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Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence in the Netherlands

Do you have a foreign driving licence and do you live in the Netherlands? You can drive temporarily in the Netherlands on your foreign driving licence. Later, you have to exchange your driving licence at your municipality.

Whether or not you are allowed to drive on your foreign driving licence depends on when you come to live in the Netherlands, and which country you were granted your licence. The rules applicable to you can be found on the Rijksdienst voor het wegverkeer – RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) website.

The exchange of your foreign driving licence is subject to certain conditions. For example you must be registered in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP) at your municipality. You can find all the conditions for exchanging your foreign driving licence on the RDW website.

You can also check whether you can exchange your driving licence (in Dutch) with the RDW chatbot. Choose "Rijbewijs omwisselen" and by answering a few questions the chatbot can provide your answer.

You can apply to exchange your foreign driving licence at your municipality. On the RDW website you can find out the steps to take to exchange your foreign driving licence.

If it is not possible to exchange your licence, you will have to take a theory and practical driving test at the Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen – CBR (central office for driving licences). On the CBR website you can find out more information about the licence classes that can be exchanged.

This is how it works for you

Your (future) place of residence falls under:
Informatie:

Here is some information from your municipality.

Apply for a driver's license

You apply for your driving license digitally or in person in the municipality in which you live. You can collect your driving license after 2 to 5 working days.

Health declaration

Check with CBR whether you need to complete a Health Declaration. The CBR will then assess whether you are fit to drive. 

Sometimes the CBR needs more information. Then you must, for example, be examined by a doctor. Or take a driving test. Do you need a Health Declaration? Request a Health Declaration digitally from the CBR. You pay for the Health Declaration when you apply. If you are 75 years or older, you can also purchase a health declaration from the Civil Affairs Desk. Make an appointment with the municipality for this.

Do you want to apply for a driving license for the first time, expand your driving license with a category or exchange your foreign driving licence? Is your driving license due to expire soon or have you lost your driving licence? You make an appointment via our contact page. You take with you: your valid ID 1 color passport photo that meets the guidelines your old driver's license (if you already have a driver's license) You pay for your driving license when you apply. Please pay by card.

A driver's license costs € 51,10.

 Please take into account additional costs for: Emergency procedure: €39,65

 loss or theft: €21.00.

(Rates 2024)

An exchange takes approximately 2 weeks. You will receive a message as soon as your new driving license is ready.

Informatie:

Contact details are not yet available for your municipality.

Questions about this topic?

Contact the Public Information Service