TURNSSShort answer: On a snorfiets (blue plate, max 25 km/h) you usually ride on the cycle path, unless a sign sends you to the road. On a brommer (yellow plate, max 45 km/h) you ride on the road, unless there is a cycle/moped path. A regular cycle path is off limits for a brommer. The signs on the street always take precedence.
The snorfiets: mostly follows the cycling rules
A snorfiets mostly follows the rules for cyclists. In practice:
- Mandatory cycle path (round blue sign with a white bicycle): you may and must ride here on your snorfiets.
- Cycle/moped path (round blue sign with a bicycle and a moped): you ride here on your snorfiets too.
- Optional cycle path (rectangular sign with the word "fietspad"): allowed, but with a petrol engine only with the engine switched off.
- No cycle path? Then you ride on the road.
Your speed limit is 25 km/h everywhere, including on the road. Since 1 January 2023 a helmet is mandatory, for you and for a passenger.
Exception: the "snorfiets on the road" sub-sign
Since 2018, municipalities may decide per road that snorfiets riders must leave the cycle path and use the road. You recognize this by a sub-sign under the cycle path sign. Without that sub-sign the exception does not apply. Amsterdam and Utrecht do this on many roads. For the situation in the big cities, see our article on the snorfiets on the road in the major Dutch cities.
The brommer: belongs on the road
A brommer (moped with a yellow plate) may not use a regular cycle path. It may use:
- Cycle/moped path: here you must use it. Your speed limit there is 30 km/h inside built-up areas and 40 km/h outside them.
- Road: when there is no cycle/moped path. Your speed limit there is 45 km/h, or lower if a sign says so.
In cities, many cycle/moped paths have been converted into regular cycle paths in recent years, so on a brommer you ride on the road there. Outside built-up areas you will find cycle/moped paths more often.
Where can you never ride?
On a snorfiets or brommer you may not use a highway (blue sign with an overpass) or an expressway (blue sign with a car). Footpaths, pedestrian zones and roads closed to mopeds are also off limits. Watch for the sign with a crossed-out moped; a sub-sign can extend it to snorfietsen.
Why navigation often gets this wrong
Most navigation apps only know car, bicycle and walking. Choose bicycle and the app may send you down paths a brommer may not use. Choose car and you end up on roads where you are not allowed, or would not want, to ride at 25 or 45 km/h.
That is why we built TURNSS. In the app you choose whether you ride a snorfiets or a brommer, and the route takes the matching roads into account. Motorways and expressways are always excluded. To be honest: no map is perfect. Signs change, and not every sub-sign is in the map data yet. So always follow the signs on the street. If you spot a mistake, report it with the report button in the app. That makes the routes better for everyone.
Summary
| Snorfiets (blue plate) | Brommer (yellow plate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed limit | 25 km/h | 45 km/h on the road, 30/40 km/h on the cycle/moped path |
| Mandatory cycle path | Yes, unless the "snorfiets on the road" sub-sign | No |
| Cycle/moped path | Yes | Yes, mandatory |
| Optional cycle path | Only with the engine off (petrol) | No |
| Road | If there is no cycle path, or if the sub-sign says so | If there is no cycle/moped path |
| Helmet | Mandatory since 2023 | Mandatory |
This article summarizes the Dutch traffic rules (RVV 1990) and municipal decisions as they apply on the date above. It is not legal advice. If in doubt, check your municipality's website or rijksoverheid.nl.