Exchange a driving licence from outside EU/EEA or Switzerland

• Go in person to the Public Service counter at City Hall Spui or the Leyweg City Office to exchange your driving licence.
• A municipal official will take your foreign driving licence. You will get a copy and a receipt.
• The municipal official will forward your application and foreign driving licence to the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW).
• Has everything been approved? You will get a notification from the RDW when you can collect the driving licence at the municipality. Your Dutch driving licence is valid for a maximum of 10 years.
• You need to pick up your driving licence in person at Begin link: City Hall Spui or the Leyweg City Office, end link.  (depending on where you applied for it). You must collect it within 3 months after you apply for it. After that the document will be invalidated and the municipality will be obliged to destroy it. Do you still want a driving licence after this 3-month period? Then you have to fill in a new application and pay for it again.
• You will not get your old driving licence back. The RDW will send it to the country which issued it.

• A passport photo.
  There are strict requirements for passport photos. Read these requirements on the Begin external link: website of the Government of the Netherlands(External link), end external link..
• A Begin link: valid form of identification, end link. .
• The driving licence you want to exchange. You will not get it back.
• Would you like to exchange a driving licence which is only written in an alphabet which is not used in the Netherlands (for example, Japanese)? Then you will need to bring a translation of the driving licence with you to the municipal counter. The translation must be made by a sworn translator, the embassy or the consulate.
• A Begin link: Statement of Health, end link. , in certain cases.
• Are you eligible for the 30% ruling for highly-skilled migrants (Begin external link: see the website of the Belastingdienst(External link), end external link.)? Then bring a letter from the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) in Heerlen.

In the following cases you can exchange your foreign driving licence in The Hague for a Dutch driving licence:

• You are registered in the Municipality of The Hague.
• You have a valid residence permit and a valid driving licence which meets all the conditions.
• You have a valid driving licence from a country which is on the list. See the list of countries on the Begin external link: website of the RDW(External link), end external link..

• You have a valid driving licence from a country which is not on the list and you gave up your Dutch driving licence for it at the time. Your Dutch driving licence was still valid after 30 June 1985.
• You have a valid driving licence from a country which is not on the list and the Minister of Finance has granted you the 30% ruling for highly-skilled migrants (Begin external link: see the website of the Belastingdienst(External link), end external link.).
• Are you unable to exchange your driving licence? Then you will first have to pass a theory and practical test. After that you can Begin link: Apply for a new driving licence, end link. .

Exchanging a driving licence costs € 51.10 (in 2024) or € 52.10 (in 2025).

These fees must be paid upfront when you submit your application. You can pay in cash or use a bank card at City Hall Spui. You can only use a bank card at the Leyweg City Office. Unfortunately it is not possible to pay with a credit card.

The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) will notify you when you can pick up your driving licence at the municipality. Your Dutch driving licence is valid for a maximum of 10 years.

To exchange your driving licence you must visit the Public Service counter at City Hall Spui or the Leyweg City Office. You can make an appointment to do this.

• Begin link: Exchange a driving licence from EU/EEA or Switzerland, end link.
• Begin external link: Which countries are members of the EU/EEA?(External link), end external link. (website of the IND)
• Begin external link: Exchanging a foreign driving licence(External link), end external link. (website of the RDW)
• Begin external link: Participating in Dutch Traffic(External link), end external link. (Government.nl)
• Begin external link: Road Traffic Signs and Regulations in the Netherlands(External link), end external link. (Government.nl)