Yes, in the Netherlands you are allowed to wear earplugs in traffic. No traffic rule bans them in the car, on a bicycle, on a motorbike or in a lorry. You must, however, still hear your surroundings well, and you may not hold a phone or media player while driving or riding. An earplug with a filter reduces noise, while horns and voices stay audible.
There is a big difference between music in your ears and hearing protection. Earbuds with music add sound. Hearing protection takes away the harmful part of the noise. Below you can read what the rules say, what they do not say and what is sensible for each type of vehicle.
For custom earplugs, you have your ear impressions taken at a partner hearing centre. The ear impressions are included in the price and you pay at the hearing centre.
What does the law say about earplugs in traffic?
The Dutch traffic rules, the Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens 1990 (RVV 1990), do not mention earplugs, earbuds or headphones. The Dutch government (Rijksoverheid) writes that you may listen to music while driving and that hands-free calling is allowed, for example with earbuds. Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN), the Dutch road safety association, confirms that it is not forbidden to wear headphones or earbuds while driving a car or cycling.
There are, however, two rules you need to know.
- Do not hold anything. Article 61a of the RVV 1990 forbids drivers to hold a mobile electronic device while driving, such as a phone, tablet or media player. Since 1 July 2019 this also applies to cyclists.
- Do not cause danger. Article 5 of the Dutch Road Traffic Act 1994 (Wegenverkeerswet 1994) forbids behaviour that causes or may cause danger on the road. That always applies, with or without something in your ears.
The advice of the Dutch government and VVN is the same. Make sure you hear the sounds around you, so that you can react quickly to a horn or a siren, for example.
What the law does not say
There is no rule that requires a minimum level of hearing to take part in traffic. CBR, the Dutch driving test organisation, states that there are no extra rules for deaf and hard of hearing people at the practical test. Nor is there any rule on the maximum attenuation an earplug may have. So the choice is yours, and so is the responsibility to stay alert.
Other rules may apply abroad. In France, for example, it is forbidden in traffic to wear a device in or on the ears that produces sound. That applies to cyclists and to drivers of motor vehicles. A hearing aid does not count. If you are travelling, check beforehand what applies in that country.
By type of vehicle
| Vehicle | Where is the noise? | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Car | Road noise, radio and calls | Keep your ears free for traffic and listen to music on the car radio |
| Bicycle | Traffic around you | No music at high volume, you need to hear bells and horns |
| Motorbike | Wind noise under the helmet | Hearing protection with a flat DM filter |
| Lorry | When loading and unloading, not in a modern cab | Custom earplugs in their case, put them in when it is noisy outside the cab |
Car
In the car, it is mainly about music and calls. VVN advises drivers not to put in earbuds or wear headphones, and to listen to music on the car radio. If you do want to wear hearing protection, for example in an old or open car with a lot of noise, choose light attenuation so that you can still hear the traffic well.
Bicycle
On a bicycle you are vulnerable. You notice a bicycle bell, a car behind you or an overtaking scooter partly with your ears. The Dutch government advises turning the volume down or using only one earbud if you listen to music. Hearing protection on a bicycle is rarely needed, unless you ride through a lot of noise on the way.
Motorbike
For motorcyclists it is different. In 2011, researchers from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University showed that wind noise is the biggest source of noise for motorcyclists, more than the engine itself. Much of that noise comes from the bottom of the helmet and the chin bar. Thuisarts.nl, the Dutch patient information website of GPs, names riding a motorbike without protecting your ears against wind noise as a situation with a higher chance of hearing loss.
This is where the DM filter helps. It reduces high and low tones almost equally. The wind noise becomes quieter, while traffic, your own engine and your intercom still sound natural. The earplugs for motorcycling come with a 16 dB SNR filter as standard. If you ride a lot on the motorway, you can choose more attenuation. More about helmets, speed and choosing a filter is on our page about earplugs for motorcyclists.
Lorry
According to the Arbocatalogus of STL, the occupational health and safety catalogue for transport and logistics, the noise in the cab of a new lorry at 80 km/h on asphalt does not exceed 70 dB(A). Hearing damage is not to be expected there. The noise is found when loading and unloading, on the building site or at the customer's premises. There it can exceed 80 dB(A). Custom earplugs with a DI filter, kept in their case in the cab, are then quick to put in. See also hearing protection for transport and logistics. Want to equip your drivers? Take a look at Audibling Business.
Why a filter helps
A regular solid earplug seals your ear canal as much as possible. That can be pleasant for sleeping, but it is impractical in traffic. Custom earplugs with a membrane filter work differently. The filter determines how much sound gets through and which tones are reduced more or less. As a result, loud and long-lasting sound becomes quieter, while speech and signals stay audible.
- DM reduces sound evenly, so voices and traffic sound natural. Suitable for the motorbike.
- DR gives light to medium attenuation, for people who mainly want a bit more peace on the road.
- DI reduces more, for noise when loading, unloading and on the building site. Not intended for taking part in traffic.
Do not automatically choose the strongest attenuation. With too much attenuation, also called overprotection, you hear traffic less well. All values are on the filter page and in how the DR, DM, DI and DIM filters work.
Tips for on the road
- First get used to your earplugs on a quiet road or a familiar route.
- Use hearing protection in both ears. Protecting one ear leaves the other ear unprotected.
- Do not combine hearing protection with music at high volume.
- Look around you more often and use your mirrors.
- On a motorbike, put your earplugs in first, then your helmet on.
You have your ear impressions for custom earplugs taken at a partner hearing centre via Find a hearing centre. In the Designlab you choose your own filter and colour. All variants are in the custom earplugs collection.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive a car with earplugs in?
Yes, that is not forbidden in the Netherlands. Do make sure you can hear the traffic around you well. If it is noisy, choose light attenuation and not a solid plug.
Will I get a fine for wearing earplugs on a bicycle?
Not for the earplugs themselves. You will get a fine if you hold a phone or other electronic device while cycling. If you cause danger, Article 5 of the Road Traffic Act applies.
Which earplugs are best for the motorbike?
Choose hearing protection with a flat DM filter. It reduces wind noise, while traffic and intercom still sound natural. See the earplugs for motorcycling.
Can I wear earplugs abroad?
That differs from country to country. France, for example, bans devices in or on the ears that produce sound. Before you leave, look up the rules of the country where you will be driving or riding.
Sources
- Rijksoverheid, Mag ik appen, bellen en naar muziek luisteren als ik op de weg rijd? (texting, calling and listening to music on the road, in Dutch) (accessed 4 October 2026)
- VVN, Koptelefoon of oordopjes dragen tijdens het autorijden of fietsen. Mag dat wel? (headphones or earbuds while driving or cycling, in Dutch)
- VVN, 8 vragen over het appverbod op de fiets (8 questions about the phone ban on bicycles, in Dutch)
- Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens 1990 (traffic rules), article 61a, via wetten.overheid.nl, in Dutch
- Wegenverkeerswet 1994 (Road Traffic Act), article 5, via wetten.overheid.nl, in Dutch
- CBR, Mag ik praktijkexamen doen in mijn situatie? (can I take the practical test in my situation, in Dutch)
- France.fr, Verkeersregels in Frankrijk (traffic rules in France, in Dutch)
- Hearing Review, research by the University of Bath and Bath Spa University on wind noise under the motorcycle helmet (2011)
- Thuisarts.nl, Ik wil mijn oren beschermen tegen hard geluid (protecting your ears from loud noise, in Dutch)
- STL Arbocatalogus Transport en Logistiek, Geluid in de vrachtwagencabine (noise in the lorry cab, in Dutch)
Last updated 7 October 2026.
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