All 39 Dutch warning signs: meaning, memory hook and what the CBR asks
Warning signs are the J series: a red-bordered triangle pointing upwards. They forbid nothing and they require nothing — they tell you that further on there is something you need to adjust your speed and attention to. In the CBR exam they come back in two forms: as a sign question (what does this sign mean?) and as a hazard perception question (you have just passed it, what do you do?). Below are all 39 signs with their meaning and a memory hook.
What a warning sign does and does not say
That distinction is exactly what the CBR is fishing for. A prohibition sign is round with a red border, a mandatory sign is round and blue, and a warning sign is a triangle. If you see a triangle, the answer is never "I may not drive here" and never "I must do this here", but always "I must take something into account here".
What you actually do is not on the sign. It follows from the general rule that you must be able to stop your vehicle within the distance you can see to be clear. After a warning sign that distance gets shorter, so your speed goes down. More on that in Speed: all limits and exceptions.
The warning triangle: a stubborn misunderstanding
Two things get mixed up: the warning sign by the road and the warning triangle in your boot. In the Netherlands the second is not required by law. If you break down, you warn other traffic first of all with your hazard lights. If they do not work, a triangle is of course a sensible idea. Also read Lights and visibility.
All 39 warning signs
Jump to: J1 · J2 · J3 · J4 · J5 · J6 · J7 · J8 · J9 · J10 · J11 · J12 · J13 · J14 · J15 · J16 · J17 · J18 · J19 · J20 · J21 · J22 · J23 · J24 · J25 · J26 · J27 · J28 · J29 · J30 · J31 · J32 · J33 · J34 · J35 · J36 · J37 · J38 · J39
J1 — Warning for poor/uneven road surface
Memory hook: Red triangle with a bumpy line: the road's about to hop like a rollercoaster, so grip that coffee tight.
J2 — Warning for a bend to the right
Memory hook: The red triangle bends with the road to the right: the line curls like a snake sliding off to that side.
J3 — Warning for a bend to the left
Memory hook: The black arrow bends off to the left like a river winding round the corner: get ready to steer left.
J4 — Warning for S-bends, first to the right
Memory hook: The black ribbon wriggles like a snake poking its head right first: a double S-bend is coming, so lean into the right curve first.
J5 — Warning for S-bends, first to the left
Memory hook: The snake on the triangle wriggles left first: read the S as a 'Slithering Snake' - head swings left, then curls back right.
J6 — Warning for a steep hill (ascent)
Memory hook: The triangle shows a little car climbing a mountain - brace yourself, the road rises STEEPLY up.
J7 — Warning for a dangerous (steep) descent
Memory hook: The little car on the steep slope in the red triangle slides down: brakes ready, a dangerous descent is coming.
J8 — Warning for a dangerous intersection
Memory hook: Two arrows collide head-on in the triangle: the junction ahead has a short fuse.
J9 — Warning for a roundabout
Memory hook: Red triangle with three arrows chasing each other in a circle: soon you'll join the merry-go-round — the roundabout.
J10 — Warning for a railway level crossing with barriers
Memory hook: The triangle with a fence means barriers are about to drop, stop or the bar taps your roof.
J11 — Warning for a railway level crossing without barriers
Memory hook: A steam engine in the red triangle: ahead the railway crosses without barriers, so look for yourself before you cross.
J12 — Level crossing with a single track
Memory hook: One red-and-white St Andrew's cross: there is one track here - stop when a train approaches.
J13 — Level crossing with two or more tracks
Memory hook: A double St Andrew's cross: two or more tracks - once one train has passed, a second may come right away.
J14 — Warning for a tram or tram crossing
Memory hook: A little tram sits in the triangle: watch out, a clanging tram is about to cross your path ahead.
J15 — Warning for a movable (opening) bridge
Memory hook: The split bridge in the red triangle lifts like double doors swinging up: watch out, a movable bridge ahead.
J16 — Warning for road works ahead
Memory hook: Red triangle with a man digging: the worker is shovelling ahead — road works coming up.
J17 — Warning for a narrowing of the carriageway (both sides)
Memory hook: Triangle where the road pinches in from both sides: the lane is putting on a corset, so breathe in and hold the middle.
J18 — Warning for a narrowing of the carriageway on the right
Memory hook: The triangle where the right edge pinches in: the road squeezes on that side, like a bottleneck narrowing to the right.
J19 — Warning for a narrowing of the carriageway on the left
Memory hook: The road pinches shut on the left like a squeezed toothpaste tube: hug right, the left is closing in.
J20 — Warning for slippery road (skid hazard)
Memory hook: The car on the triangle leaving two black skid squiggles is dancing on a slippery floor: beware, here your tyres can slide away.
J21 — Warning for children (crossing/playing)
Memory hook: Two running children on the triangle: picture a brother and sister bolting after a ball into the road - brake, because kids never look.
J22 — Warning for a pedestrian crossing
Memory hook: A little walking figure on the zebra inside the triangle: ease off, someone crosses just ahead.
J23 — Warning for pedestrians
Memory hook: Two black walkers stride through the red triangle: watch out, pedestrians are crossing ahead.
J24 — Warning for cyclists and moped riders crossing
Memory hook: Red triangle with a bicycle: expect a cyclist or moped rider suddenly crossing your path.
J25 — Warning for loose stones/gravel
Memory hook: Triangle with little stones flying up: the road is popping popcorn — back off or your paint takes the chips.
J26 — Warning for a quay or riverbank
Memory hook: The triangle showing a car plunging into water: a quay or riverbank is close, brake or you make a splash.
J27 — Warning for wild (large) game crossing
Memory hook: A leaping deer in the red triangle: any second Bambi could bolt across the road, so ease off the gas.
J28 — Warning for livestock crossing
Memory hook: A fat cow standing calmly on the red triangle is chewing right in your lane: brake, because livestock may amble across.
J29 — Warning for oncoming traffic
Memory hook: Two arrows pointing head-on at each other: nose to nose, a car is coming straight at you - the arrows nearly collide, so mind oncoming traffic.
J30 — Warning for low-flying aircraft
Memory hook: A little plane skims low over the triangle: don't be startled when an aircraft passes right above you.
J31 — Warning for crosswind (side wind)
Memory hook: The tree bending like a flag inside the red triangle: grip the wheel, crosswind will shove your car here.
J32 — Warning for traffic lights ahead
Memory hook: Red triangle with three dots like a traffic light: red-amber-green waits around the bend, lights ahead.
J33 — Warning for traffic jam / queues
Memory hook: Triangle with cars nose-to-tail: a traffic jam lined up like train carriages — ease off the gas and pack your patience.
J34 — Warning for an accident ahead
Memory hook: Two cars have kissed inside the triangle: an accident ahead, ease off the throttle.
J35 — Warning for poor visibility due to snow, rain or fog
Memory hook: Slanted lines like falling rain and snow across the triangle: your view vanishes here, so switch your lights on.
J36 — Warning for ice or snow on the road
Memory hook: A snowflake on the triangle gives you a cold shiver: black ice or snow lies ahead, so drive as if the road were made of glass.
J37 — Warning for a danger, the nature indicated on a sub-plate
Memory hook: A bare triangle holding just an exclamation mark: 'Danger ahead, but what kind is written below' - read the sub-plate for the punchline.
J38 — Warning for a speed bump / road hump
Memory hook: The little bump in the triangle is a sleeping hump: ease off the gas or you'll thump right over it.
J39 — Warning for an electrically retractable bollard (poller) in the carriageway
Memory hook: The fat post shooting up from the road in the red triangle: don't drive over it or it spears your floor — bollard in the carriageway.
How the CBR asks about these signs
Sign questions are the easy half: you see the triangle and pick the meaning. The other half is hazard perception, and there it is no longer about the sign but about what you do. A classic example: you have just driven past J21 (warning for children (crossing/playing)) and there are cars parked along the kerb. The sign is then no longer a loose fact but the reason to expect someone to step out from between those cars.
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