Parking rules in the Netherlands

Your contract with DB Work is already signed, you've got your job in shipping, industry, logistics, or construction and you're going to the Netherlands? 

If you've reached this point, you've surely already heard about the fact that DB Work will provide you with local transport. You'll receive a dedicated company car from us for your team to use to get you from home to work and back, as well as 20 km per week for personal purposes.

But because the Netherlands is a country where cycling takes precedence and traffic rules are different, here are the Dutch parking rules and general traffic rules you need to follow to avoid fines.

General information about parking rules in the Netherlands

Finding parking spaces in big cities in the Netherlands can sometimes be difficult, especially if you're not used to the traffic rules in this country. Parking spaces are paid for and are often marked with a blue P-mark indicating a special parking zone. The parking ticket can cost a minimum of €2.80 and a maximum of €7.50 depending on the city or area where you plan to park.

Payment for parking tickets can be made by card, cash, or via the special mobile app. The set of parking rules in the Netherlands also specifies the areas where you are not allowed to park. Here's what they are:

• In front of entrances and exits of buildings or other premises
• Within 5 meters of an intersection
• Near black and white curbs
• On roads marked with a solid yellow line

Useful applications for traffic and parking payment

By far the most used and recommended app for making parking payments is PayByPhone. It can be used not only in the Netherlands but also in 14 other countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. If you come from one of these countries, it will be much easier for you to get used to it. You'll be able to load any bank card into the app. Keep in mind that PayByPhone can be used for all types of street-level parking. 

There is also the possibility of parking in underground car parks such as Q-Park, where you can pay a subscription for a certain period and have your parking space secured. 

To get to your destinations faster or to find your way around Dutch cities, we also recommend using free GPS apps such as Google Maps, Waze, or FlitsMeister - the latter is especially popular in the Netherlands.

Parking the DB Work company car

As you've already found out, DB Work will provide you with a dedicated company car to get you to and from work. You can also travel wherever you need to for personal purposes, but up to 20 km per week. You must follow the rules of conduct and the set of parking rules in the Netherlands when driving the company car. 

When parking your DB Work car, you must follow 100% of the rules mentioned in this guide. The driver who parked the company car in a forbidden place will pay a fine for the illegal parking. Depending on the accommodation you will also receive from DB Work, the company car will have a parking space where you can always leave the car between journeys.

Important traffic rules in the Netherlands

Correct parking is only one component of correct behavior in Dutch traffic. There are also a few traffic rules to follow, but you should also take into account the strictness of the penalties. 

• There are plenty of radar cameras in all Dutch cities
• The speed limit on the motorway is 130 km/h
• Between 06:00 and 19:00, the limit is 100 km/h
• Outside cities, the limit is 80 km/h
• In cities, the limit is 50 km/h

Exceeding even 1 km/h will result in quite heavy fines. Drive carefully and obey the traffic rules, keep in mind the parking rules in the Netherlands, and do not exceed the speed limit.

Conclusion

Life in the Netherlands is very easy as long as you respect the laws. If you also want a job in one of the most developed countries in the world, we invite you to send us your CV at jobs@dbwork.com and discover the benefits of an employment contract in the Netherlands through DB Work.

Don't forget to check our daily job vacancies as well.