Iceland vs. Netherlands: Driving Differences Uncovered
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of vehicle operation is essential for a safe experience. This comparison between Iceland and the Netherlands reveals distinct contrasts in road markings, speed limits, and regulations. Notably, while Iceland favors gravel road speeds and lacks variable limits, the Netherlands boasts advanced electronic signage and more intricate lane markings. Stay informed for a safer journey!
Lanes
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
netherlands:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Netherlands |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Dutch; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
netherlands:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
netherlands:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
netherlands:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
netherlands:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
netherlands:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required