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.
Municipality of Oudewater: Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence
When do you exchange your foreign driving license for a Dutch driving licence?
-If your driver's license comes from the EU, EEA or EFTA and expires.
-If your driving license is not from the EU, EEA or EFTA and you have been in the Netherlands for more than 185 days.
Please note: you must live in the Netherlands and be registered with a municipality to exchange a foreign driving licence.
-You have a valid proof of identity (passport, ID card or residence permit).
-You are registered in the municipality of Woerden.
-You are working in the Netherlands temporarily and are entitled to the 30% facility.
-You hve to come to town hall yourself.
What should you bring to your appointment?
-Your foreign driver's license.
-A valid ID.
-A health statement from the CBR.
-A passport photo that meets all photo requirements.
-You must make an appointment with the municipality.
-You must go to town hall for your appointment and hand in all the necessary documents.
-You can collect your driver's license after 5 working days. You have to make an appointment for collecting your driver's licence.
Please check the website of the Woerden municipality for an overview of current costs
-You can collect your driver's license after 5 working days.
-You must collect your driver's license within 3 months.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Oudewater