Exchange a driving licence from outside EU/EEA or Switzerland

A driving licence issued outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland is valid for only a short period in the Netherlands. When you come to live in the Netherlands, you can still use your foreign driving licence for a maximum of 185 days. In some cases you can exchange your foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence. You need to apply at the municipality.

  • Go in person to the Department of 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.

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

Exchanging a driving licence costs € 51.10.

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 Department of Public Service counter at City Hall Spui or the Leyweg City Office. You can make an appointment to do this.

When you apply for a Dutch driving licence you must turn in your foreign driving licence. You decide yourself whether you will continue to drive during the application process. If you are stopped by the police you could get a fine for driving without a licence. Read more on the Begin external link: website of the RDW(External link), end external link..

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