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
Here is some information from your municipality.
Substituting a foreign driving licence
Do you want to substitute your foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence? Then make an appointment with the municipality. Or call 14015 (0031 15 2602222 for foreign calls).
You can only substitute your foreign driving licence if you meet the following conditions:
- You are registered at Delft
- You have Dutch nationality or a valid title of residence
- You have a valid driving licence issued in the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or several countries under the treaty
Ensure you bring:
- Valid proof of identity or your residence permit
- Your foreign driving licence
- 1 passport photograph in colour that conforms to all requirements. Your passport photograph must not be older than 6 months.
- Certificate of fitness. Consult the website of the RDW if this also involves you.
Expired foreign driving licence
Did you have a Dutch driving licence issued after 1 October 1986? In that case you can substitute your expired foreign driving licence immediately. In all other cases you need a Declaration of no objection issued by the country concerned.
RDW (Netherlands Government Road Transport Agency)
The RDW handles your application and returns the foreign driving licence to its country of issue. The driving licence is not returned to you.
Driving with a foreign driving licence
In the Netherlands you are allowed to drive with a driving licence issued outside the EU for 185 days at the most. After this period you must substitute your foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence.
For more information, go to delft.nl. Any questions? Call 14015 (0031 15 260 2222 for foreign calls).
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Delft
Visiting address
Stationsplein 1
2611BV Delft
| Monday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |