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 driving licence issued outside the Netherlands
Please note: you must live in the Netherlands and be registered with a municipality to exchange a driving licence that was issued outside the Netherlands. You must hand in your current driving licence when you apply for a Dutch driving licence. You are not allowed to drive until you have received your new driving licence.
Applying at the service desk
You can exchange your driving licence issued outside the Netherlands at the GemeenteLoket (municipal service desk):
Gemeente Maastricht
Mosae Forum 10
6211 DW Maastricht
Appointment
Make an appointment online or dial +31 (0)43 350 4040.
2023 fees
The fee for exchanging a driving licence issued outside the Netherlands for a Dutch driving licence is €48.15
The fee must be paid upon application.
Please be aware that exchanging your driving licence usually takes longer than issuing a new driving licence. The Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer – RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) will send you a letter notifying you when you can collect your licence in person. You must collect your licence within 3 months of receiving the letter. Failure to do so will result in destruction of the newly issued licence.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Maastricht
Visiting address
Mosae Forum 10
6211DW Maastricht
| Monday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Tuesday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Wednesday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 12:30 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |