I’ll be heading to holland for the first time later this week, not too far in, probably 20 miles, just before the n61. I’ll be going from the eurotunnel and as far as i can tell the route google maps is giving me through belgium/bruges, is there any unexpected surprises I should look out for, funny low bridges/narrow roads? I’ve got a truck satnav with height/width entered and european maps so I’m not worried, I’m just wondering if anyone had any specific advice? I’ve had plenty of driving in france, and only forget which side I’m supposed to be on now and again, usually just after waking up.
nurglets:
I’ll be heading to holland for the first time later this week, not too far in, probably 20 miles, just before the n61. I’ll be going from the eurotunnel and as far as i can tell the route google maps is giving me through belgium/bruges, is there any unexpected surprises I should look out for, funny low bridges/narrow roads? I’ve got a truck satnav with height/width entered and european maps so I’m not worried, I’m just wondering if anyone had any specific advice? I’ve had plenty of driving in france, and only forget which side I’m supposed to be on now and again, usually just after waking up.
Depending on exactly where your going I’d avoid Brugge lots of canals ect may be better going up n44 to the E34 but like I say depends on where your going
Don’t think you go anywhere near Brugges. Don’t forget your Vignette.
chester1:
Depending on exactly where your going I’d avoid Brugge lots of canals ect may be better going up n44 to the E34 but like I say depends on where your going
this is the route i’m looking at, roughly at least barring signs saying restricted etc.
bigvern1:
Don’t forget your Vignette.
thats exactly the sort of thing i needed to know, my employer would most likely have “forgotten” it.
actually, just looking at the eurovignette page, one of the payments accepted is a dkv fuel/fleet card, so even if they dont do it i can sort it out myself with the trucks card.
nurglets:
chester1:
Depending on exactly where your going I’d avoid Brugge lots of canals ect may be better going up n44 to the E34 but like I say depends on where your goingthis is the route i’m looking at, roughly at least barring signs saying restricted etc.
bigvern1:
Don’t forget your Vignette.thats exactly the sort of thing i needed to know, my employer would most likely have “forgotten” it.
actually, just looking at the eurovignette page, one of the payments accepted is a dkv fuel/fleet card, so even if they dont do it i can sort it out myself with the trucks card.
You can do the vignette online easy to set up and use your fuel card
What is your end destination mate
chester1:
What is your end destination mate
somewhere in breskens, so far all i’ve been told.
nurglets:
chester1:
What is your end destination matesomewhere in breskens, so far all i’ve been told.
Piece of pish.
Sluis, on the border is good for a night out.
Suedehead:
nurglets:
chester1:
What is your end destination matesomewhere in breskens, so far all i’ve been told.
Piece of pish.
Sluis, on the border is good for a night out.
+1. Some very interesting shops there as well… 
Geoffo:
Suedehead:
nurglets:
chester1:
What is your end destination matesomewhere in breskens, so far all i’ve been told.
Piece of pish.
Sluis, on the border is good for a night out.+1. Some very interesting shops there as well…
care to expand? the missus wants me to bring back a souvenir, might be an interesting gift from the kids for mothers day sunday…
The Eurovignette is a daily charge of £5/€8 per day. If you’re going to be in the Eurovignette zone for more than a week, you get a discount if you get an 8 day or more vignette rather than daily.
Unlikely these days, unless you’re going to be going back and forth all week.
Belgium and Holland (and almost all of the rest of Western Europe) have a max height of 4.0 metres. Most bridges and tunnels are designed to suit that height
Like UK, France doesn’t have a max legal height, so they won’t point it out to you if you’re over 4.0m at the ferry/eurotunnel terminal.
Make sure you’re not over 4.0m (you should be ok at 4.05m, 4.1m would be pushing your luck a bit although you might get away with it).
Depends on what floats you"re missus boat.
Some decent Chocolate/Perfume/ Cheese/Klompen shops.
Apparently there"s a couple of establishments that sell (ahem) ■■■ toys 
If coming from Knokke,dont take the first left into the town after crossing the border.
Carry on to the roundabout and park up by the windmill.
How does the euro vignette work, do I have to pre book, or is it like the French toll roads, pay when you go on, if I’m going through Belgium then into Holland if it’s a prepaid thing I’ll need one for both countries, each day I’m there (2 days, one going in and one out). My firms sent a truck to Holland a couple of times but both drivers haven’t had or done anything different than they would driving through France, could they have just paid at customs with their dkv card assuming it was a regular toll, and not realised it’s the vignette they were paying for?
Those “ahem” special shops sound good, might have to take an unscheduled detour and pay a visit, give her a surprise when I’m back Saturday night 
Eurovignette is simple, easiest way is to pre-book on line here eurovignettes.eu/portal/en/ … reset=true, you can use either your DKV card or credit/debit card to pay.
Alternatively you can buy it at the bureau de change at either Folkestone or Dover on your way out.
One vignette covers you for Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden & Denmark, no need to buy a separate one for each country.
Belgium is changing to a toll box system in April, but until then the vignette is all that’s needed.
Geoffo:
Suedehead:
nurglets:
chester1:
What is your end destination matesomewhere in breskens, so far all i’ve been told.
Piece of pish.
Sluis, on the border is good for a night out.+1. Some very interesting shops there as well…
+2…best not try to park closer to the town than the big pub/hotel on the left.just look for the windmill and follow your nose if your going shopping…its always amusing watching a bus load of geriatrics shopping for touristy stuff wandering past the ■■■■ shops…handy if you like a bucket of mussels,or top up on the baccy at the same time…
Well the run went pretty much as planned. Booked the vignette myself with the fuel card even tho the 2 guys at our firm said they didn’t do anything when they went, sods law I’d be the one to get into strife because of it.
Only problem I had was with that new motorway they’re building through Belgium, the diversion signs made no sense to me and it really buggered the satnav, ended up going through zeebrugge somehow. The way back wasn’t too bad, seemed better in the daylight.
Thanks for the pointers, hopefully it’ll turn into a regular run, have to say the Dutch seem a lot friendlier than the French lot I usually deal with.
nurglets:
Well the run went pretty much as planned. Booked the vignette myself with the fuel card even tho the 2 guys at our firm said they didn’t do anything when they went, sods law I’d be the one to get into strife because of it.Only problem I had was with that new motorway they’re building through Belgium, the diversion signs made no sense to me and it really buggered the satnav, ended up going through zeebrugge somehow.
The way back wasn’t too bad, seemed better in the daylight.Thanks for the pointers, hopefully it’ll turn into a regular run, have to say the Dutch seem a lot friendlier than the French lot I usually deal with.
You needed to take the exit for Blankenberge & follow the diversion…