Tue, 29 May 2012
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Moving to
Getting Started
What expats need to know before driving in the Netherlands
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Are you within your legal rights when driving in the Netherlands? We clarify the most common expat misconceptions.Getting behind the steering wheel in the Netherlands could be leading you on a fast track into a legal minefield. If you don’t know the circumstances under which you can drive a car with a foreign registration plate in the Netherlands or if an international driving license is valid, then read on, you may find that you are currently not within your legal rights. Our driving expert Michael Davidson who runs The International School of Driving (DriveRight) in the Netherlands has the answers.
Legal age for driving a motor vehicle is 18 years
When driving in the Netherlands, expats often overlook that the minimum legal age for driving a moped is 16 years and for driving a motor vehicle, like a car, 18 years. Even if you have somebody staying with you under those ages, and who drives ‘back home’ they are not allowed to drive in the Netherlands.
When international driving licenses are valid
Also remember that an international driving license is only valid with a valid national license and only for persons who are not registered in Holland as a resident. Therefore only tourists can use this combination. As soon as you become a resident within a municipality in the Netherlands, you can only use your license for a certain period of time. If the license was issued in one of the EU or EEA countries this will generally be ten years after the issue date. For other licenses it is 185 days. To continue driving legally after these periods you will either have to exchange your license for a Dutch one or you will have to take the Dutch theory and road test.
Expatica/ NG
The restriction of driving a foreign license plate extends to hire cars.
It seems the restriction is related to having a dutch drivers license.
I have a question that I'm confused about. What happens if I'm a resident for more than the allotted grace period, and I rent a car without having a Dutch drivers license? Is this not allowed? Asking at Hertz they said this was not a problem, but I was not convinced. It does seem unfair that a tourist is able to rent a car but I am not; however I can imagine this is the case.
To continue driving legally after these periods you will either have to exchange your license for a Dutch one.
What is the time limit you can exchange your license? I have a UK license but haven't done anything with it since being here for 10 years. Can I still exchange or do I have to take a test?
Let me share regarding the diving license:
If you are a EU citizen you do not need to have a DUTCH driving license is you come to live in NL. You ONLY need to make the registration on city hall (Gement). I made this at 14 years ago and this is an European law.
OK - but what is the time limit you can exchange your licence as stated in the article?
You dont have to changes your drivers license.
But if you loose or need to renew the drivers license from the original country it becomes administratively difficult if you are not living there anymore.
but if you are caught in holland with a offence where your drivers licensee could be confiscated and its not dutch they cant confiscate it as its been issued by another country.
Bob - it states in the original article that you do have to exchange your driver's licence:
To continue driving legally after these periods you will either have to exchange your license for a Dutch one or you will have to take the Dutch theory and road test.
This just, once again, proves how difficult it is in Holland to get any concrete answers regarding the driving licence.
I noticed that there seems to be a lot of confusion about the Dutch Driving Licence, and therefore i outline the rules as follows:
In General
Considering the fact that the Dutch driving licence is highly valued all over the world, those holding one can have it renewed, even when living abroad.
Obtaining
Due to legislation, effective from January 1 st 1993, those taking up permanent residence in The Netherlands may not continue to drive with either their national nor any international driving permit or licence, but by law must apply for the Dutch driving licence, either by means of:
► Sub 1: an Exchange Procedure;
► Sub 2: a Test Procedure.
Note: in either case, the Dutch driving licence can only be obtained from the (Local) Municipality - in which you reside - after you have been a resident within The Netherlands for at least 185 days; this does NOT apply for licences from EU/EEA Countries.
Sub 1: The Exchange Procedure
After having been registered with a Municipal Registrars Office in The Netherlands, you are considered to be a resident and not a tourist any more. From then on, a foreign driving licence can only be used for driving in The Netherlands for 185 days or for directly obtaining a Dutch driving licence, if this licence was issued by a country in one of the following groups:
The EU/EEA Member Group:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
The Bilateral Agreement Group:
Canada (Toronto), Chinese Tapei, Israel, Japan, Korea, Monaco, The Dutch Antilles
I have been living in Amsterdam for 7 years and have always only had my UK driving licence.
I was told that those on 30% ruling dont need a Dutch licence. Is that correct?
If I exchange my licence for a NL licence do I lose my UK licence?
Thanks for any help.
Hi UKexpat,
Our Expert Michael Davidson will answer you more quickly if you ask your question via our Ask-the-expert section under the Transport category.
http://www.expatica.com/nl/ask_expert/expert/Travel-Transport-Michael-Davidson.html
I hope this helps.
Canada (Toronto)? As far as I know, only the province of Quebec has an agreement with the Netherlands. If your licence is not from that province, and you do not have the 30% ruling, you have to undergo the testing/lesson process.
The Dutch driver's licence is highly valued all over the world? That's probably news to the rest of the world...
The Dutch driver's license probably won't get you much farther in the rest of the world than any other EU driver's license. Have most adults in the rest of the world even heard of the Netherlands? I strictly mean Netherlands, not Holland or Amsterdam! I got the 30 percent ruling and I just gave my US license to the local municipal and got my Dutch license 3 or 4 weeks later. The 30 percent ruling doesn't mean that you can just use your home country's license! Also, for those Americans who are thinking about shipping their car here, expect to pay up to 1000 euros to get your car road worthy. Those douche-bags at the RDW (equivalent to DOLs in the US) will always find something "wrong" with your car just to make a buck or two! Do your best to get you Dutch employer to agree to pay for that!
Hi CV,
You are right about Canada: the Canadian Provence of Quebec has an agreement with the Netherlands. Read our article Driving in the Netherlands which states the same:
http://www.expatica.com/nl/lifestyle_leisure/lifestyle/driving-and-parking-in-holland-7468_9062.html
Learning to drive in NL is not easy. Once you get the license you must be a good driver! Fifth attempt isn't unusual.
EditorNL
Hello everybody, I am an EU citizen, registered in the city hall (geemente), working in NL but still resident in Italy.
I would like to buy a car in my home country, Italy, and bring it to The Netherlands. I know that with an Italian (EU in general) plate I am allowed to drive in NL for a maximum period of six months. After that I shall register my car, put a Dutch plate and pay the import tax. However, I 've been told by some colleagues that this rule is not applicable anymore because of the freedom of circulation within the EU. One of my colleague clarified that this is applicable when the car is own by me and another person which lives in Italy. I checked the RDW site and I don't understand much. May somebody enlighten me about what's true and what is made up? Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas
The restriction of driving a foreign license plate extends to hire cars.
It seems the restriction is related to having a dutch drivers license.
I have a question that I'm confused about. What happens if I'm a resident for more than the allotted grace period, and I rent a car without having a Dutch drivers license? Is this not allowed? Asking at Hertz they said this was not a problem, but I was not convinced. It does seem unfair that a tourist is able to rent a car but I am not; however I can imagine this is the case.
To continue driving legally after these periods you will either have to exchange your license for a Dutch one.
What is the time limit you can exchange your license? I have a UK license but haven't done anything with it since being here for 10 years. Can I still exchange or do I have to take a test?
Let me share regarding the diving license:
If you are a EU citizen you do not need to have a DUTCH driving license is you come to live in NL. You ONLY need to make the registration on city hall (Gement). I made this at 14 years ago and this is an European law.
OK - but what is the time limit you can exchange your licence as stated in the article?
You dont have to changes your drivers license.
But if you loose or need to renew the drivers license from the original country it becomes administratively difficult if you are not living there anymore.
but if you are caught in holland with a offence where your drivers licensee could be confiscated and its not dutch they cant confiscate it as its been issued by another country.
Bob - it states in the original article that you do have to exchange your driver's licence:
To continue driving legally after these periods you will either have to exchange your license for a Dutch one or you will have to take the Dutch theory and road test.
This just, once again, proves how difficult it is in Holland to get any concrete answers regarding the driving licence.
I noticed that there seems to be a lot of confusion about the Dutch Driving Licence, and therefore i outline the rules as follows:
In General
Considering the fact that the Dutch driving licence is highly valued all over the world, those holding one can have it renewed, even when living abroad.
Obtaining
Due to legislation, effective from January 1 st 1993, those taking up permanent residence in The Netherlands may not continue to drive with either their national nor any international driving permit or licence, but by law must apply for the Dutch driving licence, either by means of:
► Sub 1: an Exchange Procedure;
► Sub 2: a Test Procedure.
Note: in either case, the Dutch driving licence can only be obtained from the (Local) Municipality - in which you reside - after you have been a resident within The Netherlands for at least 185 days; this does NOT apply for licences from EU/EEA Countries.
Sub 1: The Exchange Procedure
After having been registered with a Municipal Registrars Office in The Netherlands, you are considered to be a resident and not a tourist any more. From then on, a foreign driving licence can only be used for driving in The Netherlands for 185 days or for directly obtaining a Dutch driving licence, if this licence was issued by a country in one of the following groups:
The EU/EEA Member Group:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
The Bilateral Agreement Group:
Canada (Toronto), Chinese Tapei, Israel, Japan, Korea, Monaco, The Dutch Antilles
I have been living in Amsterdam for 7 years and have always only had my UK driving licence.
I was told that those on 30% ruling dont need a Dutch licence. Is that correct?
If I exchange my licence for a NL licence do I lose my UK licence?
Thanks for any help.
Hi UKexpat,
Our Expert Michael Davidson will answer you more quickly if you ask your question via our Ask-the-expert section under the Transport category.
http://www.expatica.com/nl/ask_expert/expert/Travel-Transport-Michael-Davidson.html
I hope this helps.
Canada (Toronto)? As far as I know, only the province of Quebec has an agreement with the Netherlands. If your licence is not from that province, and you do not have the 30% ruling, you have to undergo the testing/lesson process.
The Dutch driver's licence is highly valued all over the world? That's probably news to the rest of the world...
The Dutch driver's license probably won't get you much farther in the rest of the world than any other EU driver's license. Have most adults in the rest of the world even heard of the Netherlands? I strictly mean Netherlands, not Holland or Amsterdam! I got the 30 percent ruling and I just gave my US license to the local municipal and got my Dutch license 3 or 4 weeks later. The 30 percent ruling doesn't mean that you can just use your home country's license! Also, for those Americans who are thinking about shipping their car here, expect to pay up to 1000 euros to get your car road worthy. Those douche-bags at the RDW (equivalent to DOLs in the US) will always find something "wrong" with your car just to make a buck or two! Do your best to get you Dutch employer to agree to pay for that!
Hi CV,
You are right about Canada: the Canadian Provence of Quebec has an agreement with the Netherlands. Read our article Driving in the Netherlands which states the same:
http://www.expatica.com/nl/lifestyle_leisure/lifestyle/driving-and-parking-in-holland-7468_9062.html
Learning to drive in NL is not easy. Once you get the license you must be a good driver! Fifth attempt isn't unusual.
EditorNL
Hello everybody, I am an EU citizen, registered in the city hall (geemente), working in NL but still resident in Italy.
I would like to buy a car in my home country, Italy, and bring it to The Netherlands. I know that with an Italian (EU in general) plate I am allowed to drive in NL for a maximum period of six months. After that I shall register my car, put a Dutch plate and pay the import tax. However, I 've been told by some colleagues that this rule is not applicable anymore because of the freedom of circulation within the EU. One of my colleague clarified that this is applicable when the car is own by me and another person which lives in Italy. I checked the RDW site and I don't understand much. May somebody enlighten me about what's true and what is made up? Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas
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