The OB-54 'Uitgezonderd' sign, often called an 'Excepted' plate, works in conjunction with another primary traffic sign. Its purpose is to create an exception for a particular category of road users or vehicles, indicated by a pictogram or text. This means the restriction or instruction of the main sign does not apply to them, while it still applies to everyone else. Always pay close attention to the depicted category to understand who is exempt and who must still comply.
Learn the key details of the OB-54 - ‘Uitgezonderd’ — Excepted (Generic Category Plate) road sign, including its function, what it communicates to drivers, and how it applies in real traffic situations in the Netherlands. Use this overview to understand the sign clearly and recognise it confidently during the Dutch driving theory exam.
The generic 'uitgezonderd' plate is a rectangular supplementary panel that inverts the effect of the main sign for a specific user group. A pictogram or short text identifies who is exempt, for example a bicycle symbol or the word residents. Everyone not covered by the plate must follow the full restriction from the main sign. These plates are common in low traffic zones, bus streets, residential areas and city centers.
This plate with the word 'uitgezonderd' shows that the rule on the main sign does not apply to the category pictured or named on the plate, such as residents, cyclists or deliveries. For that group the prohibition or obligation is lifted, while all other road users must still obey the main sign. As a driver you must check carefully whether your vehicle belongs to the exempted category.
Get clear, practical answers to the most common questions about the OB-54 - ‘Uitgezonderd’ — Excepted (Generic Category Plate) road sign. Learn how the sign works, what rules it represents, and how it affects real driving situations. This FAQ strengthens your understanding and supports accurate decision making for the Dutch driving theory exam in the Netherlands.
The OB-54 'Uitgezonderd' sign's main function is to provide an exception to the rule of the sign it is placed below. It specifies that the main sign's restriction or instruction does not apply to a particular category of road users or vehicles shown on the plate.
You must look at the pictogram or text on the OB-54 'Uitgezonderd' sign itself. This will clearly indicate who is exempt from the main sign's rule. For example, it might show cyclists, residents, or delivery vehicles.
If the main sign below which the OB-54 'Uitgezonderd' sign is placed is, for example, a 'no entry' sign (C1), and the 'Uitgezonderd' plate shows a bicycle pictogram, then cyclists are allowed to enter. All other vehicles, including cars, are still prohibited from entering.
Yes, the OB-54 'Uitgezonderd' sign can be combined with time windows. In such cases, the exemption only applies during the specified times. Outside these times, the main sign's rule applies to everyone, including the category that would normally be excepted.
A common mistake is assuming the 'Uitgezonderd' sign means the main sign doesn't apply to you, or to assume everyone is exempt. Learners often forget to check the exact category shown on the 'Uitgezonderd' plate and fail to recognise that the main restriction still applies to all other road users.
A clear reference image of the OB-54 - ‘Uitgezonderd’ — Excepted (Generic Category Plate) road sign used in the Netherlands.
The OB-54 - ‘Uitgezonderd’ — Excepted (Generic Category Plate) road sign may also be known by these alternative names or terms.
The OB-54 - ‘Uitgezonderd’ — Excepted (Generic Category Plate) road sign is part of the Supplementary Plates (OB) category, which groups together signs with similar rules and functions.