GermanyvsNetherlands
Germany and Netherlands share a land border — here's how their driving rules differ, side by side.
VERIFIED 2026-07-29 & 2026-07-29 · METHODOLOGY| RULE | Germany | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Driving side | Drives on the right | Drives on the right |
| Urban speed limit | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural speed limit | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Motorway speed limit | No general limit | 100 km/h |
| Alcohol limit (general) | 0.5‰ | 0.5‰ |
| Alcohol limit (novice) | 0.0‰ | 0.2‰ |
| Mandatory equipment | Warning triangle, Hi-vis vest, First aid kit | Warning triangle |
| Tolls | No general toll | No general toll |
| Headlights | Not generally mandatory for cars in daylight, but recommended in poor visibility and required in tunnels; motorcycles must run headlights at all times. | Not generally mandatory in daylight outside tunnels; recommended in poor visibility. Motorcycles must run headlights at all times. |
| Winter tires / chains | Winter tires (marked with the Alpine/3PMSF symbol) are required whenever roads have snow, ice, slush, or frost — there's no fixed calendar season, the requirement is condition-based ("situative Winterreifenpflicht"). Driving on summer tires in wintry conditions can bring a fine and points. | No legal requirement for winter tires or chains — conditions rarely make them necessary, though some drivers carry them by choice in colder years. |
| Low-emission / restricted zones | Many cities have an "Umweltzone" (environmental zone) requiring a green Umweltplakette sticker; some cities add separate diesel restrictions. | Many Dutch cities (including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht) operate low- or zero-emission zones restricting older or higher-emission vehicles — check each city before driving in. |
| Child seats | Children under 12 and shorter than 150 cm must use an approved child restraint system. | Children under 135 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their height and weight. |
| Mobile phone use | Holding a phone while driving is prohibited; hands-free use is permitted. | Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited, including at a red light. |
| Currency | EUR | EUR |
| Emergency number | 112 | 112 |