To drive a car in the Netherlands you must have a valid license, be aged 18, have third party insurance and be driving a registered vehicle. Ann Maher on what you need to know about driving in the Netherlands.

To drive a car in the Netherlands you must have a valid license, be aged 18, have third party insurance and be driving a registered vehicle. Once you are a resident of the Netherlands, you cannot drive a car registered in another country.

Exchanging a driving license
To exchange (omwissel) your existing national driving license (rijbewijs) for a Dutch one, you must fit into one of the categories below. Otherwise you can use it for 185 days after arrival after which you must pass the regular CBR theory and driving tests (available in English but you may need to pay extra).

“Drivers in international traffic” - essentially a tourist or short-term visitor, are non-residents on the Dutch roads and do not need a Dutch driving license. Dutch licenses are generally issued for 10 years. If you have a license from an EU country, it is also valid for 10 years from the date of issue. You may like to exchange it anyway:  it is a valid proof of identity in many cases.

Licenses that can be exchanged:

• Aruba, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, (States of) Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Isle of Man, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Quebec, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland
• Specific licenses from Taiwan, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Andorra, South Korea, Canadian Province of Quebec
• Residents with the 30% ruling status (whatever nationality).

Apply at a municipal office for an ’Aanvraag omwisseling voor Nederlands rijbewijs‘ form; an uitstrekkel: a proof of your registration details; and an ’Uitgebreide Eigen Verklaring‘ a declaration of health form. There are fees for these. If you are applying under the 30% ruling you will need a statement from the tax office. You will forfeit your licence (unless applying under the 30% ruling).

Additional documentation may be required in certain circumstances so check with your own embassy for any specific translation or authentication requirements. You need a special license for a brommer or motorbike and must be over 16 to get one. For all information on driving licences visit the website www.rijbewijs.nl where you’ll find an English language section with comprehensive information.

Registering and owning a car
The hefty disincentive for bringing a car into the Netherlands is the private motor vehicle and motor cycle tax (BPM) levied as a percentage of the value of the car. Exemption certificates are dealt with by customs www.douane.nl. There are many other tax implications for car owners: consult the website www.belastingdienst.nl for full details (in English). All cars must be registered with the RDW. You can register a car at a post office with all the usual identification documents and certificate of ownership, statutory liability insurance (WA), and safety certificate (APK). For second hand vehicles, there is a transfer certificate Overschrijvingsbewijs.

A seller should insure their previous ownership certificate has been officially invalidated. After registering your car, you will receive a bill for road tax motorrijtuigenbelasting from the tax office.

The vehicle's registration certificate Kentekenbewijs, and the certificate of ownership Tenaamstellingsbewijs must be in the car at all times when on the road.

The APK test (at an RDW approved garage) measures the road worthiness of your vehicle. For cars brought into the Netherlands, a test is necessary if the car is older than three years. For insurance, check the a-z listings or other sources for suppliers of autoverzekering.

General driving
You drive on the right. Unless otherwise marked, the speed limits are 50 km/hr in the city, 80 km/hr on other roads and 100/120 km/hr on motorways. Traffic is an issue (www.trafficnet.nl) and so is parking, for which you generally need a permit. There are various options for paying for parking, with cash, chip, or via your mobile phone. See www.parkmobiel.nl or www.park-line.nl or www.yellowbrick.nl). Most Dutch drivers are members of motoring organisation ANWB (www.anwb.nl) which can provide breakdown cover (wegenwacht) at home or abroad. Park and Ride (P+R) schemes are in most cities and.  Car-sharing scheme Green Wheels is a popular option (www.greenwheels.com). (See expatica article Dutch community car service Greenwheels.)

Contacts
The Department of Road Transport (www.rdw.nl  Tel: 900 0739 or outside the Netherlands +31 598 393330
Driving licenses (www.rijbewijs.nl/)
Driving tests www.cbr.nl
070 413 0300
You can download a brochure Road Traffic Signs and Regulations from the website of the Ministry of Transport and Public works. www.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl. For information on traffic offences, the BVOM (Bureau for Traffic Enforcement of the Public Prosecution Service has details on its website about common offences (www.verkeershandhaving.nl ).

19 June 2008 

[Copyright Expatica 2008]