The A8 motorway is a

motorway A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway, and expressway. Other similar terms ...

in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

. It starts at the intersection with the Ring Amsterdam (the A10 motorway) at interchange Coenplein, and leads past

Oostzaan Oostzaan () is a municipality and a town in the Zaanstreek, Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is ...

, interchange Zaandam, and

Zaandijk Zaandijk () is a town in the municipality of Zaanstad, province of North Holland, Netherlands. It lies about 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) northwest of Amsterdam and had a population of 8,686 in 2017.Statistics Netherlands (CBS), ''Statline: Kernc ...

towards its terminus, just 10 kilometers from its beginning at the Coenplein, near

Assendelft Assendelft () is a town in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is a part of the municipality of Zaanstad. Assendelft was a separate municipality until 1974, when the municipality of Zaanstad was formed. However, Assendelft didn't wan ...

Overview

In the 1970s, this road was planned to be extended for about 5 extra kilometers towards the A9 motorway, between the interchange Beverwijk and the exit

Heemskerk Heemskerk ( ) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is located in the Kennemerland region. History The town was formed during the Middle Ages. In an official deed from the year of 1063, the town was ...

. However, due to the rising oil prices and the congestion which was already a problem at the A10 near the Coenplein, it was decided not to do so after all.

N8

Currently, along parts of the N246 and N203 roads, signs are placed with the number ''N8'', to direct the motorist from the terminus of the A8 motorway towards the exit Uitgeest of the A9 motorway. However, the N8 is not part of the so-called '' Rijksweg 8'', which only consists of the motorway part between the Coenplein and Assendelft.

Future construction

In 2021 plans were made to construct a new road between the A8 and A9 motorways, in order to improve accessibility of the

Zaanstreek The Zaan () is a small river in the province of North Holland in the northwestern Netherlands and the name of a district through which it runs. The river was originally a side arm of the IJ bay and travels 13.5 kilometers (8½ miles) through the m ...

and the IJmond region. The project was estimated to cost over €900 milion. The parties are still looking for financing as of 2024.

Exit list

External links

References

{{Motorways in the Netherlands Motorways in the Netherlands Motorways in North Holland Transport in Amsterdam Oostzaan Zaanstad