Britain’s most controversial ‘Dutch-style’ roundabout which needs a three-minute-long video explaining how to use it finally opened today (june) and immediately divided opinion.
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists all started using the £2m roundabout this morning after it opened in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, which had previously described as ‘confusing.’
It had also been dubbed by some critics as Britain’s most ‘woke’ roundabout because drivers must give priority to pedestrians, then cyclists, and then other cars and lorries before continuing on themselves.
Both cycling groups and the local council strongly dismissed the description and leapt to its defence.
However some locals had pointed out the priority for cyclists and pedestrians is unnecessary as only cars and lorries regularly use the Boundary Way route.
Hemel Hempstead also features another controversial road scheme dubbed ‘The Magic Roundabout’ which features a series of mini roundabouts surrounding a major roundabout.
David Coulson, 65, drives regularly across the roundabout and said he ‘couldn’t believe’ the cost of the works.
Mr Coulson, who lives locally but is originally from New Zealand, said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if people got killed or injured on it.
“I also can’t believe they spent this much money. It’s right off the M1 – you’re not going to get many pushbikes coming off there.
“I drive but I also take a walk up here. I don’t see much other footfall than myself.
“I think they’ve done it because we’ve also got the Magic Roundabout and now they can say we’ve got both.
“At least it’s colourful.”
Fred Theron, 52, works close to the new Dutch-style roundabout and cycles to work from Luton in the summer months.
The finance manager said: “The roundabout before was more dangerous because there are a lot of trucks using the it.
“Cycling, you’d have to be in the road coming from Boundary Way and that wasn’t the best.
“Now it’s going to take a bit longer having to the cycle around the whole ring but it will be safer.”
Mr Theron said it would take time for motor vehicle users to get used to the new road layout.
He said: “I go to the Netherlands often and there are no white lines on the roundabouts so we know we can go.
“Here, when I was walking across, there was a truck coming and I wasn’t sure if he was going to stop.
“I’m not sure if motorists will know how the cycle aspect works with having to give way.
“But I do think it’s a good initiative and hopefully more people will cycle to work like I do.”
Another man, who did not want to be named, said the roundabout was ‘a complete waste of money’.
The man, who lives locally, said: “There are no pedestrians up this way really to give way to.
“There’s more important things to worry about like homeless people. There was nothing wrong with the old roundabout.”
Lib Dem councillor Adrian England was one of those who came to the Dutch-style roundabout to test it out.
He said: “I cycle everywhere in Hemel Hempstead.
“With anything new – especially when you’re a cyclist and all you’ve got is your helmet – you need to look after yourself.
“I felt perfectly safe today and I’ve come up along the cycle way.”
Meanwhile Stephen Giles-Medhurst, the executive member for Highways from Herts County Council, was also at the roundabout this morning.
He said he had a go on a bike and it would take ‘a little bit of getting used to’.
Mr Giles-Medhurst said: “We hope to encourage more people to cycle or walk to their places of employment.
“It’s safer, as the pedestrian crossings and cycle path go all the way round it.
“I had a go on a bike this morning and it will take a little bit of getting used it.
“Vehicles are slowing down, maybe because it’s new, but I didn’t have any near misses.
“You can’t engineer out someone being stupid.”
Some locals had previously branded the roundabout ‘complicated’ and ‘confusing’, with Hertfordshire County Council releasing a CGI walkthrough on how to use it.
The three-minute long video explains to cyclists how they must give way to pedestrians and remain attentive for cars, despite having priority on their segregated cycle track.
It also demonstrates how cars and lorries must give way to both cyclists and pedestrians when joining or leaving the roundabout.
The Herts roundabout has been funded by Active Travel England – the government’s executive agency for promoting walking, wheeling and cycling.
There are currently three Dutch-style roundabouts in operation around the UK.
The first one opened in Cambridge in 2020, followed by one in Sheffield in December 2024, and the third opened in Chichester in February 2025.
Please subscribe for daily viral videos and check out all our social channels here: https://linktr.ee/swns
To license this video for editorial or commercial use please contact video@swns.com
1 Comment
What's Dutch about it? Because Dutch ride bike and this has a separate cycle lane around it? Lots of roundabouts do, just maybe not painted so brightly. It can't be because of the priority of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists because that's universal in the highway code. If you really want a Dutch roundabout, try a turbo roundabout.