All Dutch information signs: what they do and do not ask of you

C3 — One-way street (traffic only permitted in the direction of the arrow)

Memory hook: The blue rectangle with one white arrow is a one-way sign: it points a single direction, so that is the only way you flow.

C4 — One-way street (arrow variant placed at driveways or side roads)

Memory hook: A crisp white arrow on blue points one way: this is a one-way street, you only go that direction.

C5 — Entry permitted

Memory hook: A blue sign with a white arrow pointing straight ahead says warmly: come on in, this road is open for you.

C23-01 — Rush-hour lane open (extra lane opened for use)

C23-02 — Clear the rush-hour lane

C23-03 — End of rush-hour lane

L1 — Clearance height of an underpass (indicates the available headroom)

Memory hook: Two black arrows pointing at each other with a number between: that's the tunnel's ceiling — taller than the figure and you'll lose your hat.

L2 — Pedestrian crossing (zebra crossing)

Memory hook: The blue sign with a walker on stripes: here lies the zebra crossing, the white bars are your safe passage across.

L3 — Bus stop / tram stop

Memory hook: A blue plate with a bus (or tram): public transport pauses here, so this is the stop to hop aboard.

L4 — Get in lane / pre-sorting (indicates the lane for the shown direction)

Memory hook: Arrows fanning apart say: choose your lane now, slot yourself into the strip pointing to where you want to go.

L5 — End of lane

Memory hook: A blue sign of a lane pinching down to nothing: your strip of road is 'dying out' like a river running dry - merge across in good time.

L6 — Splitting of the carriageway (road divides)

Memory hook: The road splits like a forking branch: choose your side, left or right, as the way divides in two.

L7 — Number of through lanes

Memory hook: The blue fan of arrows counts the straight-ahead lanes: this many lanes carry on without turning.

L8 — Dead-end road (no through road)

Memory hook: A white post on blue with a red crossbar at the top: the road is a dead end, you can't get through.

L9 — Advance warning of a dead-end road ahead

Memory hook: Blue sign with a stub that dead-ends in red: this road stops — drive on and you'll park your nose against a wall.

L10 — Advance notice of a traffic measure applying to the indicated direction(s)

Memory hook: The sign with advance arrows: it warns you early about a traffic measure in the shown direction, a heads-up so nothing surprises you.

L11 — The traffic sign applies only to the indicated lane or lanes

Memory hook: Arrows point straight down onto your lanes: the sign above speaks only to those marked lanes, no others.

L12 — The traffic sign applies only to the indicated single lane

Memory hook: A sign with an arrow aimed at just one lane: 'I count here only', whatever it says applies to that single strip alone.

L13 — Road tunnel (with tunnel length indicated)

Memory hook: Blue sign with a tunnel mouth and a number: the digits count the metres of darkness - the bigger the number, the longer you dive underground.

L14 — Emergency refuge / lay-by (safe stopping bay)

Memory hook: A safe little harbour beside the motorway: if you break down, this is where you slip aside to safety.

L15 — Emergency refuge equipped with an emergency telephone and a fire extinguisher

Memory hook: A phone in a lay-by: the motorway's lifebuoy — broken down? shelter here and call from here.

L16 — Emergency telephone

Memory hook: Blue sign with a phone handset: in trouble, grab the handset — this is the roadside emergency phone.

L17 — Fire extinguisher

Memory hook: A little white flame on the sign: the fire extinguisher lives here — think 'flames? grab here!'

L18 — Emergency telephone and fire extinguisher

Memory hook: The blue sign with a phone and extinguisher: trouble on the road, here you call for help and grab the fire extinguisher.

L19 — Indication of the nearest exit, or of the two nearest exits, with direction and distance (tunnel escape)

L20 — Passing / pull-over place on the right side of the road

Memory hook: A blue sign with a bulge to the right: here's a safe little pocket to pull over on the right.

L21 — Passing / pull-over place on the left side of the road

Memory hook: A little bulge on the left of the road is your escape harbour: pull over left here to let the oncoming car slip past.

L3a — Tram stop and bus stop.

Memory hook: Tram and bus shoulder to shoulder on one sign: two travelling companions sharing a stop.

L3b — Bus stop.

Memory hook: A bus alone: this stop is the bus's standing appointment.

L3c — Tram stop.

Memory hook: A tram alone: rails but no tyres — this is the tram's own stop.