Although we once formed De Nederlanden together, the Netherlands and Belgium have grown apart. For example, in the Netherlands we never use the term ‘curious nose mustard pot’ for someone who is curious, because why would you? On the other hand, Belgians can learn about what ‘talk about’ means. What the Belgians also seem to have learned from the Dutch is to get out of the car the right way.

There seem to be a lot of accidents in Belgium where cyclists run into swinging car doors. The Vooruit political party wants to change this. Joris Vandenbroucke, an MP on behalf of the party, has submitted a bill to do so. It is his intention to make the ‘Dutch reach’ the norm in Belgium.

How did the Dutch get out?

Maybe you are reading this as Dutch and don’t know how we open our doors. To find out, you have to go back to your driving lessons. Your driving instructor will impress you before the test so you have to come out right. That is, looking in the rearview mirror, you grab the doorknob with your farthest hand. That way you quickly look back if traffic is approaching.

Belgium won’t be the first country to include the Dutch way out in the code. In Great Britain, ‘Dutch reach’ is mandatory. Caught going the wrong way? Then you run the risk of a fine of 1,000 pounds, which is about 1,100 euros. So no bad fines. It is not yet known what the penalty will be in Belgium if the bill passes.