From Berlin to the Netherlands in Six Hours

Nijmegen, March 24th, 2021, and October 4th, 2026. The distance between Berlin and Nijmegen is 646 kilometers, which should be manageable in six hours. However, navigating out of Berlin proves to be quite challenging due to numerous traffic lights and limited shortcuts. By 10:51 a.m., I am still in Berlin, waiting at the Zehlendorf Autobahn junction, feeling like I'm going nowhere.

The decision point presents me with three options: Frankfurt/Oder, Dresden, or Magdeburg and Hanover. I choose Hanover to quickly cross the former GDR territory. Covering 57 kilometers in an hour and a half, I face a major traffic jam in Brandenburg, which further slows my progress. Despite the obstacles, I continue on my journey, passing the Potsdam Autobahn junction at 11:10 a.m., but the race appears to be halted.

At 11:55 a.m., I reach the Magdeburg exit, convinced I will arrive in Nijmegen within six hours. Yet, my hopes are dashed when a major traffic jam caused by a "one-day construction site" blocks my path. The only thing that keeps me going are the sirens of an ambulance, which seem to be stuck in the same traffic as me. After an hour and ten minutes of frustration, I discover that two harmless potholes repaired by the freeway maintenance authority were the cause of the chaos.

The race resumes, but a stop at a remote service station punctures my resolve when a passenger, Mr. Big Tasty, occupies my seat. Despite this setback, I reach the Helmstedt Autobahn exit, marking my entry into former West Germany. Hanover is now in sight, and my excitement grows as I approach Brunswick. However, my mission to reach Nijmegen in six hours is ultimately unsuccessful due to unforeseen delays, including the traffic jam and my unexpected companion.