The H2 'End of Built-Up Area' sign signals that you are exiting a zone where urban traffic rules apply. Beyond this point, you'll transition to rural traffic rules, which typically include a higher default speed limit (often 80 km/h, unless otherwise indicated). This change affects not only your speed but also rules regarding priority at bus stops and vehicle lighting, especially when stationary on unlit roads. Always check for new speed limit signs immediately after passing the H2 sign to avoid unintentional speeding.
Learn the key details of the H2 - End of Built-Up Area 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 H2 end built-up area sign indicates the exact point where special urban regulations stop, unless a different limit or zone is posted immediately afterward. Beyond the sign, the general rural speed limit often increases, parking on priority roads is usually prohibited unless signs permit it, and buses leaving bus stops no longer receive special priority. Drivers should adapt to longer sight distances, higher speeds, and fewer vulnerable road users.
This sign tells you that you are leaving a built-up area and that urban traffic rules no longer apply beyond this point, unless other signs say otherwise. From here, higher default rural speed limits may apply, bus priority rules change, and parking and lighting obligations follow the outside built-up area regime. Adjust your speed, sight lines, and following distance accordingly.
Get clear, practical answers to the most common questions about the H2 - End of Built-Up Area 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 H2 sign indicates that the urban speed limits and specific urban traffic rules no longer apply. You are now entering an area where different, usually less restrictive, rules are in effect, such as a higher default speed limit. It essentially means 'rural traffic rules now apply'.
As soon as you have fully passed the H2 sign, you should be aware that urban rules have ended. Check for any new speed limit signs, as the default speed limit will typically increase. Be mindful that priority for buses leaving bus stops may no longer apply, and adapt your driving to potentially higher speeds and longer sight distances.
A common trap is assuming that because urban rules have ended, you can immediately speed up to the highest possible rural limit without checking signs. You must always confirm the new posted speed limit. Another trap is forgetting that lighting rules can change, especially when stopping on unlit roads outside built-up areas.
Not necessarily. The H2 sign signifies the end of urban rules, and the *default* rural speed limit is higher (usually 80 km/h). However, there might be other signs immediately following the H2 that set a different, possibly lower, speed limit. Always look for and adhere to the most restrictive applicable speed limit sign present.
Outside built-up areas, parking on priority roads is generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by other signs. The H2 sign itself doesn't detail parking rules, but it signals the shift from urban to rural regulations, where parking restrictions might differ and be more stringent on main roads.
A clear reference image of the H2 - End of Built-Up Area road sign used in the Netherlands.
The H2 - End of Built-Up Area road sign may also be known by these alternative names or terms.
The H2 - End of Built-Up Area road sign is part of the Built-Up Area Signs (H) category, which groups together signs with similar rules and functions.