The A7 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 connecting Zaandam

Zaandam

Zaandam is a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad, and received city rights in 1811...

, via the Afsluitdijk

Afsluitdijk

The Afsluitdijk is a major causeway in the Netherlands, constructed between 1927 and 1933 and running from Den Oever on Wieringen in North Holland province, to the village of Zurich in Friesland province, over a length of and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level.It is...

, Sneek

Sneek

Sneek is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland . As for 2011 it is part of the municipality Súdwest Fryslân...

 and Groningen to the German

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 border near Bad Nieuweschans. The entire road is part of the European route E22

European route E22

The European route E 22 is one of the longest European routes. It has a length of about . Many of the E-roads have been extended into Asia since the year 2000; the E 22 was extended on 24 June 2002.-United Kingdom:...

, with exception of the first kilometre, between the terminus in Zaandam and the interchange Zaandam. With a length of 236 km it is the longest motorway in the Netherlands.

Motorway interruptions

The motorway A7 is interrupted twice:

• Around Sneek, the road is 'demoted' to a highway
  Highway
  A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
  
   for several kilometres, and included some at-grade intersection
  At-grade intersection
  An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...
  
  s, the at-grade intersections were replaced with grade separated intersections in 2008-2010, however, it isn't a motorway.
• Also around the city of Groningen it is demoted over a distance of several kilometres, mainly for the at-grade intersection with motorway A28
  A28 motorway (Netherlands)
  The A28 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is approximately 188 kilometers in length.The A28 traverses the Dutch provinces of Utrecht, Gelderland, Overijssel, Drenthe and Groningen...
  
  , and for the road's small alignment through the city in general.

Both of the abovementioned sections are denoted as 'N7', to distinguish those parts from the motorway, for which the 'A' designation is used in the Netherlands. The A7 together with the N7 is called the Rijksweg 7.

Speed limit experiment

As of March 2011, on a section of the A7 motorway motorists are allowed to drive at 130 km/h, instead of the normal country wide maximum of 120 km/h. This is a government test to investigate if driving at these higher speeds has an effect on environment and safety. If the test results positively, more motorways in the Netherlands will have a higher speed limit.

Afsluitdijk

The A7 runs along a historic part of Dutch engineering, the Afsluitdijk

Afsluitdijk

The Afsluitdijk is a major causeway in the Netherlands, constructed between 1927 and 1933 and running from Den Oever on Wieringen in North Holland province, to the village of Zurich in Friesland province, over a length of and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level.It is...

. This dam was originally created to protect a large coastal line from floods, by creating a large fresh water lake. The road over the Afsluitdijk

Afsluitdijk

The Afsluitdijk is a major causeway in the Netherlands, constructed between 1927 and 1933 and running from Den Oever on Wieringen in North Holland province, to the village of Zurich in Friesland province, over a length of and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level.It is...

 was previously an N road, but is now a proper motorway.

Exit list

Province	Municipality	km.	# Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....	Name	Roads	Notes
North Holland North Holland North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...	Zaanstad Zaanstad Zaanstad is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its main town is Zaandam. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam.-Population centres:...	4		Zaandam Zaandam Zaandam is a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad, and received city rights in 1811...		Terminus at roundabout in Zaandam.
		5		Interchange Interchange (road) In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...  Zaandam	A8 A8 motorway (Netherlands) The A8 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It starts at the intersection with the Ring Amsterdam at interchange Coenplein, and leads past Oostzaan, interchange Zaandam, and Zaandijk towards it terminus, not even 10 kilometers from its beginning at the Coenplein, near Assendelft.In the...
		7	2	Zaandijk Zaandijk Zaandijk is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zaanstad, and lies about 11 km northwest of Amsterdam.Zaandijk has a population of around 9040.- History :...		For Zaanse Schans Zaanse Schans Zaanse Schans is a neighbourhood of Zaandam, near Zaandijk in the municipality ofZaanstad in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It has a collection...
	Wormerland Wormerland Wormerland is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.- Population centres :The municipality of Wormerland consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Jisp, Neck, Oostknollendam, Spijkerboor, Wijdewormer, Wormer.It borders the municipalities...	11	3	Wijdewormer Wijdewormer Wijdewormer is a hamlet in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is located in the municipality of Wormerland, about 5 km east of the town of Wormer, in the polder "De Wijde Wormer"....
	Purmerend Purmerend Purmerend is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population...	14	4	Purmerend Purmerend Purmerend is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population... -South	N235
		15	5	Purmerend Purmerend Purmerend is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population...
		17	6	Purmerend Purmerend Purmerend is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population... -North	N244
	Koggenland Koggenland Koggenland is a municipality in North Holland province and the region of West-Frisia of the Netherlands. It came into existence on 1 January 2007 upon the merger of the two former municipalities of Obdam and Wester-Koggenland.-Population centers:*Avenhorn...	29	7	Avenhorn Avenhorn Avenhorn is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Koggenland, and lies about 9 km west of Hoorn.In 1979, the former municipality of Avenhorn merged into the new municipality of Wester-Koggenland.... /Hoorn Hoorn -Cities :* Purmerend * Enkhuizen * Alkmaar * Amsterdam * Lelystad * Den Helder * Leeuwarden -Towns :* Edam... -West	N243, N247
	Hoorn Hoorn -Cities :* Purmerend * Enkhuizen * Alkmaar * Amsterdam * Lelystad * Den Helder * Leeuwarden -Towns :* Edam...	32	8	Hoorn Hoorn -Cities :* Purmerend * Enkhuizen * Alkmaar * Amsterdam * Lelystad * Den Helder * Leeuwarden -Towns :* Edam...
		34	9	Hoorn Hoorn -Cities :* Purmerend * Enkhuizen * Alkmaar * Amsterdam * Lelystad * Den Helder * Leeuwarden -Towns :* Edam... -North	N302
	Medemblik Medemblik Medemblik is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.- History :...	36	10	Wognum Wognum Wognum is a former municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Wognum received city rights in 1392 but lost them in 1426...	N241
		39	10a	Abbekerk Abbekerk Abbekerk is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Medemblik, and lies about 9 km north of Hoorn....
		43	11	Medemblik Medemblik Medemblik is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.- History :...	N239
	Wieringermeer Wieringermeer Wieringermeer is a municipality and a polder in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.- Population centres :The municipality of Wieringermeer consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Kreileroord, Middenmeer, Slootdorp, Wieringerwerf.- History :Around the year...	50	12	Middenmeer Middenmeer Middenmeer is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is part of the municipality of Wieringermeer, and lies about 18 km north of Hoorn....	N242
		55	13	Wieringerwerf Wieringerwerf Wieringerwerf is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Wieringermeer, and lies about 21 km southeast of Den Helder. With about 6000 inhabitants, Wieringerwerf is the largest town of the municipality. It is situated in a polder. The altitude of the...	N240, N248
	Wieringen Wieringen Wieringen is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It consists of a former island, also named Wieringen, and there are plans to make Wieringen an island again by widening the Amsteldiepkanaal into a lake called the Wieringerrandmeer.-Population centres :The...	64	14	Den Oever Den Oever Den Oever is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Wieringen, and lies about east of Den Helder...	N99
Afsluitdijk Afsluitdijk The Afsluitdijk is a major causeway in the Netherlands, constructed between 1927 and 1933 and running from Den Oever on Wieringen in North Holland province, to the village of Zurich in Friesland province, over a length of and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level.It is...
Friesland Friesland Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...	Súdwest Fryslân Súdwest Fryslân Súdwest-Fryslân is a municipality in the northern Netherlands, in the province of Friesland. Sneek is the capital city of the municipality.It was formed in 2011 from the old municipalities of Bolsward, Nijefurd, Sneek, Wûnseradiel and Wymbritseradiel....	97	-	Kornwerderzand Kornwerderzand Kornwerderzand is a settlement on the Afsluitdijk, a major dam in the Netherlands that links Frisia with North Holland. Kornwerderzand is located approximately 4 kilometers from the coast of Frisia, on a former artificial island which was created during the construction of the dam. The settlement...
		101		Interchange Zurich	A31 A31 motorway (Netherlands) The A31 / N31 is a motorway and an expressway in the Netherlands. It connects the A7 near Zurich with the A7 near Drachten. The Frisian capital Leeuwarden is located alongside this road.- Route :...
		101	15	Zurich Zürich Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
		105	16	Witmarsum
		110	17	Bolsward Bolsward Bolsward is a city in Súdwest Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. Bolsward is just short of a population of 10,000.- History :The town is founded on three artificial dwelling hills, of which the first was built some time before Christ.... -North	N359
		112	18	Bolsward Bolsward Bolsward is a city in Súdwest Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. Bolsward is just short of a population of 10,000.- History :The town is founded on three artificial dwelling hills, of which the first was built some time before Christ.... -East
		115	19	Nijland Nijland Nijland is a small village in Wymbritseradiel in the province Friesland of the Netherlands. As of January 1, 2007, it had 1038 residents537 men and 501 women....
		Gap in motorway A7; the road continues as highway N7 as follows:
		118	20	Sneek Sneek Sneek is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland . As for 2011 it is part of the municipality Súdwest Fryslân... -West
		119	21	Sneek Sneek Sneek is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland . As for 2011 it is part of the municipality Súdwest Fryslân... -South	N354
		119	21a	Sneek Sneek Sneek is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland . As for 2011 it is part of the municipality Súdwest Fryslân... -Woudvaart		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
		120	22	Sneek Sneek Sneek is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland . As for 2011 it is part of the municipality Súdwest Fryslân... -East
		The road continues as motorway A7 as follows:
	Skarsterlân Skarsterlân Skarsterlân is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. The municipality was created January 1, 1984 by merging the municipalities of Doniawerstal and Haskerland, the part of Utingeradeel consisting of the villages Akmarijp and Terkaple and the village Nieuwebrug that used...	133	23	Joure Joure Joure is a town in the Dutch province of Friesland. With 13,000 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the municipality of Skarsterlân.-History:... -West
		136		Interchange Joure Joure Joure is a town in the Dutch province of Friesland. With 13,000 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the municipality of Skarsterlân.-History:...	A6 A6 motorway (Netherlands) The A6 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is just over 100 kilometers in length and it connects the A1 motorway at interchange Muiderberg with the A7 motorway at interchange Joure....
		140	25	Oudehaske Oudehaske Oudehaske is a small village in Skarsterlân in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around 1940 citizens .Oudehaske is known in traffic engineering circles for the radical innovation in street design pioneered there by Hans Monderman, removing signs and using subtle cues to indicate...
	Heerenveen Heerenveen Heerenveen is a town in the Heerenveen municipality of the province of Friesland , in the north of the Netherlands.- History :The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name...	142	26	Heerenveen Heerenveen Heerenveen is a town in the Heerenveen municipality of the province of Friesland , in the north of the Netherlands.- History :The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name... -West		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
		144		Interchange Heerenveen Heerenveen Heerenveen is a town in the Heerenveen municipality of the province of Friesland , in the north of the Netherlands.- History :The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name...	A32 A32 motorway (Netherlands) The A32 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands connecting Meppel, via Heerenveen to Leeuwarden. No part of the motorway is subject to a European route....
		147	26a	Tjalleberd Tjalleberd Tjalleberd is a small village in Heerenveen in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 737 citizens ....
	Opsterland Opsterland Opsterland is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands.-Population centres:Bakkeveen, Beetsterzwaag, Frieschepalen, Gorredijk, Hemrik, Jonkerslân, Langezwaag, Lippenhuizen, Luxwoude, Nij Beets, Olterterp, Siegerswoude, Terwispel, Tijnje, Ureterp, Wijnjewoude.-Twin towns —...	152	27	Gorredijk Gorredijk Gorredijk is the biggest town in the municipality of Opsterland, which lies in Friesland, which in turn is a province of the Netherlands...
		158	28	Beetsterzwaag Beetsterzwaag Beetsterzwaag is a village consisting of about 3650 inhabitants in the municipality of Opsterland in the east of Friesland in the Netherlands....
	Smallingerland Smallingerland Smallingerland is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands.-Population centres:Boornbergum, De Tike, De Veenhoop, De Wilgen, Drachten , Drachtstercompagnie, Goëngahuizen, Houtigehage, Kortehemmen, Nijega, Opeinde, Oudega, Rottevalle and Smalle Ee.-History:The name...	161	29	Drachten Drachten Drachten is a Dutch town, located in the municipality of Smallingerland in the province of Friesland.-Beginnings:Drachten began as a small community on the east side of the Drait River. There, early settlers started draining the land to use it for agriculture... -Centrum		Centrum means (town) centre
		165	30	Oosterwolde Oosterwolde (Friesland) Oosterwolde is a village consisting of about 10.000 inhabitants in the municipality of Ooststellingwerf in the east of Friesland in the Netherlands.-External links:* * * *...	N381
		165	30a	Drachten Drachten Drachten is a Dutch town, located in the municipality of Smallingerland in the province of Friesland.-Beginnings:Drachten began as a small community on the east side of the Drait River. There, early settlers started draining the land to use it for agriculture...	N31
	Opsterland Opsterland Opsterland is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands.-Population centres:Bakkeveen, Beetsterzwaag, Frieschepalen, Gorredijk, Hemrik, Jonkerslân, Langezwaag, Lippenhuizen, Luxwoude, Nij Beets, Olterterp, Siegerswoude, Terwispel, Tijnje, Ureterp, Wijnjewoude.-Twin towns —...	170	31	Frieschepalen Frieschepalen Frieschepalen is a village consisting of about 990 inhabitants in the municipality of Opsterland in the east of Friesland in the Netherlands....	N358
Groningen Groningen (province) Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...	Marum Marum Marum is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands.- Population centres :Boerakker, Jonkersvaart, Lucaswolde, Marum, Niebert, Noordwijk, Nuis, De Wilp....	176	32	Marum Marum Marum is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands.- Population centres :Boerakker, Jonkersvaart, Lucaswolde, Marum, Niebert, Noordwijk, Nuis, De Wilp....
		180	33	Boerakker	N388
	Leek Leek The leek, Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum , also sometimes known as Allium porrum, is a vegetable which belongs, along with the onion and garlic, to family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae...	184	34	Leek Leek The leek, Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum , also sometimes known as Allium porrum, is a vegetable which belongs, along with the onion and garlic, to family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae...	N372
	Groningen	191	34a	Westpoort (Groningen)
		193	35	Hoogkerk Hoogkerk Hoogkerk is a town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Groningen, about 4 km west of the city.Hoogkerk was a separate municipality until 1969, when it was merged with the city of Groningen....	N372
		Gap in motorway A7; the road continues as highway N7 as follows:
		196	36	Ring Groningen-West	N370
		196	36a	Martini hospital		Westbound exit only (Martini hospital accessible from other directions via 36)
		197		Intersection Julianaplein	A28 A28 motorway (Netherlands) The A28 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is approximately 188 kilometers in length.The A28 traverses the Dutch provinces of Utrecht, Gelderland, Overijssel, Drenthe and Groningen...
		198	37	Helpman
		198	37a	Oosterpoort		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only
		199	38	Europaplein
		204		Interchange Euvelgunne	N46
		205	39	Westerbroek
		The road continues as motorway A7 as follows:
	Hoogezand-Sappemeer Hoogezand-Sappemeer Hoogezand-Sappemeer is a municipality in the northeastern Netherlands. It is the second largest municipality in the province of Groningen, after the city of Groningen. It is well known for its ship building industry....	213	40	Foxhol	N386
		215	41	Hoogezand Hoogezand Hoogezand is a village in the municipality Hoogezand-Sappemeer, located in the principality Groningen in northeast Netherlands. The name refers to a higher sanded place in the peatlands cut through when the Winschoterdiep channel was dug. Near this channel in 1618 the village was founded.In the...	N387
		218	42	Sappemeer Sappemeer Sappemeer is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Hoogezand-Sappemeer. It is located to the east of Hoogezand.Sappemeer was a separate municipality until 1949, when it merged with Hoogezand.-External links:*...
	Menterwolde Menterwolde - Population centres :* Borgercompagnie* Meeden* Muntendam* Noordbroek* Tripscompagnie* Zuidbroek...	222	43	Zuidbroek
		224	44	Noordbroek Noordbroek Noordbroek is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Menterwolde, about 8 km northeast of Hoogezand.Noordbroek was a separate municipality until 1965, when it became part of Oosterbroek.-External links:*...	N33
	Scheemda Scheemda Scheemda is a former municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands. Since January 1, 2010 it forms a part of Oldambt.- Population centres :Heiligerlee, Midwolda, Nieuw-Scheemda, Nieuwolda, Oostwold, Scheemda, 't Waar and Westerlee....	230	45	Scheemda Scheemda Scheemda is a former municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands. Since January 1, 2010 it forms a part of Oldambt.- Population centres :Heiligerlee, Midwolda, Nieuw-Scheemda, Nieuwolda, Oostwold, Scheemda, 't Waar and Westerlee....	N362
		232	46	Heiligerlee Heiligerlee Heiligerlee is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen bordering the town of Winschoten, it is part of the municipality of Oldambt. The village is known for having been the site of the first battle of the Dutch rebels against the Spanish. The army led by Louis and Adolf of Nassau defeated the...
	Winschoten Winschoten Winschoten is a former municipality and city in the northeast of the Netherlands.Population : 18.497; area: 22,24 km2.The origin of the name of Winschoten is not known but it has received nicknames. One of these is Molenstad . It has also been known, in living memory, as Sodom...	240	47	Winschoten Winschoten Winschoten is a former municipality and city in the northeast of the Netherlands.Population : 18.497; area: 22,24 km2.The origin of the name of Winschoten is not known but it has received nicknames. One of these is Molenstad . It has also been known, in living memory, as Sodom...	N367
	Bellingwedde Bellingwedde - Population centres :Bellingwolde, Blijham, Klein-Ulsda, Oudeschans, Rhederbrug, Veelerveen, Vriescheloo, Wedde and Wedderveer.-External links:*...	246	48	Oudeschans
	Reiderland Reiderland Reiderland is a former municipality in the province Groningen in the northeastern Netherlands, which was founded in 1990 during a large municipal reorganization. The former municipalities Finsterwolde and Bad Nieuweschans were abolished and added to Beerta. In 1992, the new municipality was given...	251	49	Bad Nieuweschans
Border with Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... ; this road continues as the German A280.