Driving in the Netherlands - any special kit needed?

[nadger]

Hi All
We are planning a holiday to the Netherlands (specifically Het Heijdabos Center Parc) in February, and I go to wondering if there are any special regualtions as to what you need to have in the car (as in France, where you appear to need to carry a whole second car inside yours!).
Thanks in advance for the information

[spikeyhead]

There's a complete guide here

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/...

Obey the speed limits everywhere. The police take a zero tolerance approach to most laws there, though there are fewer laws to enforce. They also all speak excellent English and carry large guns.

[troc]

spikeyhead said:

There's a complete guide here

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/...

Obey the speed limits everywhere. The police take a zero tolerance approach to most laws there, though there are fewer laws to enforce. They also all speak excellent English and carry large guns.

To be fair, they all carry small guns which they have almost never actually used but which look well-used because they are very old (the police here use some kind of special order, unique weapon or something odd)

As to speeding, yeah you only need to be a little over to get a fine. It's affordable if you are only a little over the limit but gets expensive fast and if you are doing more than 50kph or so over, they will take your license away at the side of the road. Most Dutch FM stations transmit known mobile traffic camera details, either over the air or in a form that sat-navs understand and there's a website (or there used to be but I can't remember) where they publish where the fixed ones are. Definitely obey the limits in any average speed-check areas.

Driving in (most of) Holland is boring and sucks.

Be careful not to drive on cycle tracks - some of them look like roads and watch out for cyclists coming at you from random directions. They WILL jump the lights. Oh and trams. Trams sneak up on you.

You will need a windmill, special driving clogs and a supply of weed.

Oh and a meaty credic card because out petrol is slightly more expensive than diamond-encrusted gold bullion.

[Hugo a Gogo]

yep, Holland is the one place where they WILL chase foreigners for speeding fines, they WILL stop you at the airport or the ferry terminal too (assuming that is in Holland of course)
I've had a fine for 4kmh over the limit

to be safe, give way to cyclists everywhere

where there are no road markings, be prepared to give way to any vehicle coming from the right too

[DodoRacing]

Many trajectory controls around cities these days where they track your average speed. Also, there are unmarked police cars with cameras patrolling the highways. Driving sensibly and obeying the traffic rules will keep you out of trouble.

[TommyL]

Yup, there's a website for the mobile traffic camera's:

www.flitsservice.nl

You might want to download the flitsservice app for your mobile phone. It'll warn you for the mobile cams as well as known camera's while on the run.

[Motorrad]

Hugo a Gogo said:

yep, Holland is the one place where they WILL chase foreigners for speeding fines, they WILL stop you at the airport or the ferry terminal too (assuming that is in Holland of course)
I've had a fine for 4kmh over the limit

to be safe, give way to cyclists everywhere

where there are no road markings, be prepared to give way to any vehicle coming from the right too

Good advice re: giving way to cyclists and priority to the right.

As far as speeding fines go it's cheaper and easier to just swap foreign registered vehicles than get involved with any of their bullst- or so I'm told .