Driving in Indonesia vs. Netherlands: Key Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Indonesia and the Netherlands, several notable distinctions emerge that are crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. From driving on opposite sides of the road to varied speed limits and lane usage, understanding these nuances is essential for travelers ready to navigate the diverse landscapes of each nation.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| 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: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
netherlands:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
indonesia:
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
indonesia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
netherlands:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
netherlands:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
netherlands:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
netherlands:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 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 | Common | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
netherlands:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Netherlands |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Dutch; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
netherlands:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
netherlands:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
Signaling: Entering
indonesia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
netherlands:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
netherlands:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required