Traffic signs on Curaçao: what they mean and who has priority

Driving · 5 min read · Checked November 8, 2026

Short answer

Curaçao drives on the right and its road signs follow the Dutch system, so many drivers will recognise them. Two rules surprise visitors: at a crossroads traffic from the right has priority unless a sign says otherwise, and at a T-junction the road that ends gives way to the through road. The limit is 40 km/h in built-up areas and 60 km/h outside.

How the signs work

Signs overrule the general traffic rules, and traffic lights overrule priority signs.
A small plate under a sign can limit it. With only symbols, the sign applies just to those road users. With the Dutch word uitgezonderd, it applies to everyone except them.
Electronic signs mean the same as normal ones.

The full set is in Annex I of the island’s traffic law, the Wegenverkeersverordening Curaçao 2000. The law uses the same sign codes as the Netherlands, so the pictures below are the Dutch versions. A sign on the island can look slightly different, and older designs stay valid until they are replaced.

Stop and priority

Road signs numbered 1 to 6: stop, give way, priority road, end of priority road, priority at the next junction and roundabout

1. Stop: stop completely and give way.
2. Give way: let traffic on the other road go first.
3. Priority road: you have priority at the junctions ahead.
4. End of the priority road.
5. Priority at the next junction.
6. Roundabout: drive round in the direction of the arrows.

Not allowed

Road signs numbered 7 to 12: no entry, closed to all vehicles, speed limit 40, no overtaking, no parking and no stopping

7. No entry.
8. Closed to all vehicles in both directions.
9. Speed limit: the maximum in km/h, here 40.
10. No overtaking.
11. No parking.
12. No stopping. Signs 11 and 12 apply only to the side of the road where they stand.

Directions, parking and roads

Road signs numbered 13 to 17: one-way road, keep to the side of the arrow, choice of directions, parking and autoweg

13. One-way road.
14. Keep to the side the arrow points to.
15. Go in one of the directions shown.
16. Parking.
17. Autoweg: an expressway with a limit of 80 km/h and a minimum of 40 km/h. You may not stop or park along it.

Warning signs

A red triangle warns you about something ahead.

18. Danger: a plate below says what the danger is.
19. Crossroads.
20. Traffic lights.
21. Road works.
22. A bump in the road.
23. Children.

Who has priority

At a crossroads: traffic from the right, unless a sign says otherwise. The Tourist Board says the same applies at roundabouts.
At a T-junction: traffic on the road that ends gives way to traffic on the through road, from both sides.
Unpaved roads: give way to paved roads.
Turning: let traffic on the same road that goes straight on go first. If you turn left, let oncoming traffic turning right go first.
Cyclists and moped riders must give way to motor vehicles under the law, but always watch out for them.
Buses: in built-up areas, let a large bus pull away from a stop when it signals.
Emergency vehicles: always let them through.

Speed limits

Built-up areas: 40 km/h.
Outside built-up areas: 60 km/h.
Autoweg: 80 km/h, with a minimum of 40 km/h.
Mopeds: 30 km/h in built-up areas and 40 km/h outside.

A speed sign overrules these limits.

Traffic lights

Green: go.
Yellow: stop, unless you are too close to stop safely.
Red: stop. The law has no exception for cars turning right, so do not turn right on red.
An arrow applies only to the direction it shows.
Flashing yellow: a dangerous spot, take care.

Lines on the road

Solid line between two directions: do not drive on the side of oncoming traffic.
A row of triangles (shark teeth): give way to traffic on the crossing road.
Stop line: when you have to stop, stop before it.
Hatched areas: do not drive on them.
Solid yellow line: no stopping along it.
Broken yellow line: no parking along it.

Stopping and parking

Stop only at the far right of the road.
Do not stop on a crossroads or within 5 metres of a pedestrian crossing.
Do not park within 5 metres of a crossroads or in front of a driveway, and never double park.
At a bus stop without markings, stay 12 metres from the sign. Quickly dropping off passengers is allowed.

Seat belts and phones

The driver and passengers next to a door must wear a seat belt where one is available.
Children under 12 who are shorter than 1.50 m need a child seat in the front. In the back they use one if there is one, and otherwise the seat belt from age 3.
Using a phone while driving is only allowed hands-free.

Renting a car? Read which driving licence you need and compare car rental on Curaçao.

Sources: Wegenverkeersverordening Curaçao 2000, the consolidated text from the Government of Curaçao and the Curaçao Tourist Board. The law’s Annex I is not part of that published text. This is general information, so always follow the signs on the road.

Photos: road sign on Berg Altena in Willemstad, by Frank Geerlings, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Sign pictures: Dutch road signs, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

What do the road signs on Curaçao look like?

They follow the Dutch system: red circles forbid something, blue signs tell you what to do or give information, and red triangles warn you. A sign on the island can look slightly different from the Dutch version.

Who has priority at a crossroads on Curaçao?

Traffic from the right, unless a sign says otherwise. At a T-junction, traffic on the road that ends gives way to the through road, from both sides.

What is the speed limit on Curaçao?

40 km/h in built-up areas, 60 km/h outside them and 80 km/h on an autoweg. A speed sign overrules these limits.

Can you turn right on red on Curaçao?

No. Red means stop, and the law has no exception for cars turning right.

What does a yellow line on the road mean on Curaçao?

You may not stop along a solid yellow line, and you may not park along a broken yellow line.