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Traffic chaos at Pentecost: Border controls burden holidaymakers in North Rhine-Westphalia!
Holidaymakers in North Rhine-Westphalia must expect traffic jams and border controls at the Dutch border on the Whitsun weekend. Plan accordingly.
Traffic chaos at Pentecost: Border controls burden holidaymakers in North Rhine-Westphalia!
With the Pentecost weekend, many holidaymakers headed to the Netherlands, which led to increased traffic on the motorways in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The biggest traffic jam problems were expected on Friday, June 6th, and Whit Monday, June 9th. The Federal Police has been carrying out increased border controls on the German-Dutch border since May 2025 in order to increase security and, in particular, to detect smugglers. There had already been long waiting times of up to 30 minutes on the Ascension weekend, which is also threatening this weekend.
Travelers must expect a large number of delays as the checks are not only carried out on mobile devices, but also on a random basis. These checks can lead to waiting times, which, according to the WDR Although it should not exceed 20 to 30 minutes for commuters and holidaymakers, in practice it is unpredictable. Drivers are requested to have valid identification documents and vehicle documents ready to speed up the process. A valid EU pet passport with rabies vaccination is required for pets traveling with you.
Congested traffic axes
The following highways are particularly affected by the high volume of traffic:
- A3 über Elten nach Zevenaar
- A30 über Bad Bentheim nach De Lutte
- A40 über Straelen nach Venlo
- A52 nach Roermond
- A57 über Goch nach Gennep
- A61 über Kaldenkirchen nach Venlo
- A31/B402 über Meppen nach Zwartemeer
The traffic jams before Pentecost totaled an impressive 570 kilometers last year, which is not unlikely for the upcoming weekend. Drivers should prepare for twice as long journey times and choose travel times wisely to avoid traffic jams.
Commuters and their routines
The controls are particularly challenging for commuters who travel daily from North Rhine-Westphalia to the Netherlands. Loud Ruhr24 For example, around 2,800 people from Kleve, 1,890 from Goch and 1,840 from Geldern commute across the border every day. Many people take the opportunity to refuel or go shopping in the Netherlands.
The police plan to carry out the checks “selectively and with a sense of proportion” in order to minimize disruption to travelers and commuters. At the same time, they will publish an initial balance of the controls in the coming week in order to document the successes in combating illegal migration and other search projects. Travelers are asked to keep their documents handy to speed up checks and help ensure a safe border crossing.
The Whitsun weekend is likely to be a stressful time for holidaymakers and commuters, with numerous challenges on the motorways and at the borders between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands.