Key Takeaways
What this article is about
This article is about how drivers in the Netherlands can safely use roundabouts while choosing a simple personal rule: staying in the right-hand lane at a calm speed and exiting without stress. It explains how that habit fits with Dutch traffic rules, how priority actually works, and what to watch out for when other vehicles and cyclists are involved.
A junction that feels more complex than it looks
Roundabouts in the Netherlands are designed to slow traffic and prevent serious collisions. Tight curves, clear road signs and the familiar row of white triangles on the asphalt, often called shark’s teeth, guide drivers on when to yield and how to move through the junction. The result is a system that usually works well, but can feel confusing in the heat of the moment.
The appeal of a simple personal rule
After a stressful incident or a fine, many drivers look for a way to keep things under control. One of the most common ideas is to always stay in the right-hand lane of a roundabout, drive gently at low speed and wait for the correct exit. It is an instinctive response: the outside lane feels safer, closer to the way out and easier to understand than the inner circles of traffic.
When “always on the right” works, and when it does not
Dutch law does not forbid staying in the right-hand lane while passing several exits. In many situations that choice is perfectly acceptable, as long as the driver obeys priority markings, respects lane arrows and does not block others who are trying to leave from an inner lane. Problems arise when the outside lane turns into a rolling roadblock or when a late, sharp move cuts across someone else’s path.
Why the details still matter
Roundabouts come in different shapes: some have a single lane, others have two or more, and turbo roundabouts are built with raised dividers that lock drivers into a set path. Many include separate rings for cyclists, with their own priority rules. A personal rule is helpful only when it is combined with careful observation of signs, markings and other road users.
Story & Details
A stressful moment that feels more like a standoff than a circle
Picture a driver entering a Dutch roundabout, easing into the traffic flow and lining up for the chosen exit. As the car approaches the point of departure, another vehicle appears from the inner lane, heading for the same opening. For a split second both seem aimed at the same narrow space, and the circular junction suddenly feels like a head-on confrontation. The scene may end with a honk, a jolt of adrenaline and, in some cases, a fine that lingers in memory longer than the journey itself.
That kind of moment often triggers a promise: never again. Rather than juggling multiple lanes, angles and guesses about other drivers’ intentions, many people decide to simplify. From now on, they tell themselves, they will enter carefully, stay in the right-hand lane, move at a modest speed and exit when the correct arm of the junction appears. The question is whether this coping strategy fits with Dutch roundabout design and traffic rules.
How priority actually works in Dutch roundabouts
On ordinary Dutch roads, the basic rule is that traffic from the right has priority when there are no signs or markings that say otherwise. Some older roundabouts still follow that pattern, so drivers on the circular road may technically have to yield to vehicles entering from the right. These layouts are rare but not extinct, which is why reading the signs remains important.
Most modern roundabouts use a different logic. There, priority is set by yield signs and shark’s teeth. When those white triangles point toward the approaching driver, that driver must give way to traffic already circulating or crossing. When the triangles are reversed, pointing into the roundabout instead of toward it, the vehicles on the circular carriageway are the ones who must yield. In practice, the direction of the markings tells the story more reliably than any assumption about who was “there first.”
Cyclist priority adds another layer. On many urban roundabouts with a separate circular cycle track, cyclists moving straight ahead have priority over cars that are leaving the roundabout. Outside built-up areas the pattern is often reversed and motor traffic keeps the right of way. The only safe approach is to check the markings around each individual junction instead of relying on a single rule everywhere.
Single-lane, multi-lane and turbo roundabouts
For many drivers, the most comfortable roundabout is the single-lane version. Every vehicle shares the same narrow ring, speeds are low, and there are fewer possible paths for collisions. Research from road-safety institutes has shown that converting traditional crossroads into single-lane roundabouts usually reduces serious injury crashes, thanks to lower speeds and fewer sharp conflict angles.
Multi-lane roundabouts make things more complex. Driving-school material in the Netherlands typically suggests using the outside lane for the first or second exit and the inside lane for later exits or a full loop, while reminding drivers to switch back to the outside lane before leaving if the exit road has a single lane. Lane arrows painted on the approach often show the intended movements and are legally binding when combined with solid lines or clear channelisation.
Turbo roundabouts go one step further. Raised lane dividers and bold markings guide each stream of traffic into a fixed path and prevent last-second lane changes. This design, developed in the Netherlands and exported abroad, was created to keep the capacity of a two-lane junction while cutting down on weaving conflicts. On these junctions, choosing a lane at the entrance is a decisive act: once inside, the path is largely locked in.
Where a right-lane strategy fits in
Within this variety of layouts, staying in the right-hand lane can still be a reasonable personal rule. On a single-lane roundabout, everyone is effectively in the “right lane” already, so the strategy simply translates into entering when there is room, driving slowly but steadily and signalling clearly before leaving. On a basic two-lane roundabout, the outside lane is normally acceptable for early exits and even for travelling through several arms, as long as the driver is predictable and does not obstruct others.
The trouble begins when the right-lane habit becomes rigid. A driver who insists on remaining in the outside lane around a busy roundabout at walking pace, passing exit after exit, may prevent those in the inside lane from leaving safely. In extreme cases this can amount to unnecessary obstruction, even without any rude gestures or close calls. The outside lane is intended as a place to prepare for an exit, not as a permanent refuge.
Used thoughtfully, the right-lane approach becomes more nuanced. It means entering only when there is a comfortable gap, choosing the outside lane unless signs and arrows clearly direct traffic otherwise, keeping a smooth low speed that matches the general flow, and allowing others to merge or exit rather than claiming the outer ring as private territory. It also means being willing to stay on the roundabout for one extra circle if a clean, safe exit does not present itself, instead of forcing a late move.
Leaving the roundabout without surprises
Exits are where most roundabout conflicts happen. Dutch guidance treats leaving the circular road much like making a right turn. Drivers are expected to check mirrors, glance over the shoulder at the blind spot and activate the right indicator in good time. Where a separate cycle track rings the junction, they must be ready to yield to cyclists and pedestrians who are continuing straight while the car turns off.
A clean exit is one that nobody else has to react to sharply. There should be no sudden drift from an inside lane to an outside lane across solid markings, no abrupt braking at the nose of the exit and no last-second lunge into a narrowing gap. If uncertainty creeps in, the most relaxed choice is often to continue around and try again, rather than gambling on a hurried turn. The few extra seconds spent circling again cost less than a tense encounter or another fine.
Conclusions
A simple rule, supported by observation
Staying in the right-hand lane at a modest speed and exiting calmly can be a useful personal rule for using Dutch roundabouts. It reduces the number of decisions, keeps the car close to the way out and fits the low-speed spirit of roundabout design. When combined with careful reading of shark’s teeth, lane arrows and cyclist crossings, it helps turn a junction that once felt hostile into familiar territory.
From tension to routine
Roundabouts will probably never feel completely neutral. Traffic arrives in bursts, visibility can be partly blocked, and unfamiliar layouts still demand close attention. Yet with a basic understanding of how priority works and a willingness to look twice at the markings before moving, the experience changes. The circular junction is no longer a place of sudden standoffs at the exit, but a slow-moving negotiation where each driver has enough time and space to complete their turn. Over time, the right-lane habit, tempered by awareness, can make that circle feel less like a trap and more like part of the everyday rhythm of the road.
Sources
Official Dutch and international information
The Government of the Netherlands provides an English-language brochure for international road users that explains general rules, the meaning of yield markings such as shark’s teeth and how to recognise priority at intersections and roundabouts:
https://www.government.nl/binaries/government/documenten/reports/2024/02/09/participating-in-dutch-traffic/participating-in-dutch-traffic.pdf
The Dutch national road-safety research institute offers a detailed fact sheet on why roundabouts are considered safer than traditional intersections, focusing on speed, conflict points and impact angles:
https://swov.nl/en/fact-sheet/roundabouts-and-other-intersections
An English online theory guide for driving exams in the Netherlands explains how to approach, signal and position the car on single-lane and multi-lane roundabouts:
https://itheorie.nl/en/car/learning-theory/en-b-5-2-roundabouts
An article for newcomers to Dutch roads summarises key rules, including the basic priority system, the function of shark’s teeth and the importance of observing speed limits around complex junctions:
https://www.thehagueinternationalcentre.nl/news/2020-10/read-this-before-driving-in-the-netherlands
For wider context on roundabouts and road safety, a municipal information page from Bristol, Virginia, summarises research on how roundabouts reduce certain types of crashes compared with signalised intersections:
https://www.bristolva.gov/567/Roundabout-Benefits
YouTube video (institutional, educational)
The Federal Highway Administration in the United States provides a clear, accessible video explaining why modern roundabouts are considered a safer choice, illustrating how their geometry reduces conflict points and serious injuries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhHzly_6lWM
Appendix
Cyclist priority
Cyclist priority is the rule that decides whether people on bicycles have the right of way over motor vehicles at the crossings around a roundabout. In many Dutch urban layouts, cyclists following a circular track around the junction keep priority over cars that enter or leave, while in many rural layouts motor traffic retains priority and cyclists must wait for a safe gap.
Inside lane
The inside lane is the lane closest to the centre of a multi-lane roundabout. Drivers usually choose it when they plan to take a later exit or make a full loop. Where the exit road narrows to one lane, they are expected to move back to the outside lane before leaving so that traffic merges in an orderly way.
Outside lane
The outside lane is the lane nearest to the outer edge of the roundabout. It is typically used by drivers who are taking the first or second exit and by those preparing to leave the junction. Many cautious or inexperienced drivers prefer this lane because it stays close to the exits and feels easier to understand.
Roundabout
A roundabout is a circular intersection where traffic travels in one direction around a central island and joins or leaves the circle through connecting roads. Modern designs aim to keep speeds low, reduce sharp conflict angles and separate different flows of traffic so that crashes, when they occur, are less severe than at traditional crossroads.
Shark’s teeth
Shark’s teeth are a series of white triangles painted on the road, with the pointed ends facing the drivers who must yield. On approaches to Dutch roundabouts they show who has to give way before entering or crossing, and they often appear together with a triangular yield sign to reinforce the message.
Turbo roundabout
A turbo roundabout is a multi-lane roundabout layout developed in the Netherlands where raised lane dividers and strong markings guide vehicles into fixed paths and prevent dangerous weaving. Each lane is dedicated to a set of exits, so drivers must choose their direction before entering and then follow the guided route through the junction.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 