Question: Doing a trip in Europe. I know in UK the bike paths are optional. You can ride on them or you can ride on the road, whatever feels better for you.

Somebody told me that in Netherlands most bike paths are mandatory, not optional, but I can't find any information in English about it.

Answer: 
Mandatory
=========

Mandatory **bike paths** do exist in the Netherlands (Article 5 of [RVV 1990](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0004825/2018-07-01)  regarding traffic and signage rules) and will be marked with a "G11" sign, a round lollipop sign with a white bicycle on a blue background.  

Sometimes they will additionally be distinguished from footpaths, parking spaces and other paved surfaces by a red coloring.

[![G11 mandatory bike path](https://i.stack.imgur.com/R2FPas.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/R2FPas.jpg)

Some mandatory **bike paths** are also mandatory for mopeds and will be marked with the "G12a" sign below, a round lollipop sign with both a white bicycle and a white moped on a blue background.  

You will typically find these outside of city limits or along roadways with a speed limit exceeding 50 km/h.

[![G12a mandatory bike and moped path](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BWEGPs.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BWEGPs.jpg)

Mandatory **bike lanes** are not physically separated from the the main roadway but the lane will be marked with bike (often enclosed by a white circle) , a (semi) continuous white line separating the bike lane from the main traffic lanes and sometimes the red colored riding surface.

[![bike lane](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UIUgXs.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UIUgXs.jpg)

Optional
========

Optional for cyclists are bike paths marked with a square blue sign "fietspad".

[![G13 fietspad](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Iq3bBs.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Iq3bBs.jpg)

Forbidden for bicycles
======================

Probably a bit redundant but cycling is forbidden where and when indicated by the explicit sign, but also by the implicit signs indicating a pedestrian only area, on bus lanes, and on motor- and expressways.

[![C1 entry forbidden](https://i.stack.imgur.com/f7hHQs.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/f7hHQs.png) [![cycling forbidding](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pxWcJs.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pxWcJs.png) [![pedestrian only zone](https://i.stack.imgur.com/taGZ0s.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/taGZ0s.jpg) [![motorway](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sADsls.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sADsls.png) [![expressway](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3DZX1s.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3DZX1s.png)

Absence
=======

When no mandatory bike path is indicated and there is no sign explicitly or implicitly prohibiting access for bikes, then bicyles are allowed on the main road.
If the bike path is marked with a round blue bike sign then it is a mandatory-use path. Optional bike paths are marked with a rectangular blue sign saying fietspad ("bike path'). See the link for the images: <https://www.fietsersbond.nl/ons-werk/infrastructuur/fietspaden/>.