Our daughter in law is Dutch but I do remember earlier some discussion about towing problems in Holland. Can someone kindly let me know which forum this info appeared under. Thank you.
Towing in Holland
- Thread starter lee2
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- May 12, 2006
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I'm not sure if this info is under the heading of towing in Holland, because it applies to any driving in Holland.
You may, or may not be aware of this, but it will confuse you if you are not prepared. The roundabouts work the opposite way round (generally) in this pleasant country. I don't just mean that you go in a anti-clockwise direction, the rules of right of way are changed too. In Holland you can drive straight onto the roundabout without giving way to traffic already on the roundabout. This means that you have to give way to traffic coming onto the roundabout as you travel round.
To add to the confusion, there are certain roundabouts that use the UK way of doing things, usually near ports but not exclusively so. Until you are used to the way they drive over there, pay particular attention to road markings and signage, which will help. Apart from that you will find the dutch drivers just as good if not better than British road users.
Do you know about the rule of thumb on giving way on unmarked roads, Eileen?
You may, or may not be aware of this, but it will confuse you if you are not prepared. The roundabouts work the opposite way round (generally) in this pleasant country. I don't just mean that you go in a anti-clockwise direction, the rules of right of way are changed too. In Holland you can drive straight onto the roundabout without giving way to traffic already on the roundabout. This means that you have to give way to traffic coming onto the roundabout as you travel round.
To add to the confusion, there are certain roundabouts that use the UK way of doing things, usually near ports but not exclusively so. Until you are used to the way they drive over there, pay particular attention to road markings and signage, which will help. Apart from that you will find the dutch drivers just as good if not better than British road users.
Do you know about the rule of thumb on giving way on unmarked roads, Eileen?
I have just spoken to my daughter in law who disagrees with your comments on the roundabouts. She says that the only time you give way is when a signpost instructs that a cyclist has priority.
Regarding the unmarked roads - which she calls equal roads - priority is given to vehicles joining you from the right. Is that correct?
Regarding the unmarked roads - which she calls equal roads - priority is given to vehicles joining you from the right. Is that correct?
Could be things have changed since I was there last Eileen, it's been about 14 years since I was in Holland. I was based in Maastrict for two and a half years and can definitely say that at that time, you gave way to traffic coming onto a roundabout. Like I say though, rules can change.I have just spoken to my daughter in law who disagrees with your comments on the roundabouts. She says that the only time you give way is when a signpost instructs that a cyclist has priority.
Regarding the unmarked roads - which she calls equal roads - priority is given to vehicles joining you from the right. Is that correct?
Yes, your daughter in law is correct about giving way to the right. Even if the road you are on seems wider and of more importance, give way to traffic approaching from the right on unmarked roads.
Eileen,
I work in Holland (live in Holland and the UK) and there are not problems towing caravans in Holland - 25% of the population own caravans and native drivers are more "understanding"
But, like visiting any country outside that of your residence, you need to be fully aware of the driving rules:
1. Brake-away cable - this must be clipped to a fixed point on the tow bar - it is illegal to loop this around the tow-ball and is an on-the-spot Euro 30 fine.
2. Maximum towing speed on the motorway is 80 kph (50 mph)
3. Junctions (at roundabouts, T-junctions, etc.) basically the same as the UK - except there will often be a separate (pedestrian, moped and bicycle) road - and you should give way to those users. Look out for a second set of white warning triangles painted on the road surface.
If you are concerned about this, look on the web (AA / RAC /Dutch ANWB web-sites) for a list of Do's and Don'ts
Robert
I work in Holland (live in Holland and the UK) and there are not problems towing caravans in Holland - 25% of the population own caravans and native drivers are more "understanding"
But, like visiting any country outside that of your residence, you need to be fully aware of the driving rules:
1. Brake-away cable - this must be clipped to a fixed point on the tow bar - it is illegal to loop this around the tow-ball and is an on-the-spot Euro 30 fine.
2. Maximum towing speed on the motorway is 80 kph (50 mph)
3. Junctions (at roundabouts, T-junctions, etc.) basically the same as the UK - except there will often be a separate (pedestrian, moped and bicycle) road - and you should give way to those users. Look out for a second set of white warning triangles painted on the road surface.
If you are concerned about this, look on the web (AA / RAC /Dutch ANWB web-sites) for a list of Do's and Don'ts
Robert
Rob-jax
Thank you very much for your advice. Have contacted Caravan Club and am awaiting confirmation from them also (they said relevant person would contact me next week after their holiday) so that my husband can again tell BMW. They fitted our towbar and the only thing we can do is loop the brake cable as there is no hook.
Thank you very much for your advice. Have contacted Caravan Club and am awaiting confirmation from them also (they said relevant person would contact me next week after their holiday) so that my husband can again tell BMW. They fitted our towbar and the only thing we can do is loop the brake cable as there is no hook.
This is a common problem in Holland and there are a number of easy and cheap solutions:
On my previous Mercedes C270 CDI and the new E320 CDI, we had Bosal detachable tow-bars - and these have a hoop welded onto the tow bar for the brake-away cable - so that shouldn't be a problem.
But most swan neck tow-bars don't have this attachment - in Holland my colleagues fit a pair of clamping plates around the tow-bar "neck" or bolt a ring onto the mounting bolts.
If you look on the Towsure web-site for item PT1 "Pig Tail bracket" - which may be here if you cut and paste this link:
http://www.towsure.com/product.asp?p=480
Robert
On my previous Mercedes C270 CDI and the new E320 CDI, we had Bosal detachable tow-bars - and these have a hoop welded onto the tow bar for the brake-away cable - so that shouldn't be a problem.
But most swan neck tow-bars don't have this attachment - in Holland my colleagues fit a pair of clamping plates around the tow-bar "neck" or bolt a ring onto the mounting bolts.
If you look on the Towsure web-site for item PT1 "Pig Tail bracket" - which may be here if you cut and paste this link:
http://www.towsure.com/product.asp?p=480
Robert
Thank you very much for your constructive advice which I will show to my husband and will come back with his comment.This is a common problem in Holland and there are a number of easy and cheap solutions:
On my previous Mercedes C270 CDI and the new E320 CDI, we had Bosal detachable tow-bars - and these have a hoop welded onto the tow bar for the brake-away cable - so that shouldn't be a problem.
But most swan neck tow-bars don't have this attachment - in Holland my colleagues fit a pair of clamping plates around the tow-bar "neck" or bolt a ring onto the mounting bolts.
If you look on the Towsure web-site for item PT1 "Pig Tail bracket" - which may be here if you cut and paste this link:
http://www.towsure.com/product.asp?p=480
Robert
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