# What does this Dutch road sign mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 16, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628 "2019-04-16T15:59:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/1 "2019-04-16T15:59:32Z")
It’s a red warning triangle with a black vertical line inside, seen on Street View [here](https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8317695,5.9264435,3a,15.1y,183.56h,78.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sH59OAwXbr3KBWRFxYcXdUA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). It’s also on [this stock photo](https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-collection-dutch-warning-road-signs-image63084993) (bottom centre). It doesn’t appear on any lists of Dutch road signs I can find, including this [government guide](https://www.rijschooldenk.nl/uk_road-traffic-signs-and-regulations-in-the-netherlands-rijschoolDenK.pdf). The closest one is the general warning sign, which has an exclamation mark, but that’s definitely not what this is. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/2 "2019-04-16T16:07:40Z")
Wikipedia shows it as the retired version of the general warning sign (danger sign). > **[Road signs in the Netherlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_the_Netherlands)** > > The road signs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (the Netherlands and six Dutch Caribbean islands), as well as Suriname, are regulated in the Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens 1990, commonly abbreviated as RVV 1990. > While most previous signage, from the RVV 1966 (Dutch) remained legal and official, they have been updated / replaced. Some aren't official anymore and have lost legal validity, but most surviving old signs remained valid. > A1: Speed limit (50 km/h) > A2: End of speed limit (5... ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/3 "2019-04-16T16:30:51Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Wikipedia shows it as the retired version of the general warning sign (danger sign). > > [Road signs in the Netherlands - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_the_Netherlands) Doh! I looked at that page but I didn’t scroll right to the bottom! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/4 "2019-04-16T17:02:17Z")
If you click on the sign, a box pops up for you to email the mods about that stretch of road. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/5 "2019-04-16T17:46:27Z")
How [about this one](https://i.postimg.cc/YqKwNRSW/Street-Sign-in-Usaquen.jpg)? Is it a warning? A suggestion? A neutral observation? A comment? No one really knows. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/6 "2019-04-16T17:50:40Z")
Wonder twin (turbo) powers activate! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/7 "2019-04-16T17:56:27Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > How [about this one](https://i.postimg.cc/YqKwNRSW/Street-Sign-in-Usaquen.jpg)? Is it a warning? A suggestion? A neutral observation? A comment? No one really knows. “Let’s play bumper cars!!” ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/8 "2019-04-16T18:15:51Z")
No No NO.😃 Its a warning sign for “paralyzed snake crossing”:eek: ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/9 "2019-04-16T18:30:15Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > How [about this one](https://i.postimg.cc/YqKwNRSW/Street-Sign-in-Usaquen.jpg)? Is it a warning? A suggestion? A neutral observation? A comment? No one really knows. A prediction. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/10 "2019-04-16T18:48:40Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Wikipedia shows it as the retired version of the general warning sign (danger sign). > > [Road signs in the Netherlands - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_the_Netherlands) Not terribly retired in Spain or France either. More likely to be found on secondary roads, but that’s simply because those are lower-priority for updates in general. > [@guizot](#): > > How [about this one](https://i.postimg.cc/YqKwNRSW/Street-Sign-in-Usaquen.jpg)? Is it a warning? A suggestion? A neutral observation? A comment? No one really knows. The clue is in the hanging sign behind it: that particular stretch of one-way road is going to change direction soon. The unusual yellow sign is about “high probability of frontal collision if you don’t pay attention to the changed one-way signs”. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/11 "2019-04-16T19:02:42Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If you click on the sign, a box pops up for you to email the mods about that stretch of road. _applauds_ ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/12 "2019-04-17T03:02:17Z")
My WAG is…due to the path being so narrow…it is essentially a one lane road, so beware of a head-on collision. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/13 "2019-04-17T03:27:41Z")
I’m personally fond of [this sign from Quebec.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Original-Road-Signs/Les-meilleures-pancartes/i-t5KHWhZ/0/1b005741/L/DSC_2446-L.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/14 "2019-04-17T03:36:24Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > How [about this one](https://i.postimg.cc/YqKwNRSW/Street-Sign-in-Usaquen.jpg)? Is it a warning? A suggestion? A neutral observation? A comment? No one really knows. It means: if you see a minivan, hit it. Hit it had-on. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/15 "2019-04-17T04:11:34Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > The closest one is the general warning sign, which has an exclamation mark. I’ve always had this sign in my headcanon as the “prepared to be startled” sign. But yeah at least “!” conveys a general “hey, watch out” message better than a plain “|” . ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/16 "2019-04-17T12:30:07Z")
[Here](https://www.holtsauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/622.5.jpg) is an unusual (and rare) English one. It actually means NO HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES. That it is a prohibition is conveyed by the red circle, and the picture tells you what it is that’s prohibited. A similar picture in a red triangle means that you should beware of horse-drawn vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/17 "2019-04-17T14:08:23Z")
It’s a danger sign? My guess is the thick black line must be a turd. Whenever you see those on the ground, you have to be careful where you step. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/18 "2019-04-17T16:09:59Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > [Here](https://www.holtsauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/622.5.jpg) is an unusual (and rare) English one. > > It actually means NO HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES. That it is a prohibition is conveyed by the red circle, and the picture tells you what it is that’s prohibited. Though in American signage you’d also include a red diagonal stripe across what you want to forbid. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/19 "2019-04-17T19:04:02Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > The clue is in the hanging sign behind it: that particular stretch of one-way road is going to change direction soon. The unusual yellow sign is about “high probability of frontal collision if you don’t pay attention to the changed one-way signs”. Right, though how we respond to this is left to a very open range of interpretations. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-dutch-road-sign-mean/832628/20 "2019-04-17T22:13:37Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m personally fond of [this sign from Quebec.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Original-Road-Signs/Les-meilleures-pancartes/i-t5KHWhZ/0/1b005741/L/DSC_2446-L.jpg) It clearly means you are approaching the border and should be wary of the Donald. But I assume it is a high wind warning. I have to admit I have never seen it on a road.