A7 Motorway Traffic Cameras: 300+ Live Cams

The A7 is one of the Netherlands' longest motorways at 236 kilometers, running from the Amsterdam metropolitan area northeast across the IJsselmeer via the Afsluitdijk to Groningen and the German border. It is the only motorway crossing the Afsluitdijk, making it a critical link between the Randstad and the northern provinces. TrafficVision aggregates feeds from Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch national road authority) to provide comprehensive real-time coverage of this distinctive corridor.

Afsluitdijk Monitoring

Live cameras on the 32 km causeway crossing the IJsselmeer, where weather conditions change rapidly

Urban Section Coverage

Feeds from the Amsterdam-Zaandam corridor and the Groningen ring road, the route's busiest segments

Wind and Weather Alerts

Cameras across exposed sections in Friesland where crosswinds affect high-profile vehicles

Freight Corridor Views

Monitor commercial traffic flows between the Randstad economic core and northern logistics hubs

Route Overview and Traffic Patterns

The A7 serves as the primary motorway connection between North Holland, Friesland, and Groningen. According to TomTom Traffic Index data, Dutch drivers lost significant hours to congestion in 2024, with 76% of the 500 cities analyzed globally seeing decreased average speeds compared to 2023. The A7 experiences its heaviest congestion at the urban endpoints.

The route profile changes dramatically along its length:

• Amsterdam-Zaandam (km 0-15) — Dense urban motorway with 2x3 lanes, the busiest stretch. Morning peak flows southbound toward Amsterdam, evening peak reverses.
• Zaandam-Hoorn (km 15-45) — Transitions from urban to suburban. Traffic thins past Purmerend but remains steady through the commuter belt.
• Hoorn-Den Oever (km 45-85) — Passes through West Friesland's smaller towns. The approach to the Afsluitdijk narrows traffic from the wider motorway into the causeway's configuration.
• Afsluitdijk (km 85-117) — The 32-kilometer causeway carries approximately 15,000-20,000 vehicles per day. Fully exposed to wind and weather with no exits for the entire crossing.
• Zurich-Sneek-Heerenveen (km 117-155) — Crosses the Frisian countryside with moderate traffic. The Sneek bypass and Heerenveen interchange see local peaks.
• Heerenveen-Groningen (km 155-200) — Traffic builds approaching Groningen, the largest city in the northern Netherlands (population ~235,000).
• Groningen-German border (km 200-236) — Continues as the E22 toward Bad Nieuweschans with lighter volumes.

The Afsluitdijk: A Unique Driving Challenge

The Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dam) is the A7's most distinctive and challenging section. Built between 1927 and 1932, this 32-kilometer causeway separates the IJsselmeer from the Wadden Sea. Driving across it presents conditions found nowhere else on the Dutch motorway network.

The exposed causeway is subject to severe crosswinds that can make the road hazardous for high-profile vehicles such as trucks, vans, and trailers. Rijkswaterstaat monitors wind speeds and can restrict or close the Afsluitdijk when conditions become dangerous. Wind warnings are common during autumn and winter storms.

Visibility is another concern. Sea fog can reduce sight distance to near zero on the causeway, and rain squalls moving across the open water arrive with little warning. Camera feeds along the Afsluitdijk provide essential advance warning of these conditions before drivers commit to the 32-kilometer crossing with no opportunity to exit.

The Afsluitdijk has been undergoing a major renovation and reinforcement project. Construction zones along the causeway have created lane restrictions and temporary speed reductions. Checking camera feeds before crossing helps drivers plan for current construction-related delays.

TrafficVision's route builder is ideal for A7 trips that include the Afsluitdijk. Plot your drive from Amsterdam to Groningen and see every camera along the route, including the critical causeway section. You can assess conditions at both ends of the dam and along its full length before departing.

Key Interchanges and Bottlenecks

Zaandam interchange (A7/A8) — The western terminus where the A7 meets the A8 toward Amsterdam. This complex junction handles heavy merging traffic and is a frequent bottleneck during peak hours.

Purmerend area — The stretch near Purmerend sees commuter congestion as residential development has expanded north of Amsterdam. Morning southbound queues toward Amsterdam are common.

Hoorn junction (A7/N302) — Traffic converging from the N302 (toward Lelystad) merges with A7 traffic, creating peak-hour delays.

Joure interchange (A7/A6) — Where the A7 crosses the A6 (Lelystad-Heerenveen) in Friesland. A key junction for traffic redistribution between the two major east-west routes.

Groningen southern ring (A7/A28) — The interchange where the A7 meets the A28 on Groningen's southern bypass handles the combined traffic of both motorways, creating the route's most congested section east of the Afsluitdijk.

Weather and Seasonal Driving

The A7 traverses some of the Netherlands' most weather-exposed terrain. Beyond the Afsluitdijk, several sections cross open polder landscape in Friesland where crosswinds and fog are common.

Seasonal considerations:

• Winter — Ice and frost on bridges and the Afsluitdijk. Strong westerly gales can close the causeway. Snow is infrequent but causes disproportionate disruption when it occurs.
• Spring — Gusty conditions across open sections. Flooding risk in low-lying polders near the route.
• Summer — Tourist traffic to the Wadden Islands (via connecting roads from the A7) increases volumes, particularly on Fridays and Sundays.
• Autumn — The most dangerous season for the Afsluitdijk, with frequent storms, reduced visibility, and strong crosswinds.

The Netherlands' dense motorway camera network, managed by Rijkswaterstaat, is among the most comprehensive in Europe. TrafficVision aggregates these feeds so you can scan conditions across the entire A7 in grid view, comparing weather and traffic at multiple points simultaneously.

Using TrafficVision for A7 Trips

TrafficVision provides free, real-time access to camera feeds along the entire A7 corridor. The interactive map lets you trace the route visually, zooming into any section from the Amsterdam suburbs to the German border.

For regular commuters on the Amsterdam-Purmerend or Heerenveen-Groningen sections, save key cameras as favorites. With a free account, favorites sync across devices so you can check your commute cameras from your phone each morning.

The platform offers 135,000+ cameras from 600+ official sources across 130+ countries. Dutch motorway cameras, including the full A7, are sourced from Rijkswaterstaat's national monitoring network. Feeds include both refreshing images and live video streams, all accessible 24/7 with no account required.