Roundabouts: who has right of way, and what about cyclists?

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

Two things often go wrong at roundabouts: who has right of way when you enter, and what you do about cyclists. You can see both in motion below.

The roundabout is a merry-go-round already spinning. You don't leap on wildly — you wait politely for a gap in the carousel, and only then step smoothly into the spin.

Whoever is already on it, is already on it. The round shape changes nothing about the idea: traffic approaching waits, traffic circulating continues.

Priority: traffic ON the roundabout versus approaching traffic — the shark's teeth decide

• Shark's teeth at entry: you wait, ring has priority
• Usually with give-way triangle and blue arrow signs
• Points facing you means: stop and wait
• Always read the markings, never assume priority
• Once on the ring you have priority over approaching cars
• When leaving, watch for cyclists and pedestrians

Exceptions and pitfalls

• Very rare: a roundabout with no shark's teeth and no signs. Then the ordinary intersection rule 'right has priority' applies, and traffic entering from your right actually has priority — the exact opposite of what you expect.
• The priority of traffic on the ring does not apply against a tram (see the tram section) nor against emergency vehicles using both flashing lights and siren.
• 'On the roundabout means always priority' is a misconception: on leaving you often cross a cycle path or zebra where cyclists and pedestrians have priority instead.
• In busy Amsterdam traffic, eye contact and calmly merging works better than insisting on your right; having priority does not mean you may force it dangerously (Article 5 RVV, cause no danger or obstruction).
• Traffic on the ring need not stop for merging drivers, but must brake if someone merges dangerously anyway — avoiding a collision always comes before being in the right.

Cyclists on the ring: priority differs from roundabout to roundabout

• CROW advice: inside built-up area cyclists yes, outside no
• This is advice, not law; markings decide
• Shark's teeth before your car: let cyclists go first
• Amsterdam is fully built-up: usually cyclists have priority
• Always check markings; exceptions exist
• Two-way cycle path: look both right and left

Exceptions and pitfalls

• Inside/outside the built-up area is a guideline, not a guarantee; some municipalities deviate from it. The shark's teeth are always decisive, not the rule of thumb.
• On a two-way cycle path, cyclists also come from the right while you expect them from the left — look both ways before crossing.
• Light mopeds and mopeds sometimes ride on the road among the cars and sometimes on the cycle path, depending on the signs; their priority follows wherever they are riding.
• Amsterdam pitfall: cyclists often assume they always have priority and barely look; stay defensive even when you formally have priority.
• You cross the cycle path both on entering and on leaving — a cyclist can have priority at both points, so look twice.

Signalling: right indicator is compulsory when leaving

• Signalling right just before your exit is compulsory
• First exit or straight on: don't signal when entering
• Nearly all the way round: signal left entering on turbo/multi-lane
• Switch to right only after the exit before yours
• Most important signal for traffic and waiting cyclists
• Cancel your indicator immediately after leaving

Exceptions and pitfalls

• Forgetting to signal right when leaving is the most common mistake; waiting traffic then stays put unnecessarily or merges wrongly because it cannot read your intention.
• Signalling right too early (at the exit before yours) makes others think you are leaving there — only flick it on after that exit.
• Signalling left on entering is not legally required on a single-lane roundabout, but is useful when you go (almost) all the way round; on a turbo roundabout your lane choice already largely sets your direction.
• Leaving your indicator on after you have exited can mislead following traffic — cancel it immediately.
• On a mini roundabout the ring is so short that you have to signal right almost immediately after entering.

Want to practise? Try the free questions on right of way, with an explanation for every answer.