Remind me how to drive to Europe?

[AnotherDunromin]

I'm planning on driving to Ghent with DC in Feb half term. It's been about a decade since I last drove to Europe, though, and I'm nervous about forgetting something.
I've added European breakdown cover to our AA policy, booked travel insurance, printed out the car insurance policy, got high-vis vests for myself and DC, and will get a warning triangle and a UK sticker. The car is overdue a service so that's booked in next week.
What am I forgetting..?

Not required for France (FWIW unless there’s been a very recent change neither are spare glasses)..not sure about Belgium.

A lot of the little niggly rules (spare glasses, fire extinguishers, number of warning triangles, number of yellow bibs) are country dependent, not EU wide…

About the only “gotcha” for visitors that it’s best to assume is almost universal across mainland Europe is priority from the right unless otherwise indicated.

Along with changing the angle of the headlights on your control panel you may find that you can change the speedometer from mph to kph. All my VWs have had this option.

You’re not supposed to take any meat or dairy into the EU now. However we do this trip several times a year and have continued to travel with a stash of cheese sandwiches.

We did this trip in the summer - its very easy with motorways virtually the whole way and once on the road for 10 minutes you will adjust to looking right instead of left. We did the trip from Calais to Ghent in just over 90 minutes.

In terms of the emissions scheme check where your hotel is. If it is outside of the central area bounded by the ring road you will not need to register your car for the emissions scheme. Once you have arrived its very easy to walk into the centre or get a tram

Will you be driving through France - albeit not for long? You have to have a breathalyser in your car for France.

No you don’t…that was a legal requirement here for about five minutes a few years back…

Est-il obligatoire d'avoir un éthylotest dans sa voiture ?
Non. Depuis le 22 mai 2020 il n'est pas obligatoire de posséder un éthylotest dans son véhicule.

www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/les-medias/les-faq/faq/est-il-obligatoire-davoir-un-ethylotest-dans-sa-voiture

Oops no you don't. Thanks for the info @notimagain. It wouldn't let me quote you.

In France tbh you have to disconnect your Bluetooth between the car and phone.

The little sticker to remind you of roundabouts is handy

Sorry stand corrected on Bluetooth/ hands free phones

This is from the AA website

Mobile phones and headphones
It’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving in France, however completely hands-free mobile phone units are allowed. It’s also illegal to use headphones or earbuds, including bluetooth devices.
Using a hand-held mobile phone or headphones while driving can lead to a fine of €135.
Lots of useful info on here

www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/country-by-country/france-and-monaco

Thank you, all! I had a vague memory of needing a breathalyser kit - good to know that's no longer needed.
The spare glasses comment scared me for a minute; I could have stretched to putting a pair of contacts in the car but I only have one pair of glasses. What a ballache for people who live where that's required and need a complex/expensive prescription!
My insurance provider is based in the States and did not automatically cover Europe - can't believe I would have forgotten to include that!
Thank you for all the well wishes for a lovely holiday too - I'm looking forward to it!