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.
Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence in the Netherlands
Please note: you must live in the Netherlands and be registered with a municipality to exchange a foreign driving licence. You must hand in your foreign driving licence when you apply. You are not allowed to drive until you have received your new driving licence.
Applying at the service desk
You can only exchange your foreign driving licence by appointment at Raadhuisstraat 2, 7001 EW Doetinchem.
By appointment
Make an appointment via Rijbewijs, aanvragen of verlengen | Gemeente Doetinchem, or call 0031 314 377 377.
You pay a fee for this service. For more information, contact the municipality Contact en openingstijden | Gemeente Doetinchem.
You must pay that fee at the time of application.
You can collect the driver's license five working days after the day of the application. You must make an appointment for this. Collect your driver's license within 3 months. After that your driver's license will expire and you will have to apply for a new one.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Doetinchem