13 replies to this topic

[reluctantcamper]

Hi all  


Any tips for driving / towing in the Netherlands ??


as we have only driven around france  1st trip to Holland  ( in fact 1st trip aboard with van going via eurotunnel ) Do they prefer Netherlands or Holland ??

anyway are such things as Airs / areas to stop  ??

Any dos or dont would be helpful

thanks

[tommytli]

try this link it might help http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/

[klyne]

Hi all  


Any tips for driving / towing in the Netherlands ??


as we have only driven around france  1st trip to Holland  ( in fact 1st trip aboard with van going via eurotunnel ) Do they prefer Netherlands or Holland ??

anyway are such things as Airs / areas to stop  ??

Any dos or dont would be helpful

thanks

I have driven in Holland a few times now and really not much different to France except the roads are busier. Towing speed is 80kms per hour although at some time in the future this is going to be raised to 90kms. The Dutch are generally considerate drivers. When off the motorways please be aware of bicycles which tend to rule the roost in Holland! I don't recall stopping at any service areas but they must have them!

David

[SEPS]

I'm currently working in The Hague most weeks - so have plenty of experience of Dutch roads, although not towing.

In general driving conditions are very similar to the UK - with congestion at rush hour around the larger towns and cities, but with good motorway links between them. The Dutch are generally considerate drivers, usually pretty good at letting folk into traffic and allow space for lorries and caravans. As previously noted, watch out for cyclists, especially on roundabouts where they often have their own lane and priority (so you may have to stop at an exit to let cyclists pass). you will see lots of Dutch folk cycling on dedicated cycle lanes with iPods, no helmets, on the phone etc. So they will probably not be as aware of traffic as you think ...

I have only seen one service station on the A4 between Schipol and The Hague, looked very similar to a British service station (!) I've always found it rather bizarre that you don't see many caravans on the road or in people's drives - I guess they just jump in their cars and drive as rapidly as they can to France/ Spain or wherever!

As for a preference between Holland and the Netherlands I would say they would prefer the latter (Nederlands, in Dutch spelling). Do try the beers, ladies will find good quality clothing and fantastic cheap (but smart) jewelery. If you know where you are going, make sure you identify your local supermarkets, they are often hard to find. Watch out for petty street crime in the cities (no different to London really) and don't travel on the trains late at night (the trains are cheap/ efficient/ frequent, but the late night occupants are less desirable).

One update - tomorrow (1st July) they are implementing a national indoor smoking ban, I'm not sure of all the details, but I believe it will be similar to the UK smoking ban.

Have fun!

Cheers
Sarah

[rob_jax]

Hi / Hoi,

In continuation of the PMs...

I've worked in Holland for 15 years, and in amplification of other posts:

1. Cycles and pedestrians have priority at junctions - they may appear to merrily cycle out in front of you - that's because they have right of way...

In particular, be careful when following another car in town - they may turn right in front of you - but then suddenly stop without clearing the main road - because they've stopped at the "cycle road" just a short distance from the "real" junction.

2. If you have an accident (hopefully not) with a cyclist or pedestrian - because you have car insurance, your insurers will automatically be held liable

3. If it's summer in Holland, then it's time to dig up the motorway network... There will be road works between Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Den Haag to Utrecht - but traffic levels will be down - so it doesn't hurt travel times (hopefully not).

4. Holland / Netherlands? Doesn't matter for general conversation - it's like the difference between UK and GB. Dutch cars carry the NL country identification plate, the national football and hockey teams have Holland on the team shirts, and so on. With the slight proviso that:

Most Dutch people (75%?) live in two regions - called South and North Holland, and for that reason people prefer to use Netherlands rather than Holland as a distinction between the country as a whole and those two regions... I've seen UK web-sites explain the difference between Holland and Netherlands and the same distinction as between England and UK, but it's less than that - and more too.

Which also explains the duality of Dutch life - free and open, but with strict rules that must be followed...

5. You won't see caravans in front of peoples houses because there are strict rules about keeping your caravan at home - you basically can't in the major built up areas - any longer than one or two weeks and you'll have a very polite visit from the police to remind you of your rights and responsibilities...

6. And the real name of the country is "Koninkrijk der Nerderlanden"

7. Motorway overhead signs
Unlike the majority of the UK motorway sings these are really useful - mainly because the Dutch motorway network (in South and North Holland) has an extensive network of road sensors and computers alongside the roadway. So:

The text panels show actual expected travel times from live traffic information...

The text panels show actual queues ("file" in Dutch) in both length and duration - and any hold ups if you take an alternate route...

The numeric panels show recommended and legal speed limits based on real traffic conditions ahead, not on the whim of a human somewhere else. So if the signs start flashing 70 kph - slowing to that speed will result in you clearing the traffic jam without stopping... Unless the signs suddenly start flashing 50 kph with the four warning lights flashing too because then you're stuffed.

8. Money
You'll need to keep a sensible amount of cash with you - most shops will accept UK debit and credit cards, certainly fuel stations and high street shops, but NOT supermarkets or train stations. Which will probably only take cash or Dutch chip and pin "cash" cards.

Robert

[reluctantcamper]

thanks for the info

surpised about the supermarkets not cards / does this include a uk maestro chip and pin card ?

[rob_jax]

thanks for the info

surpised about the supermarkets not cards / does this include a uk maestro chip and pin card ?

You need to look on the window near the entrance - they usually display their card affiliation there.

A few years back the Dutch pioneered a type of chip and pin card that works by loading money onto the card - it has no link with your bank account - so if you loose the card and someone can guess your pin then the maximum you could loose is the money on the card...

This style of card is just becoming available in the UK - but the important point is that the Dutch Chip and Pin sign means you can only use the Dutch card...

But with the exception of some supermarkets and the railway network - you are pretty much OK with UK debit and credit cards.

Robert

[penny5]

Hi, I live in London now but I'm originally from Holland myself. The Dutch are very decent drivers so you don't have to worry about the traffic too much - apart from the fact they drive on the wrong side of the road of course. ;) You can say Holland or the Netherlands. Both is fine, really... There are two provinces in the Netherlands - Zuid Holland and Noord Holland - that are and were the most important provinces in the country. That's where the capital city is and where the government reigns. Dutch people also refer to their country as Holland or the Netherlands. They are not too bothered about the difference. If you're looking for nice places to visit I highly recommend Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delft, Groningen, Den Haag and Volendam.

Hope this helps! :) All the best!

[bi6als]

It also takes Dutch people a long time to answer



   im only joking

[penny5]

Haha, bi6als! Guess you're right... All the best! ;)

[Beejay]

bi6als, on 10 October 2012 - 05:58 PM, said:

It also takes Dutch people a long time to answer



   im only joking

Obviously you only thought you were!

[penny5]

Haha, Beejay are you getting involved in this one too!? ;)

[Challenger]

Whatever you do respect cyclists!

I stopped on a cycle route and was waiting to get out onto the main road. A group of cyclists came along and banged on the car telling me I shouldn't have stopped where I did.
Don't take you car into Amsterdam unless you are bonkers!!!!!
Great place otherwise and very friendly people.
Book your sites in advance if going in season.
Book a day trip to the Keukenhof Gardens, fantastic and Delft.

[penny5]

Yes, in Holland people are very respectful to cyclists. Do not stop your car on a cyclist path, that's just not a good idea! Public transport is very well organized in the Netherlands so if you go to a bigger city like Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht don't go there with a car. Public transport is just more convenient, really.