why Drive? Aren't the Trains a Perfect System?
Sometimes I praise the public transportation system in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Europe; at the same time the trains do have limitations. Trains only stop in larger towns and cities. For example, to visit Noordwijk you take the train to Leiden. Then you take a bus the rest of the trip. This may be OK once or twice, but it gets old fast as you while away your valuable time in Europe seeing all the bus stops along the way to your destination.The other problem with using public transportation is that trains and buses stop where they want to, not where you want to. If you are riding the train and you see an interesting tower or windmill off in the distance, you can only snap a cheap train-window photo. These photos will mean something to you, yet it remains difficult to take good photos the train window.
There is one more problem with the trains. A European train is a bad place to carry your luggage. The aisles are narrow, you are expected to store all luggage on a rack above your seat, and you will stand out as a tourist because you will be the only person fumbling with your bags.
If you have a car you can carry more things, and every time you stop somewhere you won't have to take your bags off the train. You can listen to the radio as loud as you want
Why Not Drive in the Netherlands?
Gas prices. Rental car insurance. Speedy drivers. Tight spaces. Small cars. Traffic. Traffic. Traffic. Parking. Gas prices.As of February 2001, gasoline costs more than $4 per gallon. I typically spent $60 to fill the tank on a regular size car.There's one last potential cost you should be aware of. Until 10 years ago the Netherlands didn't have speed limits. Since limits were imposed, a sophisticated system of automatic speed traps has been implemented. Radar is used to measure your speed, and if you are going too fast the cameras will take a picture and issue a ticket. I would expect the cost of tickets to be added to the rental fees. Since you have to use a credit card to rent a car they will be able to charge you after you turn the car in.
So if you are driving and suddenly a flash goes off, you know your picture has been taken. This type of control is typical in the Netherlands. You can't run away from the tax man or the traffic man.
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