Challenge
Most candidates know exactly one number well: 50 km/u in the built-up area. As soon as the CBR question brings in a woonerf, a 30 km-zone, or an autoweg, they paste that same 50 onto it — or 80, 'because outside the built-up area it's always 80, right?'. The book does not have two numbers, it has five, each tied to its own road type.
Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Maximum speeds per road type: the five-rung ladder
The model
The ladder (Book p.117-118): woonerf 15 · 30 km-zone 30 · built-up area 50 · outside the built-up area (ordinary roads) 80 · autoweg 100. The autosnelweg sits above it at a standard 130 — see the sister atom maxima.daglimiet_100 for that number's day/night nuance.
Read this section on its own page: The model: Maximum speeds per road type: the five-rung ladder
Core
Woonerf (15 km/u) and 30 km-zone (30 km/u) are special road sections WITHIN the built-up area — they locally replace the ordinary 50 there. Within the built-up area, 50 km/u is the default, unless a sign locally indicates otherwise — the 30-zone and the woonerf are exactly such sign-based exceptions, not a separate legal category next to the built-up area. Outside the built-up area, on an ordinary road such as the N225, it is 80 km/u — that figure does NOT apply on an autoweg. On an autoweg outside the built-up area it is 100 km/u — a separate road type with its own signage (blue sign, car silhouette), not simply 'a faster ordinary road'. The autosnelweg sits above this ladder with a standard of 130 km/u; the commonly heard '100 on the motorway' is not a separate road type here, but the time-bound daytime reduction covered in maxima.daglimiet_100 — do not confuse the two.
Read this section on its own page: Core: Maximum speeds per road type: the five-rung ladder
Why it matters
The ladder is not an abstract distinction. On the Lindelaan in Wijk bij Duurstede, children play at street level — 50 km/u there is already dangerous, let alone 80. On the N225 outside Bunnik, other traffic does not expect you to suddenly drive 100 as if on an autoweg. Whoever mixes up the five rungs drives too fast or too slow at the wrong moment — both are exam errors and both are dangerous.
Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Maximum speeds per road type: the five-rung ladder
Source: RVV 1990 art. 20 · RVV 1990 art. 21 · checked 2026-10-22
Test yourself
You drive through the centre of Wijk bij Duurstede, turn onto the Lindelaan — a woonerf, no kerb, children playing — and two minutes later you are back on the N225, outside the built-up area. What maximum speed applies on each of these three stretches?
Show the answer
The ladder (Book p.117-118): woonerf 15 · 30 km-zone 30 · built-up area 50 · outside the built-up area (ordinary roads) 80 · autoweg 100. The autosnelweg sits above it at a standard 130 — see the sister atom maxima.daglimiet_100 for that number's day/night nuance.
Frequently asked questions
‘Outside the built-up area 80 km/u always applies, even on an autoweg’ – is that true?
No. Km/u applies on ORDINARY roads outside the built-up area. An autoweg is a separate road type with its own signage and its own maximum of 100 km/u
‘A woonerf and a 30 km-zone are the same thing: both 30 km/u’ – is that true?
No. The woonerf has its own, lower maximum of 15 km/u; the 30 km-zone a separate maximum of 30 km/u. Two different special road sections, two different numbers
‘Within the built-up area exactly 50 km/u always applies; signs can never change that’ – is that true?
No. The text itself explicitly says 'unless signs indicate a different maximum'. The 30 km-zone and the woonerf are exactly such sign-based exceptions within the built-up area
‘The standard maximum speed on the autosnelweg is 100 km/u’ – is that true?
No. The LEGAL standard speed on motorways is 130 km/u; 100 is the daytime reduction between 06:00 and 19:00. This atom only covers the non-motorway ladder; the day/night nuance lives in the sister atom
‘A green fill between the centre lines always means a 100 km/h road (expressway)’ – is that true?
No. Green + double BROKEN line = 80 road; green + double SOLID line = expressway 100 — the line type, not the colour, makes the difference; sign G3/G4 is decisive
