Traffic lights in the Netherlands: what every light means
Green means go, red means stop, and amber means stop unless you are too close to stop safely. A light with an arrow only applies to that direction; a light with a bicycle only to cyclists. White tram and bus lights are not for you. Flashing amber means take care. Traffic lights come before priority signs, and a police officer's directions come before lights.
The three colours
| Light | Meaning (article 68) |
|---|---|
| Green | Go |
| Amber | Stop; drive on only if you are so close that you cannot reasonably stop |
| Red | Stop, before the stop line if there is one (article 79) |
Arrows, bicycles and sub-signs
- A light with an arrow applies only to the direction of the arrow (article 68).
- A light with a bicycle applies to cyclists, moped riders on a cycle and moped path, and people in a mobility vehicle.
- A sign 'Rechtsaf voor fietsers vrij' (or '(brom)fietsers') under a light means cyclists turning right may ignore amber and red, giving way to other traffic.
- A two-colour light (amber and red) works the same way, without green (article 69).
Lights that are not for you
White lights, steady or flashing, often as bars or dots, are tram and bus lights (article 70). They apply to trams and scheduled buses, and to other vehicles using the bus lane they belong to. You follow the normal lights.
Flashing lights
- Flashing amber: a dangerous point, take care (article 75). It gives nobody priority.
- At a level crossing: a flashing white light means no train is coming; a flashing red light means stop (article 71). More in emergency vehicles and level crossings.
What comes first
Directions from a police officer or traffic controller come before everything (article 84). Next come traffic lights, which come before signs that regulate priority (article 64). Then signs and road markings, and finally the general rules, such as traffic from the right goes first.
The exam trap: a green light while a police officer signals you to stop. The officer comes first. And when the lights are off, the signs and the normal priority rules apply.
The priority rules that apply when there are no lights: priority rules in the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
What does amber mean at a Dutch traffic light?
Stop, unless you are so close that you cannot reasonably stop any more; then you drive on.
What does a flashing amber light mean?
A dangerous point: take extra care. It does not give you priority; the signs and the normal priority rules apply.
Do traffic lights come before priority signs?
Yes. Traffic lights come before signs that regulate priority, and directions from a police officer or traffic controller come before both.
What are the white lights with bars?
Tram and bus lights. They apply to trams and scheduled buses, and to other vehicles that use the bus lane they belong to, not to ordinary traffic.
What do the lights at a level crossing mean?
A flashing white light means no train is coming. A flashing red light means stop.
Sources, checked on 3 November 2026:
Written by Nawfal Serraji, traffic law specialist and founder of HaalTheorie.