Traffic Information Service

Dutch motorists spent more time in traffic more frequently in 2016, with a 12 percent increase in traffic severity, NOS reports based on figures from the ANWB. Traffic is expected to increase further in the coming years.

According to the broadcaster, the increase in traffic severity - the length of the traffic jam times its duration - has to do with the improving economy. The increase started in 2014, when the economy started picking up after the financial crisis. In 2015 traffic severity increased by 20 percent. 

Dutch truck drivers opt for longer routes through the Netherlands in an effort to avoid new tolls Belgium implemented on April 1st, according to traffic information service VID

Extra security on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium is leading to traffic jams between the two countries. The increased border checks are in response to terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday.

Icy roads are causing havoc with the traffic in the northern half of the Netherlands. There is a 41 kilometer traffic jam on the A28 between Zwolle and Hoogeveen, where several accidents happened on Wednesday morning, according to traffic information service VID. The ANWB reports that traffic is standing still in both directions.

The storms that moved from the southwest of the Netherlands northwards during the course of Thursday night, brought a massive 43 thousand lighting strikes with it. Some places got between 30 and 50 mm of rain. The storms caused problems with train traffic and car traffic and the fire department had to respond to 140 reports of flooding.

The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, or KNMI, has issued a code yellow warning for Saturday. The weather office expects hazardous weather because of strong winds.

Drivers of empty or lightly-loaded trucks are advised to stay off the roads Tuesday, a message from the Dutch infrastructure agency Rijkswaterstaat states. Strong winds have knocked trucks over on several highways, especially the A50, NOS reports.

The A67 between Eindhoven and Venlo is closed this morning after a serious accident between a truck and a tanker, the Traffic Information Service and the police report.

According to NU, the truck crashed into the tanker near Asten. The truck driver was seriously injured in the accident. The truck went through the median, causing a significant amount of damage.

The highway from Venlo to EIndhoven is expected to remain closed between Liessel and Asten until 13:00 this afternoon. A lane has been opened from EIndhoven to Venlo

The slick roads warning for the center and east of the country has been withdrawn. Motorists should still be careful on local roads as they may still be slippery. According to the Traffic Information Service (VID), most of the slickness should disappear during the course of the morning.