Driving licence

Regulations

Drivers of motor vehicles in the Netherlands must comply with certain, specific regulations. A minimum of third party insurance is obligatory for your car or motorbike.The vehicle must be registered and the driver must hold a valid driving licence (the driver must be aged 18 or above).

Should you wish to receive further information on the requirements for owning/using and driving motor vehicles in the Netherlands, please contact the Road Transport Department (RDW), on 0900-0739. The requirements of a valid driving licence are explained below.

Valid driving licence

There are two categories of driving licences:

• International driver: This is a person who does not live in the Netherlands but uses a motor vehicle in the country. This includes tourists and salesmen. If you reside for less than 185 days in the Netherlands, you are regarded as an international driver and you must be able to provide an international driving licence if your licence is inspected. Your embassy can supply you with more information on this.
• Residents of the Netherlands: A person is considered to live in the Netherlands when his usual place of residence is in the Netherlands. The usual place of residence is the place where you live for at least 185 days per year.

Exchanging foreign driving licence

To check if a driving licence from your country can be exchanged, visit the website of the Road Transport Department (RDW) for the most up to date information.

When you are establishing yourself in the Netherlands, you can use the driving licence issued in your home country for a transitional period of 185 days from the moment you arrive in the Netherlands. During the transitional period your driving licence must be changed to a Dutch driving licence. The conditions for changing the licence are:

• you must reside in the Netherlands and hold a valid residence permit.
• your own driving licence must be valid at the moment you make your application.
• your driving licence must have been issued during a period of one full year in which you lived in your home country for at least 185 days.

The documents you need to bring are:

• Valid foreign driving licence
• A color (passport) photograph that complies with the official standards.
• A valid residence permit
• If the text on your foreign licence consists solely of characters that are not used in the Netherlands (such as Japanese or Greek), you need to bring a translation of your driving licence.*
• Do you benefit from the 30% ruling for highly-skilled migrants? Then bring a letter from the tax authority to prove this. Please note: you must bring a physical copy of the letter. Showing the letter on your smartphone will not suffice. It is not possible to print the letter at City Hall.
• A Certificate of Fitness (Gezondheidsverklaring):
  o For a driving licence from countries other than the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
  o If your driving licence is valid for a period shorter than ten years.
  o If your driving licence contains annotations or codes about your physical fitness.

You can purchase the certificate online via www.cbr.nl using DigiD. You can also purchase the certificate at the town hall.

The translation must be carried out by a sworn translator/interpreter, the embassy or consulate. If the driving licence was translated abroad, you must have the translation legalised. For further information, see Legalisation of documents on the website Netherlands and you.

The application will be forwarded to the RDW. The RDW will send the new driving licence to the municipality within a few weeks. Your driving licence can be obtained, in person, from the Registry Department upon notification from the RDW. For latest update please check the website of the RDW.

If it is not possible for you to exchange your driving licence, you must take a standard theory and practical driving test at the CBR. Check for more information CBR: (0900) 0210

Have you lost your Dutch driving licence?

In case your Dutch driving licence has gone missing or has been lost you need to fill out the “Loss Statement” form that can be applied at the “Document department” at the Town Hall. Please note that a loss can only be reported personally at the “Document department” by appointment. This form is also used to state the reason for a new driving’s licence. Once your identity has been established pursuant to a proof of identity, you may immediately apply and pay for a new driving licence. Please remember to bring the required documents!

Additional administration costs related to a loss will be charged on top of the regular costs of the driving licence. For an urgent application for your driving licence additional charges are involved.

Has your driving licence been stolen?

If your driving licence has been stolen you must report the theft to the police before you apply for a new driving licence at the Town Hall. When you submit your application for a new document, you must hand in the police report.

Delivery time

The standard delivery time for a new document is five work days.
If you are unable to submit another proof of identity, the delivery time is about eight work days for verification purposes. If your urgent application is submitted before 2 pm, your driving licence can be collected the next day before 10 am.

Once the police report or the Loss Statement has been drawn up, the lost or stolen driving licence is no longer valid, and must be handed in to the municipality if it should be found or retrieved.

Opening hours Documents Desk

Important notice: you can only visit the town hall with an appointment.