Germany Netherlands
Germany 
NetherlandsLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
The A3/A12 motorway crosses near Arnhem toward the Ruhr region.
Driving rules in Netherlands
- Watch for cyclists — they have extensive right of way.
- Trams have priority.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.02% for novice drivers.
- Low-emission zones in major cities.
What to see when you arrive in Netherlands
- the canals of Amsterdam
- the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum
- the Keukenhof tulip gardens
- the windmills of Kinderdijk
- the historic centre of Delft
Once you're driving in Netherlands
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
A valid foreign licence is accepted for tourist stays (residents may use a non-EU licence up to 185 days before converting). An IDP is not mandatory for English-language licences but is recommended as a translation to avoid disputes with police and rental desks.
Tolls & road charges
There are no general motorway tolls or vignette; only two crossings charge fees, the Westerschelde Tunnel and the Kil Tunnel near Dordrecht, paid by card or app. Otherwise the motorway network is free to use.
Parking in the cities
City street parking is paid via meter or apps such as ParkMobile/Yellowbrick and is among Europe's most expensive (central Amsterdam can exceed EUR 7 per hour). Blue zones need a disc for a free limited stay, and residential permit zones are enforced by scanning cars; overstays bring roughly EUR 70 fines.
Fines & camera enforcement
Fines rose sharply from January 2026; handheld phone use is around EUR 430, no seatbelt and speeding carry heavy penalties, and enforcement uses extensive fixed and mobile/average-speed cameras. Fines are not collected on the spot from cars with foreign plates but are billed; rental firms forward camera fines with a handling charge.
If you have an accident
Call 112 for injuries or blocked roads; for minor damage exchange details and jointly complete the schadeformulier (European Accident Statement) rather than calling police. Move vehicles out of live traffic where safe, but leave them in place and photograph the scene if fault is disputed.
Driving in the capital
Amsterdam's low-emission/zero-emission zone inside the A10 ring bars older diesels (fine about EUR 230), and the city centre is dominated by cyclists, trams and narrow canal-side streets where bikes always have priority. Many other cities (The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht) run their own milieuzones.
Sources: rac.co.uk · amsterdam.nl · ftnnews.com · business.gov.nl