Travellers heading from North Rhine-Westphalia into the Netherlands awoke on 30 November to warnings of severe congestion at the Elten (A3) / Zevenaar (A12) border. Sensors maintained by Autobahn GmbH recorded traffic densities 40 % above normal weekend levels, prompting Dutch Rijkswaterstaat to activate dynamic speed limits.
While no formal border controls are in place, police on both sides stepped up spot inspections of vans and coaches following a Europol advisory on vehicle theft rings. Combined with the usual surge of weekend shoppers bound for Dutch outlet malls and coastal holiday parks, the checks produced tailbacks stretching eight kilometres by mid-morning.
![Heavy Queues on A3/A12 as Germany–Netherlands Freight and Holiday Traffic Peaks]()
Logistics operators report that additional delays on the parallel A40 (Venlo) and A30 (Bad Bentheim) corridors forced time-critical loads onto secondary routes, increasing delivery times by up to two hours. The Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BGL) renewed calls for a dedicated freight lane during peak periods, arguing that unpredictable waits erode already thin margins on cross-border just-in-time contracts.
Mobility managers should note that Dutch retailers launch major Sinterklaas promotions in the first week of December, historically magnifying weekend flows. Companies running shuttle buses for factory commuters between Arnhem and the Ruhrgebiet may need to switch to earlier departures or consider rail alternatives via the new Eurobahn RE19 service.
For private motorists the Dutch ANWB recommends travelling before 08:00 or after 19:00 and checking digital VMS boards. Carriers whose drivers face tachograph limits are advised to book rest slots at the new Truck Parking A73 near Nijmegen, which still shows spare capacity for the coming week.
While no formal border controls are in place, police on both sides stepped up spot inspections of vans and coaches following a Europol advisory on vehicle theft rings. Combined with the usual surge of weekend shoppers bound for Dutch outlet malls and coastal holiday parks, the checks produced tailbacks stretching eight kilometres by mid-morning.
Logistics operators report that additional delays on the parallel A40 (Venlo) and A30 (Bad Bentheim) corridors forced time-critical loads onto secondary routes, increasing delivery times by up to two hours. The Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BGL) renewed calls for a dedicated freight lane during peak periods, arguing that unpredictable waits erode already thin margins on cross-border just-in-time contracts.
Mobility managers should note that Dutch retailers launch major Sinterklaas promotions in the first week of December, historically magnifying weekend flows. Companies running shuttle buses for factory commuters between Arnhem and the Ruhrgebiet may need to switch to earlier departures or consider rail alternatives via the new Eurobahn RE19 service.
For private motorists the Dutch ANWB recommends travelling before 08:00 or after 19:00 and checking digital VMS boards. Carriers whose drivers face tachograph limits are advised to book rest slots at the new Truck Parking A73 near Nijmegen, which still shows spare capacity for the coming week.
