Driving Around Eindhoven

On a positive note, the physical road condition in the Netherlands is much better than it is in Belgium.   In addition, in smaller towns throughout the countryside, on the major roadway into town, there is almost always a map of the village you are entering.  While this would not be as helpful when entering a major city, it can be of tremendous help at times when you otherwise would have no reason to have a map of the city.  These maps, coupled with very good road signage (except in cases of detours) really make navigating the Netherlands much easier than many other countries.

On average, the density of traffic on the surface streets around Eindhoven is adequate, with some areas more often blocked during high traffic periods.  However, in 2003, the government began tearing up and construction on the freeway “ring” around the city (A58 or A2, depending on how you look at it).  One of the problems with this is that, in fact, Eindhoven does not have a freeway “ring;” it has only about half of a freeway ring. Poor Eindhoven!  It sits at a crucial juncture between Germany to the south and east of it and Belgium due West.  North east of Eindhoven is Rotterdam, one of the largest ports in all Europe.  Many trucks come through Eindhoven on the way to Rotterdam, effectively clogging the freeway around Eindhoven.  The new construction was such a disaster over the summer of 2003 that a few people died, and at one point there was a fuel spill that required the evacuation of business and residential areas around the freeway.  As of September 2004, the northbound aspects of this roadjam have been improved, though the southbound side still backs up badly, even on weekends.  Every once in a while, you will come across a police officer on the side of the road whose only job seems to be to wave at the traffic to indicate it should keep moving.

But, it’s not just Eindhoven that has this kind of gridlock on freeways.  At key chokepoints throughout the Netherlands, there are the same kind of regular roadjams you would find on thoroughfares into major cities in the U.S.  Except that there are many more of them per traffic kilometer, the time lost on them is calculated in hours, not in minutes, and the Dutch government seems to have been working on them forever with complete indifference to how much efficiency is lost by their workers so regularly and inevitably.  So, when you look on a map and think that Eindhoven is 1.5 hours from Amsterdam or 2 hours from the Hague, you could be correct… on a Saturday or Sunday, presuming nothing is under construction.  On any other day of the week, you can add another 50% or more to your internet-predicted time if you drive the speed limit.  In addition, when there is an accident, it is not cleared immediately to the side of the freeway.  This means that you can come upon a many-kilometers-long traffic jam that will literally go nowhere.  People will get out of their cars and walk around on the freeway.  When this happens, you will miss your flight out of Schipol.

But the most important thing to know about daily driving in the Netherlands is that many Dutch are rude drivers, and the polite Dutch drivers will admit as much.  They can make Bostonians or New Yorkers look like Prozac trippers.  Fortunately, it won’t happen every time, but be prepared to be honked at or cursed for doing something stupid or not immediately giving way.  In addition, keep your windows rolled up and doors locked under any difficult traffic situation, other than an accident, until you have verified that the person coming over to your car is really interested in helping you.  The Dutch traffic police, on average, are sympathetic to foreigner’s simple mistakes (as opposed to blatantly illegal maneuvers).  Treat the police politely and for the most part, you will find them very affable.

Sadly, detours are the place where all of the Dutch signage ingenuity seems to fall apart.  When you least expect it, especially if you are being guided by a computerized navigation system, there will be a detour, couched in miserably arcane Dutch language.  Despite the fact that you will pass the only sign giving you information and directions in the blink of an eye, we have tried to save you by giving you this brief language cheatsheet.  Print it out and leave it in your car!

Afsluiting – closure, e.g. closed off
Alleen in de vakken – park only in the parking spaces!
Ben jij Bob? - This loosely translates to “are you a sober driver?”
Bereikbaar – available detour (you are on a detour)
Bromfiets – moped
Doorgand verkeer – through traffic
File – traffic jam, literally, a line of traffic, as in “rank and file.”
Gestremd – clotted traffic; a traffic jam ahead
Gewijzigde – changed, altered
Gewijzigde situatie – changed or altered situation
Gewijzigde verkeers situtatie – changed or altered traffic situation
Gordel om, achterin – be sure to wear your safety belt!
Langere remweg – prolonged braking path
Nieuw wegdek – new road surface
Omleiding – diversion of road or traffic
Onbereikbaar – inaccessible, unattainable (closed to traffic)
Richting – in the direction of…
Slecht wegdek – bad road surface
Uitgezonderd – excepted
Vergunningshouders – permit holders, usually in the context of “alleen,” meaning, only they can park here.
Verkeer – traffic
Verkeers hinderd – traffic is incovenienced
Vertraging – delays, as in “expect delays”
Volg – follow
Voorrangs – right of way, precedence
Werkzaamheid, werkzaamheden - activities

In the event that you are actually attempting to go somewhere, volg is used to indicate the detour.  The word will be used with another letter, such as “A” or “D.”  Ostensibly, to attain wherever you were going, follow the series of turns indicated by that letter whenever you see it on a pentagonal shaped sign, with the “point” of the pentagon indicating the turn.