Dutch Theory Study Book
Curated chapters explaining Dutch traffic laws, priority hierarchy, speed rules, and the exact numerical thresholds asked by the CBR.
Priority & Intersections
Who goes first — the most tested topic in the CBR theory exam.
Almost every CBR exam contains several priority questions. The good news: the rules follow a strict hierarchy. If you learn the order below and apply it step by step, you can solve every intersection — even the tricky ones with trams and cyclists.
The hierarchy of priority
- 1. Instructions from traffic controllers (police, verkeersregelaars) — always first.
- 2. Traffic lights — they overrule signs and markings.
- 3. Traffic signs and road markings (B-signs, haaientanden).
- 4. General traffic rules — e.g. traffic from the right first, trams first.
Controller → Lights → Signs → Rules. If a higher level applies, ignore the levels below it. A police officer waving you through overrules a red light.
Equal intersections (gelijkwaardige kruisingen)
An equal intersection has no signs, lights or markings that regulate priority. Here the basic rule applies: give way to traffic approaching from the right. Trams are the big exception — they always go first at an equal intersection, regardless of the direction they come from.
| Situation | Who has priority | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Car from the right vs. you | Car from the right | Right before left (Art. 15) |
| Tram from the left vs. you | Tram | Trams always first at equal crossings |
| Cyclist from the left vs. you | You | Cyclists follow the same right-first rule |
| Pedestrian on a zebra crossing | Pedestrian | Art. 49 — zebra crossing |
| You leave an exit (uitrit) | Everyone else | Art. 54 — exits give way to all |
Many candidates apply 'right before left' and let themselves go before a tram coming from the left. Wrong! At an equal intersection the tram always goes first. Apply the tram rule before the right-first rule.
Priority signs you must recognise
B1 tells you that you drive on a priority road until you see B2. B3 announces a priority intersection ahead. B6 (often with haaientanden) means you must give way, and B7 means stop completely at the stop line — even if the road is empty.
Coming out of an exit (uitrit), a petrol station or a car park, you must give way to ALL traffic — including pedestrians and cyclists from the left. The 'right before left' rule does not apply here.