Moving to the Netherlands - The Driving Licence

If you settle in the Netherlands, for a limited period you can continue to use your driving licence issued abroad. The length of this period depends on the country in which you obtained your driving licence. Once this 'transitional period' expires, you must obtain a Dutch driving licence. If you hold a driving licence issued in one of the Member States of the European Union or in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway (EU/EEA), as a rule you can continue to use it up to 10 years after the date of issue.

If your driving licence was issued more than nine years ago, you can continue to use it for another year, provided your driving licence is still valid. During that period, you must apply for a Dutch driving licence.

A driving licence issued in one of the Member States of the European Union or in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway is valid in the Netherlands at all times for drivers in the field of international traffic.

Driver's Diploma

If you were born after 30 June 1955, you will need, in addition to a 'C' driving licence, a 'driver's diploma' (chauffeursdiploma, official title 'CCV-B-diploma') in order to drive a lorry with a permissible maximum weight exceeding 7 500 kg, or a bus, on a professional basis.

If you were born before the above date or do not drive such a lorry or bus on a professional basis, then you do not need to obtain a driver's diploma. A 'C' driving licence will suffice. You must, however, sit a comprehensive theoretical exam, divided into three parts. The three theoretical exams are known as 'Verkeer C' ('Traffic C'), 'Administratie Goederenvervoer rijbewijs' ('Administrative road haulage driving licence') and 'Techniek rijbewijs' ('Technical driving licence').

The 'Traffic C' exam is the same as for the driver's diploma. The other two exams are somewhat more comprehensive for the driver's diploma.

For further information, contact the: 

• Commissie Verkeer (Transport Commission) Tel: (070) 372 07 00

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.