Category A — speed
A-borden
Round, white with a red ring, showing a number. This is the maximum speed unless a later sign changes or cancels it. A matching sign with a diagonal bar ends the restriction.
Traffic Signs
Understand traffic signs for the Dutch theory exam
Dutch signs follow a strict, logical system — once you know the categories, most signs become predictable rather than something to memorise one by one.
Clear English explanations • Dutch terminology included • 10 free questions, no account
Why do Dutch signs feel so systematic?
The Netherlands uses the RVV 1990 sign system, which sorts every sign into a lettered category — A for speed, B for priority, C for prohibitions, and so on. Shape and colour within each category are consistent, so once you recognise the pattern you can often work out an unfamiliar sign's meaning on sight.
Many learners try to memorise signs individually, which is slow and error-prone. It works far better to learn the categories first: a red ring means a prohibition, a blue circle means an instruction, a red triangle means a warning. The specific symbol inside then just tells you what the prohibition, instruction or warning actually is.
The exam also tests combinations — a sign paired with an additional plate (onderbord), or a sign that only applies to certain vehicles or times. Reading the whole sign, including any text or arrows underneath it, is as important as recognising the main symbol.
What you need to understand
Category B — priority
B-borden
These include the yellow priority-road diamond, the inverted triangle for giving way, and the octagonal stop sign. They decide who goes first at a junction.
Category C — prohibition
C-borden
Round with a red ring or a fully red disc, these forbid something — entry, overtaking, parking a certain vehicle type. A red disc with a white bar usually means 'no entry'.
Category D — mandatory direction
D-borden
Blue and round, these instruct rather than forbid — for example, a mandatory cycle path or a required direction of travel at a junction.
Category E — parking and stopping
E-borden
Rectangular blue signs cover parking rules, including disabled parking, taxi ranks and paid-parking zones, often with an additional plate giving times or conditions.
Category F — overtaking and lanes
F-borden
These mark the start and end of overtaking bans for certain vehicles, and give information about lane use, such as which lanes lead where.
Category G — road-type zones
G-borden
Square or rectangular signs mark the start and end of a road type, such as autosnelweg (motorway), autoweg, fietspad (cycle path) or erf (residential yard area), each with its own rules.
Category J — warning signs
J-borden
Red-bordered triangles warn of a hazard ahead, such as a bend, a crossing or roadworks. They tell you to adjust your driving before you reach the hazard, not at it.
Additional plates
Onderbord
A small rectangular plate beneath a sign can limit it to certain times, days, vehicle types or distances. Always read the plate — it can narrow or extend what the sign above it means.
Signs versus markings
Wegmarkering
Road markings such as shark teeth or a stop line work alongside signs and sometimes repeat the same instruction. Where both exist, check that they agree before you act.
Use this five-step sign check
- 1
What shape and colour is the sign?
Shape and colour place the sign into a category before you even read the symbol — a red ring, a blue circle, a red triangle each mean something different.
- 2
What does the symbol inside actually show?
The picture or number tells you the specific rule, hazard or instruction within that category.
- 3
Is there an additional plate underneath?
A plate can restrict the sign to certain times, vehicles or distances, or add extra information you need before acting.
- 4
Does a road marking confirm or add to it?
Lines, arrows or shark teeth on the road surface often work together with the sign above them.
- 5
Has an earlier sign already been cancelled or replaced?
Check for a matching sign with a diagonal bar, or a new sign of the same category further along the road, which overrides the previous one.
This sequence is a consistent way to read any sign scene calmly, not a script to recite from memory.
Important Dutch terms
Verkeersbord
Traffic sign
General term for any official road sign.
Onderbord
Additional plate
Small plate beneath a sign that narrows or extends its meaning.
Voorrangsbord
Priority sign
Yellow diamond marking a priority road.
Verbodsbord
Prohibition sign
Round sign with a red ring or red disc forbidding something.
Gebodsbord
Mandatory sign
Blue round sign giving an instruction to follow.
Waarschuwingsbord
Warning sign
Red-bordered triangle warning of a hazard ahead.
Autosnelweg
Motorway
Marked by a blue G-category sign; own set of rules apply.
Erfbord
Yard-area sign
Marks a residential 'erf' zone with pedestrian priority.
Haaientanden
Shark teeth
Road marking showing who must give way at that point.
Common mistakes learners make
Reading only the symbol, not the plate
An additional plate can completely change when or to whom a sign applies. Skipping it is one of the most common exam errors.
Confusing prohibition and warning shapes
A red ring forbids, a red triangle warns. Mixing these up leads to answering as if a hazard were a rule, or the reverse.
Ignoring that a sign has been cancelled
A diagonal bar through a repeated sign means the restriction has ended. Missing this can make you think a rule still applies further down the road.
Assuming blue signs are optional guidance
Blue mandatory signs are instructions, not suggestions — for example a mandatory cycle path must be used by cyclists where indicated.
Overlooking markings that support the sign
Signs and road markings are meant to be read together. Treating the sign as the only source of information can miss important detail.
Guessing a category from memory of one example
Learning a single sign by rote rather than its category makes unfamiliar signs in that category harder to interpret correctly.
Work through the situation step by step
Scenario 1 — A speed sign with a time plate
- Situation
- You pass a round sign showing '30' with a rectangular plate underneath reading school hours only, near a school.
- What to inspect first
- Identify the category (A — speed) and then read the additional plate to see when the limit applies.
- Correct action
- Apply the 30 km/h limit only during the stated school hours; the normal limit applies otherwise.
- Explanation
- Additional plates restrict a sign's scope. Without reading it, you might assume the limit applies at all times, or miss it entirely outside school hours.
- Relevant principle
- Always read the plate before deciding what a sign requires.
Scenario 2 — A cancelled overtaking ban
- Situation
- Earlier you passed a sign banning overtaking for lorries. Further along, you see the same sign with a diagonal black bar through it.
- What to inspect first
- Recognise the diagonal bar as the standard way of ending a restriction that was set by an earlier sign.
- Correct action
- Treat the overtaking ban as lifted from this point onward.
- Explanation
- The barred version of a sign is the RVV's way of marking the end of a zone or restriction, so the earlier rule no longer applies.
- Relevant principle
- A diagonal bar through a repeated sign cancels the earlier instruction.
Scenario 3 — Entering an erf
- Situation
- You turn into a residential street marked with a blue rectangular sign showing a house, a person and a car, with no separate cycle path or pavement.
- What to inspect first
- Identify this as an erfbord marking a yard-area zone, then note that pedestrians may use the full width of the road.
- Correct action
- Drive at walking pace and give priority to pedestrians and children playing in the street.
- Explanation
- An erf zone removes the usual separation between road users; the sign tells you the area is designed for pedestrians first.
- Relevant principle
- Zone signs like the erfbord change the whole character of how you must drive, not just one rule.
Check your understanding
Question 1 of 3No account needed
Related topics
Frequently asked questions
The RVV 1990 groups signs into lettered categories from A to J, covering speed, priority, prohibition, mandatory instructions, parking, overtaking, road-type zones, place names and warnings.
It generally marks a prohibition sign — something you are forbidden to do, such as entering a road or exceeding a stated speed.
An onderbord is a small rectangular plate that adds conditions to the sign above it, such as times, days, vehicle types or distances.
Look for a repeat of the same sign with a diagonal bar through it, or a sign marking the start of a new road category, either of which typically ends the earlier rule.
Yes. Warning signs are red-bordered triangles, while most prohibition signs are round with a red ring or a red disc.
No. Markings and signs generally work together and should be read as a pair, since one can clarify or reinforce the other.
You can start with the free knowledge check on this page, then try up to 10 free practice questions before moving into full topic rounds.
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