Driving on the continent

[benz0]

Hi all,

I've been living in NL for a little over a year now, and soon I'm planning to hire a car and drive from Den Haag to Northern France..

I'm a fairly confident driver generally but I've never driven on the right before and to be fair I'm sh*tting it a bit.. Mainly on account of trams etc and driving in and around Lille.

I've downloaded a copy of the Dutch Highway Code but I was wondering if anyone has any pointers or words of advice?

I'm mulling over the idea of doing just one driving lesson to familiarise myself with the roads here and driving on the right in general.

Any thoughts, or am I just being a massive fanny?

[troc]

Assuming you are a confident UK driver, I'd say you are being a massive fanny

Driving on the right isn't really any different to driving on the left and you very quickly get used to sitting in the other seat (bruised knuckles from smacking into the door looking for the gear knob being about the only worry). All the controls are shifted over so your left hand still does indicators etc. Essential road rules are the same, the cars are the same and the personalities behind the wheels are the same.

As to driving behaviour, every country has different quirks and the centre of large towns can be intimidating but that's not really a right/left issue but more of a being careful issue. Bear in mind that most countries have a give way to the right rule except at roundabouts where anything can happen! In Holland, in build up areas, give cyclists the right of way unless you are very very sure it's yours AND you won't hit them.

Rather than a lesson, I'd suggest renting something small for a weekend and using it as an opportunity to explore some of the more interesting parts of the Netherlands.

Whereabouts in the Hague are you based btw?

[benz0]

troc said:

Assuming you are a confident UK driver, I'd say you are being a massive fanny

Driving on the right isn't really any different to driving on the left and you very quickly get used to sitting in the other seat (bruised knuckles from smacking into the door looking for the gear knob being about the only worry). All the controls are shifted over so your left hand still does indicators etc. Essential road rules are the same, the cars are the same and the personalities behind the wheels are the same.

As to driving behaviour, every country has different quirks and the centre of large towns can be intimidating but that's not really a right/left issue but more of a being careful issue. Bear in mind that most countries have a give way to the right rule except at roundabouts where anything can happen! In Holland, in build up areas, give cyclists the right of way unless you are very very sure it's yours AND you won't hit them.

Rather than a lesson, I'd suggest renting something small for a weekend and using it as an opportunity to explore some of the more interesting parts of the Netherlands.

Whereabouts in the Hague are you based btw?

Thanks Troc! V. useful advice!

I'm based in Bezuidenhout!

[troc]

benz0 said:

Thanks Troc! V. useful advice!

I'm based in Bezuidenhout!

You should join our occasional Friday beers in Delft extravaganza, where a group of us (only some of whom are Porsche-obsessed) meet to drink beer, on a Friday. In Delft.

[Alfa Male]

troc said:

Assuming you are a confident UK driver, I'd say you are being a massive fanny

Lol. Seriously Benz, join us for a beer whenever you have the time. We can make you feel more confident about ordering drinks on the continent by helping you ordering practice-rounds several times .

[benz0]

Alfa Male said:

Lol. Seriously Benz, join us for a beer whenever you have the time. We can make you feel more confident about ordering drinks on the continent by helping you ordering practice-rounds several times .

Haha, happy to join in the drinks. My Dutch is generally OK so it's just avoiding spilling the drinks that is my problem!!

[Foppo]

I still go across from the UK regulary by car to Holland.Watch the trams and of course cyclist.Roundabouts are the same rule as in the uk,give way to traffic on the roundabout.I find the give way to the right traffic a nuisance,be carefull.Unless you drive on a road with a diamond sign you have priority.

You soon adapt to the driving no choice.