Residential areaNetherlands
4. Residential area
A residential area is a street or group of streets where housing and access to local properties are the main functions. Drivers should expect pedestrians, cyclists, children, parked vehicles and vehicles entering or leaving driveways.
Some countries identify particular residential areas with traffic signs and apply special low-speed and residential-area rules. The speed limit, pedestrian rights, parking rules and permitted road users therefore depend on local signs and regulations.
Wikimedia.org • Eddie Kips • CC BY-SA
How do people refer to a residential area in the Netherlands?
The legal Dutch term is erf. The special rules start at the entrance sign, rather than wherever houses are present.
🔗 government.nl • Dutch Government, road rules and signs — RVV articles 44–46, 54; Annex 1 G5/G6
🔗 wetten.overheid.nl • RVV 1990 — official Dutch legislative reference
Start of a residential area.
English • Traffic sign G5 • Residential area.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord G5 • Erf.
End of the residential area.
English • Traffic sign G6 • End of residential area.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord G6 • Einde erf.
What speed limit applies in a residential area in the Netherlands?
Drivers in this signed category must not exceed 15 km/h. Ordinary residential streets follow their own speed-limit or zone signs.
🔗 government.nl • Dutch Government, road rules and signs — RVV articles 44–46, 54; Annex 1 G5/G6
🔗 wetten.overheid.nl • RVV 1990 — official Dutch legislative reference
What rights do pedestrians have in a signposted residential area in the Netherlands?
Pedestrians may use the whole width of the road in this category. Drivers must maintain the low speed and avoid endangering other road users; ordinary right-of-way rules are not all replaced by the area sign.
🔗 government.nl • Dutch Government, road rules and signs — RVV articles 44–46, 54; Annex 1 G5/G6
🔗 wetten.overheid.nl • RVV 1990 — official Dutch legislative reference
Where may I park in a residential area in the Netherlands?
Motor vehicles may park only in places designated for parking. A broad or paved part of the street is not automatically a parking space.
🔗 government.nl • Dutch Government, road rules and signs — RVV articles 44–46, 54; Annex 1 G5/G6
🔗 wetten.overheid.nl • RVV 1990 — official Dutch legislative reference

Traffic rules
Netherlands