Markings on the road surface
In addition to road signs and traffic lights, traffic is also controlled by markings on the road surface. These can be markings such as lines, but also numbers painted on the road surface indicating the speed limit or markings such as priority triangles and arrows.
- Edge line
Line on the edge of the carriageway.
- Centre or axis line
Line in the middle of the carriageway, marking the separation between your side of the road and that of oncoming traffic.
- Lane line
Line that divides a carriageway or part of the road for one direction into lanes.
Solid line
Edge lines, axis lines and lane lines can be implemented as a solid line. Solid lines may not be crossed. In case of a solid axis line, you may not ride left of this line (on the side of oncoming traffic). When there is a solid line, you may not change lanes or overtake.
The following exceptions apply:
- An edge line may be crossed, for example to park in the verge.
- A solid edge line in between the carriageway and the adjacent refuge, hard shoulder or rush-hour lane may be crossed if you need to use this lay-by or lane.
- If there is a broken line on your side of the solid line, you may cross the solid line.
- Drivers that use a cycle lane with a solid line, may cross this solid line.
Broken lines and warning lines
If an axis or centre line or lane line is executed as a broken line, then it may be crossed. In that case, you may overtake or change lanes if this is safe to do so.
Normally, with a broken line, the lines are shorter than the interruptions between them. Is the line longer than the interruption, then you should see this broken line as a warning line. This means that you are allowed to overtake, but that overtaking is more dangerous than overtaking with a normal broken edge line.
Normal broken axis line.
Axis line executed as a warning line.
Hatched road markings
These surfaces consist of diagonal lines and may not be ridden over. For example, hatched road markings are used in places where a lane ends and drivers must merge into an adjacent lane.
Dividing point
You will mainly find a dividing point at acceleration and deceleration lanes of autowegen and motorways. You are also not allowed to ride over these.
Hatched road markings and dividing points lose their function as soon as they are on an opened rush-hour lane. In that case, you are allowed to ride over them.
You are not allowed to ride over hatched road markings.
You are also not allowed to ride over a dividing point.
Pre-sort lanes, deceleration lanes and arrows
Pre-sort lanes are located at (bigger) intersections and divide the carriageway into multiple lanes for different directions. On the lanes, arrows indicating the direction have been applied. In between the lanes for the different directions block markings are applied. Crossing these block markings is allowed until they transition into solid lines. On the intersection itself, drivers are required to follow the direction of the arrow indicated on the pre-sort lane. So, pre-sorting to turn left and then continuing straight on the intersection is not allowed.
A special arrow that can occur on the pre-sort lane is an arrow with a hammerhead symbol. In most cases, it indicates that there is a side road before the turn. You are not allowed to enter that side road. This can be, for example, the exit of an autoweg or motorway, or a one-way street which may not be entered from this side.
Pre-sort lanes with directional arrows. You are still allowed to switch lanes here.
The pre-sort lane to the left is provided with a directional arrow with a hammerhead symbol. You are not allowed to enter the first side road to the left.
Deceleration lanes are lanes adjacent to the through carriageway which is used to exit the through carriageway, mainly on autowegen and motorways. These lanes are also separated from the through carriageway by means of block markings.
A soon as you reach the arrows on a deceleration lane, you are no longer allowed to re-enter the through carriageway. This rule is there to prevent that traffic jams are passed on a deceleration lane.
A weaving lane without directional arrows. Here you are allowed to re-enter the through carriageway.
Deceleration lane with directional arrows. You are not allowed to re-enter the main carriageway.
Stop line
At an intersection where the ‘STOP’ sign is placed, a stop line must be applied on the road surface. In that case, drivers must stop in front of the stop line, regardless of whether other traffic is present or not.
Usually, stop lines are applied so that from the stop line you have a good view of the situation you have to stop for, such as an intersection or crossing.
The line at a traffic light or level crossing is also called a stop line. However, in that case, you only have to stop if the traffic light is yellow or red, or if the level crossing light flashes red.
Priority triangles (shark’s teeth)
These are priority triangles that are applied on the road surface. Priority triangles mean: ‘give way to drivers on the intersecting road’. They are usually used in combination with sign B-6, but this is not mandatory. Even without this sign, they have the same meaning.
Sometimes, before you reach the priority triangles, the priority situation is already announced by means of a large warning triangle on the road surface.
Stop sign B-7 with a stop line.
Priority sign B-6 and priority triangles.
Bus lanes and bus carriageways
This is a carriageway or lane on which the word ‘BUS’ or ‘LIJNBUS’ is applied. A bus lane is separated from the carriageway by means of a broken or solid line.
In case of the word ‘BUS’, only drivers of buses (including coaches) and public buses are allowed to use this lane or carriageway.
In case of the word ‘LIJNBUS’, only drivers of public buses are allowed to use this lane or carriageway.
Emergency vehicles are also allowed to use the bus lane or bus carriageway, because they do not have to adhere to declarations of closures, provided that they have an urgent task to fulfil.
A bus carriageway is separated from the through carriageway.
A bus lane is part of the carriageway.
Cycle lanes and suggestion(cycle)lanes
A cycle lane can be separated by a broken or solid line. In addition to that, a symbol of a bicycle must be applied on the road surface. If this is not the case, then it is not a cycle lane but a suggestion(cycle)lane.
Suggestion(cycle)lanes have no legal meaning. They may be used by anyone. You are also allowed to stop and park here.
A special type of cycle lane is the ASL (Advanced Stop Line) or bike box. The purpose of this lane is to keep the vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, snorfietsers and drivers of disability vehicles, safer and more visible to the other drivers while waiting at the traffic light.
A cycle lane is recognisable through the bicycle symbol. Without this symbol it is a suggestion(cycle)lane.
On a bike box, cyclists, snorfietsers and drivers of disability vehicles are clearly visible when pre-sorted at a red traffic light.
Yellow lines on the side of the road
You can encounter broken yellow lines and solid yellow lines on kerbs or carriageway edges.
- You are not allowed to stop next to a solid yellow line.
- Next to a broken yellow line, you are allowed to stop but not allowed to park.
Broken yellow line on the kerb. You are not allowed to park here. Letting someone get on or off is allowed.
Yellow lines on the road surface are used during roadworks. For example, these can indicate that a lane has been temporarily moved. In that case, you must adhere to the yellow lines instead of the white ones.
Yellow lines on the road surface
You can encounter yellow lines on the road surface as temporary markings during roadworks. These lines supersede the normal white lines and markings. Keep in mind the lowered speed limits and narrower lanes during roadworks. On the motorway, the left lane is often narrower.
Blue lines (irrelevant to two-wheeled motorcycles)
Blue lines on the road are used at parking places and parking lanes where the use of a parking disc is mandatory.
Blocked markings or checkered markings
You encounter these markings on the pavement at bus stops and it indicates which space the bus needs to be able to stop at the bus stop. With this, the blocked markings immediately indicate a prohibition. You are not allowed to stop at the hight of these markings, unless you immediately let passengers get on or off.
You can often find blocked markings at the hight of a bus stop.
Block markings are applied in between, for example, the weaving lane and the through carriageway.
Block markings
This is different from the blocked markings (checkered markings). You can find block markings on the road surface in between two lanes, for example, at acceleration or deceleration lanes and pre-sort lanes.
Zigzag lines
These are lines applied on the road surface to warn you of a dangerous point. This could be, for example, a crossing or a dangerous intersection. These markings do not say anything about the priority, but it is wise to lower your speed.
Auxiliary markings
These include the markings on the road that are applied as an aid. For example, speed limits that are applied on the road surface. But the lines that indicate that you are entering or exiting a zone, and the lines that mark a speed bump also fall under the auxiliary markings.
Zigzag lines warn of a dangerous intersection.
Zone markings are an additional aid to zone signs.
You can recognise a speed bump by these markings.
Markings per road type
Especially on new roads, you can deduct the speed limit of a road through the lines. Do note that these markings are mainly meant as a tool. The markings have no meaning regarding speed without signs. Keep paying attention to the signs.
Autoweg
An autoweg with only one carriageway is provided with a green stripe between the axis lines. The axis lines can be broken or solid. The edge lines are always solid.
The green axis line indicates that you are riding on an autoweg. The solid white axis lines indicate that overtaking is prohibited.
The green axis line indicates that you are riding on an autoweg. The broken white axis lines indicate that overtaking is allowed.
Normal road outside the built-up area (80 km/h)
Normally speaking, an 80km road has broken edge lines and a double axis line. These axis lines can be broken or solid.
The absence of the green axis line indicates that this is an 80km road. The solid axis lines indicate that overtaking is prohibited.
The absence of the green axis line indicates that this is an 80km road. The broken axis lines indicate that overtaking is allowed.
Road outside the built-up area with a limited speed (60 km/h)
Normally speaking, a 60km road has broken edge lines, which are a little closer to the centre of the road. Some roads have suggestion(cycle)lanes. An axis line is often absent. Sometimes, these roads do not have any lines at all.
The axis line is absent, which often indicates that you are riding on a 60km road. However, without a 60km zone sign, this is just a normal road outside the built-up area and the speed limit is therefore higher.
On this road, no lines are applied, which often indicates that you are riding on a 60km road. However, without a 60km zone sign, this is just a normal road outside the built-up area and the speed limit is therefore higher.