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 with the RDW chatbot (in Dutch) whether you can exchange your driving licence. 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.
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.
Driving license, exchange
Have you acquired the professional competence to drive a truck or bus abroad?
Then you may be able to exchange this for a Dutch Declaration of Professional Competence. More information about this can be found at the RDW.
In certain cases, a driving license obtained outside the Netherlands can be exchanged for a Dutch driving licence. This is only possible if you:
- live in the Netherlands;
- are a Dutch national or have a valid residence document;
- you have a driving license from a country with which the Netherlands has exchange agreements. The list of countries can be found on the RDW website.
Driving with an EU driving license in the Netherlands or exchanging your EU driving licence?
On July 13, 2017, a number of regulations were changed. For more information, visit www.rdw.nl.
- a valid proof of identity;
- 1 color passport photo that looks good and is no more than 6 months old at the time of application. The photo provides a sharp, natural representation of the applicant (see also Passport photo, guidelines on www.olst-wijhe.nl).
- possibly a Declaration of Suitability;
- your debit card or sufficient cash;
- your valid foreign driving license.
To exchange a military or foreign driving licence, the CBR may ask for a Self-declaration (you must first request this from the CBR).
You must first make an appointment for the exchange of the driving licence. You take the following with you:
- a valid proof of identity;
- 1 color passport photo that looks good and is no more than 6 months old at the time of application. The photo provides a sharp, natural representation of the applicant (see also Passport photo, guidelines on www.olst-wijhe.nl).
- possibly a Declaration of Suitability;
- your debit card or sufficient cash;
- your valid foreign driving license.
To exchange a military or foreign driving licence, the CBR may ask for a Self-declaration (you must first request this from the CBR).
- Driving license application - € 41.60
- Extra costs urgent application - € 34.10
- Administrative costs if the driving license is missing - € 25.35
- Self-declaration - € 44.05
You can collect the new driving license after 5 working days. You can make an appointment online for this. You have 3 months to collect your driving license.
Do you need the driving license faster?
It is possible to apply for a driving license urgently. If you apply for the driving license before 2 p.m., you can usually pick it up the next working day.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Olst-Wijhe
Visiting addresses
Raadhuisplein 1
8131BN Wijhe
| Monday | 09.00-12.00 |
| Tuesday | 09.00-12.00 |
| Wednesday | 09.00-12.00 |
| Thursday | 09.00-12.00 |
| Friday | 09.00-12.00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Jan Schamhartstraat 5b
8121CM Olst
| Monday | 13.30-16.30 |
| Tuesday | 13.30-16.30 |
| Wednesday | 13.30-20.00 |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 13.30-16.30 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |