Merging in the Netherlands: joining the motorway and the zipper rule
Joining the motorway from the acceleration lane is a special manoeuvre: you give way to traffic on the main carriageway and you indicate. Use the lane to match the speed of the traffic, then merge into a gap. Where a lane ends, the Dutch zip: both lanes run to the end and merge in turn. Leaving: move onto the exit lane in good time, indicate and follow its arrows.
Joining: give way and indicate
Driving from the acceleration lane onto the main carriageway is one of the special manoeuvres in the Dutch rules, like pulling away, reversing and changing lanes. Whoever makes one gives way to other traffic (article 54), and you indicate (article 55). In practice: accelerate along the lane to the speed of the traffic, check your mirror and blind spot, find a gap and merge without making anyone brake hard.
Zipping where a lane ends
Where two lanes become one, for example at roadworks, the Dutch zip (ritsen): traffic in the ending lane drives on to where it ends and then merges, and the two lanes take turns, one car each. Drivers on the lane that continues leave room. Legally the driver who changes lane still gives way (article 54), so zipping works on cooperation: merge at the end, at the speed of the lane next to you.
Leaving the motorway
- Move onto the exit lane (uitrijstrook) in good time and indicate (article 55).
- On the exit lane, follow the direction of the arrows (article 78).
- Do not drive over the hatched area or the chevron point between the motorway and the exit (article 77).
- Missed your exit? Drive on to the next one. Turning and reversing on a motorway are forbidden (article 43).
Block markings
Short, wide white dashes (block markings) separate an acceleration, exit or weaving lane from the main lanes. Drivers to the right of a block marking may overtake drivers to the left of it on the right (article 11).
The exam trap: who goes first when you join? Not you. Traffic on the main carriageway has priority, even though zipping asks the other drivers to make room.
The rest of the motorway rules: motorway rules in the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
Who has priority when I join the motorway?
Traffic on the motorway. Joining from the acceleration lane is a special manoeuvre, so you give way to traffic on the main carriageway and indicate.
What is zipping (ritsen)?
Where a lane ends, drivers use the ending lane up to the end and then merge in turn, one car from each lane. Drivers on the continuing lane leave room; the driver who changes lane still gives way.
Should I join at the start or the end of the acceleration lane?
Use the length of the lane to reach the speed of the traffic, look for a gap, indicate and merge. Do not stop at the start of the lane unless there really is no gap.
When do I move into the exit lane?
In good time. Indicate, move onto the exit lane and follow the arrows on it. You may not drive over the hatched area or the chevron point at the exit.
Sources, checked on 3 November 2026:
Written by Nawfal Serraji, traffic law specialist and founder of HaalTheorie.