Traffic jam chaos in the Netherlands: Holidaymakers have to be prepared for long waiting times!

Traffic jam chaos in the Netherlands: Holidaymakers have to be prepared for long waiting times!

The summer of 2025 promises a special challenge for travelers to the Netherlands. Drivers must prepare for extensive construction sites and traffic disruptions, which will put a significant strain on the roads from May to October. The Dutch authority Rijkswaterstaat has announced a comprehensive infrastructure project involving bridges, tunnels and roadways, particularly the A1, A4 and the A10 motorway ring around Amsterdam. Travelers should monitor the traffic situation in real time and use tools such as Waze or ViaMichelin to get up-to-date data on traffic jams, roadworks and alternative routes, such as in Franconia reported.

The motorways in and around Amsterdam are particularly affected, as they need to be modernized for renovation work from the 1950s and 60s. From May 9th to 26th, a section of the A1 between Watergraafsmeer and Diemen towards the east will be completely closed, resulting in a diversion to the already heavily used A2 and A9 routes. Travelers should be patient and allow for longer travel times.

Planned major events and their effects

Several major events are planned for the next few months, which will further aggravate the traffic situation. The 750th anniversary of Amsterdam will take place from June 21st to 24th, followed by the NATO summit on June 22nd and 23rd, which will lead to additional traffic and road closures. These events attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, so travelers can also expect travel times that extend beyond normal peak times. Peak traffic times include the morning hours from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and the afternoon hours between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., with particularly busy traffic starting at midday on Fridays.

In addition, the ship and harbor festival “Sail” will take place in Amsterdam from August 20th to 24th, which will once again lead to further traffic problems. In addition, the closure of the A12 from Utrecht from August 22nd to September 1st affects other important transport routes, while the construction of the Blankenburg Tunnel in Rotterdam will continue until the end of the year, also complicating travel planning.

Alternative travel destinations and recommendations

ruhr24 Some quieter destinations in the Netherlands are recommended. These goals include:

• Vuurtoreneiland (Leuchtturminsel) nahe Amsterdam
• Thorn, die „Weiße Stadt“ in Limburg
• Nationalpark Oostvaardersplassen in Flevoland
• Valkenburg in Südlimburg
• Deventer, eine ehemalige Hansestadt am Fluss IJssel

Travelers should also check whether they can use rail services, as track work at Amsterdam Zuid station could affect train connections. It is strongly advised to carry out thorough travel preparation and take current traffic information into account to avoid any possible traffic problems.

Overall, patience is required, also for holidaymakers from North Rhine-Westphalia who are planning to travel to the Netherlands. A plan B can help make your summer trip more relaxing.