Home › Blog › Give-way lines (haaientanden, B6) or stop sign (B7): what is the difference?

Give-way lines (haaientanden, B6) or stop sign (B7): what is the difference?

By Mustafa Aybek · maker of Rijtheorie Hub · sources: RVV 1990, cbr.nl · last updated 2026-09-07

Give-way lines and the stop sign look alike (with both, the other road user goes first), but the CBR asks about exactly the difference.

Animation from the app: Give-way lines (haaientanden, B6): give way

If you see shark's-teeth on the road (a row of white triangles pointing at you) or an upside-down triangle sign (point down): YOU must give way.

Those white triangles are sharp shark's-teeth snapping at your tyres. Roll on without looking and the shark bites — so slow down, look, and let the other one go first.

Exception: Note: shark's-teeth mean give way, but you are NOT required to come to a full stop (that's only at the STOP sign). If the way is clear, you may simply drive on.

Animation from the app: Stop sign (B7): come to a complete stop first

At a STOP sign (red octagonal sign saying 'STOP'): always come to a complete standstill before the line, then give way.

The red octagon is a policeman with his hand raised: 'HALT!' Your wheels must truly hit zero and freeze for a second — only when he nods may you look and go.

Exception: The biggest trap: slowly 'rolling' through without a real stop is a fault — even if the road is empty, your wheels must fully halt. Otherwise you can fail your test.

Priority road, shark's teeth and the stop sign

Shark's teeth mean give way without stopping; a stop sign requires a full standstill.

Priority road: yellow-orange diamond with white border
Shark's teeth = give way, you may keep rolling
Stop sign (red octagon): full standstill at the line
Stopping required even if nothing is coming
Hierarchy: lights/officer over signs over road markings

Exceptions and pitfalls

Shark's teeth = give way (you may keep rolling); stop sign with stop line = full standstill, EVEN if the junction is empty.
The points of the shark's teeth aim at YOU → then YOU must give way.
On a priority road you have priority over crossing traffic, but turning is still turning: you must still let oncoming traffic AND cyclists on the adjacent cycle path go first.
End of priority road (diamond with a black bar): from there the ordinary rules apply again, so possibly 'right-hand rule'.
Hierarchy when signals conflict: traffic controller > traffic light > sign > road marking.
A flashing amber traffic light does NOT mean you have priority — the light is out of service, so fall back on the signs and markings on the spot.

And if there is no traffic?

Animation from the app: Stop sign with no traffic: stop anyway

At a STOP sign you always come to a complete standstill, even with nobody coming.

The octagon does not negotiate. Wheels still first, look second. 'Almost stopping' is, on the exam and on the street, simply not stopping.

Exception: The sign requires both stopping and giving way; two separate duties that both apply.

Animation from the app: Give-way lines with no traffic: you may drive on

Shark's teeth mean give way — you only have to stop if something is coming.

Put this beside the STOP sign and the difference sticks: teeth say 'let them pass if anyone is there', the octagon says 'stand still, always'.

Exception: You must still actually give way: arriving too fast counts as failing to give way.

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