Traffic on all roads to popular summer destinations as last Dutch region goes on holiday

The ANWB expects heavy traffic this weekend, especially on foreign highways towards popular summer vacation destinations. Some roads in the Netherlands will also be congested today as schools close in Midden-Nederland, the last region to start the summer vacation.

“You will notice [traffic] in that region the most because it includes most large cities like Rotterdam and Utrecht,” Tim Schaap of the road users’ association told NOS. This is one of the busiest weekends of the year, he said. “Many people want to leave immediately and are departing at the same time.”

The ANWB expects congestion on Dutch roads today, but less so on the weekend. Because the North Rhine-Westphalia region in Germany is also starting its summer holidays today, there may be traffic jams towards the coast. The German border controls will add to that.

The greatest congestion will occur abroad over the weekend. Long traffic jams are expected on Saturday towards most holiday destinations popular with the Dutch, including Italy, France, Austria, and Spain.

In France, traffic may be particularly slow on the Autoroute du Soleil due to forest fires in the area. The A6 near Fontainebleau is open again, but some local roads may be closed.

In Austria, traffic jams are expected on the route to Slovenia and Croatia. Italy expects heavy traffic at the Brenner Pass, among other destinations.

The ADAC, the German equivalent of the ANWB, also expects one of the busiest weekends of the summer, predicting most delays around major cities like Frankfurt and Munich.