Dutch road signs explained: shapes, colours and the signs you must know

Dutch road signs follow the same European logic as signs elsewhere, but the Netherlands has a few signs and road markings that confuse newcomers. Think of shark teeth on the asphalt, the orange diamond for a priority road, or the blue woonerf sign where cars drive at walking pace. If you are preparing for the Dutch theory exam in English, or you just moved here, this guide gives you the system behind the signs.

Short answer: Dutch signs are grouped by letter in the official traffic rules (RVV 1990). Red circles prohibit, blue circles instruct, red triangles warn, and blue rectangles inform. Priority is shown with orange diamonds, inverted triangles and the stop sign.

The shape and colour system

• Round with a red border: a prohibition. Example: a white sign with a red border means the road is closed to all vehicles in both directions.
• Round and blue: a mandatory instruction, such as the direction you must take or a path you must use.
• Triangle with a red border, point up: a warning for a hazard ahead, such as a sharp bend or a crossing.
• Triangle with a red border, point down: give way.
• Square or rectangular and blue: information, such as a one-way street, a parking area or the start of a residential zone.

The sign groups in Dutch law

• A signs: speed limits, such as the round sign with a number in a red border.
• B signs: priority. The orange diamond (priority road), the inverted triangle (give way) and the red octagon (stop). See priority signs.
• C signs: closures and entry bans, such as the red round sign with a white horizontal bar (no entry). See prohibition signs.
• D signs: mandatory directions and paths. See mandatory signs.
• E signs: parking and stopping. One red diagonal line means no parking; a red cross means no stopping. See parking signs.
• F signs: other rules, such as no overtaking.
• G signs: road types, such as motorway (autosnelweg), expressway (autoweg) and woonerf.
• H signs: the start and end of a built-up area (bebouwde kom).
• J signs: warnings. See warning signs.
• K and L signs: direction and information signs.

Five Dutch signs and markings newcomers often miss

Shark teeth (haaientanden)

White triangles painted across your lane, pointing towards you. They mean you must give way to traffic on the road you are entering, including cyclists on a crossing cycle path.

The orange diamond

You are on a priority road. Traffic from side roads must give way to you. A diamond with a black bar means the priority road ends.

Woonerf

A blue sign showing a house, a person and a car. Drive at walking pace, pedestrians may use the whole road, and you may only park in marked spaces. See woonerf rules.

Fietsstraat

A red street with the text ‘auto te gast’: the car is a guest. Do not overtake cyclists in an unsafe way. See fietsstraat.

Matrix signs above the motorway

A red cross means the lane is closed. You must leave it. A number shows the maximum speed for that lane.

Common mistakes

• Ignoring shark teeth because there is no sign — the marking alone is enough.
• Assuming priority on a main-looking road — without signs or markings, traffic from the right has priority.
• Confusing no parking with no stopping — one line versus a cross.
• Forgetting additional plates — a small plate below a sign can limit times or vehicle types.

Study tip

Learn the shape and colour first, then the symbol. On the exam, the shape often tells you the answer before you read the details.

Key takeaway

Red circle prohibits, blue circle instructs, triangle warns, blue rectangle informs, and shark teeth mean give way.

Practice

Test yourself with our Dutch-language road sign quiz and read how the Dutch driving theory test in English works.

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