Search results
You are allowed to drive in the Netherlands with your foreign driving licence. Do you have a driving licence issued by a country not being an EU / EFTA country? Then the categories on your driving licence must be divided into the A, B, C, D, E categories.
- Foreign driving licence
Do you have a foreign driving licence and want to exchange...
- Exchanging a foreign driving licence
Do you have a foreign driving licence and live in the...
- Foreign driving licence
Do you have a foreign driving licence and want to exchange it? Or do you want to know if you can drive with it in the Netherlands? You can find more information here.
If your driving license was issued after January 19, 2013, you may use it to drive in the Netherlands until it expires, with a maximum of 15 years. Once the validity of the original foreign driving license ends, you will need to apply for a Dutch driving license.
Do you have a foreign driving licence and live in the Netherlands? Then you may first temporarily drive in the Netherlands with the foreign licence. Then you must exchange the driving licence through your municipality.
- Expats & Driving Licences
- Using A Foreign Driving Licence in The Netherlands
- Conditions For Exchanging A Foreign Driving Licence in The Netherlands
- Dutch Driving Organisations
- How to Exchange A Foreign Driving Licence
- 30% Ruling and The Dutch Driving Licence
- Driving Tests in The Netherlands
- Renewing A Dutch Driving Licence
- Renewing A Foreign Driving Licence in The Netherlands
- Lost Or Stolen Driving Licence
If you are planning to stay long-term in the Netherlands, it is often worth exchanging your foreign driving licence for a Dutch rijbewijs. For citizens of most European countries, you can normally continue to use your licence from your home country until it expires. For most non-European expats who plan to stay for longer than six months, you will ...
There are different lengths of validity in the Netherlands for driving licences issued to citizens of the EU/EEA or for citizens from outside Europe.
In order to exchange a foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence, applicants will need to meet various conditions: 1. You are a registered resident of the Netherlands with a valid residence permit(if applicable). 2. You are a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerland; or you are from a country with a special drivers licence agreement (see belo...
There are two organisations in the Netherlands that are responsible for issuing driving licences and conducting driving tests on the Dutch roads:
To exchange your foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence, you will need to apply at the municipalitywhere you are registered. They will forward your exchange application to the RDW. The appraisal process takes approximately two weeks (or longer, depending on wait times) and applicants are not permitted to drive while their application i...
You can also exchange your driving licence for a Dutch one if you are eligible for the 30% ruling, regardless your country of origin. In this case, you should follow the above procedure, but also submit your 30% ruling statement issued by the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax office)to your municipality.
Internationals who are unable to exchange their foreign driving licence for a Dutch one will have to take a driving test at the CBR, with both theoretical and practical sections. Also, if you are learning to drive a car for the first time then you can both take driving lessons and do the exams in the Netherlands. The process for learning to drive a...
Just like most EU driving licences, a Dutch driving licence is valid for 10 years from the date of issue and should be renewed before it expires. Before your Dutch licence expires the RDW will send a reminder to your home address. All you need to do then is go to your municipality (you don’t need to take the letter with you). Your driving licence h...
For expats living in the Netherlands, it’s not possible to renew a foreign or EU/EAA driver’s licence, you will instead need to apply to the RDW for a Dutch driving licence.
If your Dutch or EU/EEA driving licence is lost or stolen then you must lodge a police declaration with the municipality where you are registered to receive a new one. For a lost EU/EEA licence you will need to provide extra documentation. If your non-EU/EEA driving licence is lost or stolen in the Netherlands then you will need to successfully com...
You may drive using your foreign driving licence in the Netherlands for 15 years if you're from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
Are you residing in the Netherlands with a foreign driving licence? Discover how you can legally drive in the Netherlands using your foreign licence and the steps to exchange it for a Dutch driving licence. This guide provides all the necessary information for expats and international residents.
