🇳🇱 Netherlands — heavy goods vehicle restrictions 2026
Good news for those crossing the Netherlands: there are no weekend or public holiday bans for heavy goods vehicles. The only real constraints concern driving in bad weather and oversized convoys, which require a permit. Here are the details.
Quick answers
Checked on · Check for temporary orders before you set off.
1. General rule
In the Netherlands, there is no driving ban for heavy goods vehicles at weekends or on public holidays. Trucks can therefore travel freely on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, without the weekend restrictions found in most neighbouring countries.
✅Weekends and public holidays. No ban: HGV traffic remains permitted throughout the week, including weekends and public holidays.
🌧️Exception. A restriction applies only in bad weather (see section 2).
2. Weather conditions
The only general driving ban concerns adverse weather conditions.
🚫When the road surface is slippery or visibility falls below 200 metres, heavy goods vehicles may not travel from Saturday 9:00 to Sunday 24:00.
3. Oversized vehicles
Exceptional convoys are subject to prior authorisation and strict time windows for travel.
A circulation permit must be obtained from the Service Bureau Ontheffingen (SBO) for:
- heavy goods vehicles longer than 22 metres and wider than 3 metres;
- vehicles weighing more than 60 tonnes spread over more than 5 axles.
SBO contact
📞 Phone: 0031 / 79-3458134
📠 Fax: 0031 / 79-3458022
Oversized vehicles may not travel, any day of the week, during the following time windows:
- in the morning, from 7:00 to 10:00 (or from 6:00 in the west of the country);
- in the evening, from 16:00 to 18:00 (or until 20:00 in the west of the country).
They are also banned from travelling at weekends, from Saturday 9:00 to Sunday 24:00 (exceptions may apply).
4. Environmental zones
Several major Dutch cities have introduced low emission zones (milieuzone) where access depends on the truck's emission standard. These zones are set locally by each municipality, and their boundaries as well as their Euro thresholds change regularly.
5. Good to know
🍺Blood alcohol limit: maximum 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood (0.2 g/l for novice drivers, with fewer than 5 years of licence).
❄️Winter equipment: no legal requirement for winter tyres; studded tyres are prohibited.
💡Lights: dipped headlights are mandatory in poor visibility (rain, fog, snow).
📞Emergency number: 112 (police, fire brigade, medical emergencies).
Official sources
The links below lead to the authorities and the legal texts that prevail. They are in the language of the country.
The direct link to the regulatory text still has to be confirmed for this country. The source below is that of the competent authority: it is the one that prevails.
-
Government of the Netherlands
Rijksoverheid · Competent authority · nl
Before a sensitive journey
Bans may be changed temporarily because of the weather, roadworks, events, environmental measures or local decisions. This page provides a general overview and does not replace checking the official source before a sensitive journey.
Neighbouring countries and related routes
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