With Christmas Day just a few days away, the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB) has warned drivers to prepare for busier roads than usual in the lead-up to the holidays, with congested rush hours expected on Thursday and Friday evening. 

Drivers in the Netherlands told to expect busy roads this weekend 

With Christmas Eve falling on a Saturday this year, and Dutch schools closing their doors for the holidays this week, ANWB expects a higher number of cars than usual to take to the road over the coming days, as people head off to visit family or friends, or travel to popular ski resorts across Europe. 

The ANWB has therefore issued a warning to all those planning to hit the roads on December 22, 23, and 24.

ANWB predicts heavy traffic on several Dutch motorways

Within the Netherlands, particularly heavy traffic is expected on the A2 and the A27 between Utrecht and the south of the country. Delays are also likely on the A1 between Amersfoort and Hengelo, and the A12 between Utrecht and the German border, specifically around Arnhem and Nijmegen. 

Outside of the Netherlands, the ANWB has warned holidaymakers that roads will be busy on Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), especially in the southern regions of Germany, with congestion expected around Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, and Munich.

It’s also set to be busy in the western regions of Austria, with heavy traffic expected on the A10 between Salzburg and Bischofshofen and on the A12 between Kufstein and Innsbruck. Travellers to Italy should also prepare for delays, as major traffic jams are expected on motorways through the Swiss Alps.

Finally, anyone heading down into France should know December 23 is expected to be the busiest day on the roads, with roads south of the city of Lyon due to see the heaviest traffic. The ANWB has also reminded drivers that December 31 is another peak day for roads in Europe, and that the final weekend before Dutch schools reopen on January 9 will also likely be busy in the Netherlands.