Driving in Luxembourg vs. Netherlands: Key Differences
Discover the unique traffic regulations and road etiquette in Luxembourg and the Netherlands. While both countries prioritize road safety, they exhibit notable distinctions in speed limits, lane markings, and penalties. This comparison provides essential insights to ensure a secure and informed driving experience in these European nations.
Lanes
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Bus Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
luxembourg:
N/A
netherlands:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 75 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 75 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
90 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
75 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
75 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
130 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
90 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
90 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
luxembourg:
Yes
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Luxembourg | Not used in Netherlands |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French, German, and Luxembourgish; 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
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Traffic Signs: Language
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must have a valid national license | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; regular intervals | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
luxembourg:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
netherlands:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
Signaling: Entering
luxembourg:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Emergency Services
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
luxembourg:
113
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €145 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €145 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; severe penalties | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines often collected immediately | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually a specific period | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
luxembourg:
Up to €145
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
luxembourg:
Up to €145
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required