Roundabout rules in the Netherlands
Basic rules
- Yield to traffic on the roundabout
- Drive counter-clockwise
- Signal when exiting
- Yield to cyclists on exit
CRITICAL: Cyclist priority!
Most Dutch roundabouts have separate bike paths:
- When exiting, yield to cyclists on the bike path
- Check right mirror and blind spot
- Cyclists often travel fast
- This rule catches many foreign drivers
Types of Dutch roundabouts
Standard (with separate bike path)
- Cyclists have their own path around roundabout
- You yield to cyclists when entering AND exiting
- Most common type
Turbo Roundabouts
- Spiral lane markings
- Choose lane before entering
- No lane changing allowed
- Very efficient for traffic flow
Small Roundabouts
- No separate bike path
- Cyclists use the road
- Standard rules apply
Step by step
- Approaching
- Check for yield sign (voorrangsbord)
- Select correct lane
- Check for cyclists
- Entering
- Yield to traffic in roundabout
- Yield to cyclists crossing entry
- Navigating
- Stay in lane
- Signal right before exit
- Exiting
- Check for cyclists!
- Signal right
- Yield to cyclists on bike path
- Exit safely
Common mistakes
- Not yielding to cyclists when exiting
- Forgetting to signal when leaving
- Wrong lane selection on turbo roundabouts
- Not checking blind spot for fast cyclists
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