Exchange a driving licence from Caribbean Netherlands

A driving licence that was issued in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba or Sint Eustatius has limited validity in the Netherlands. When you take up residence in the Netherlands, you may use this driving licence for the first 185 days only. After that, you will need to obtain a Dutch driving licence. You may exchange your valid foreign driving licence at the municipality to a Dutch one.

Conditions

• The driving licence must be issued during a stay of at least 185 days in the country where the driving licence was issued.
• You are registered at an address in The Hague.

How do you exchange your driving licence?

• A municipal employee will take your foreign driving licence. You will get a copy and a receipt.
• The municipal employee will forward your application and foreign driving licence to the RDW.
• The RDW will review your application and send you a notification when you can collect the licence at the municipality.
• You pick up your driving licence in person at the city office where you applied for it. You must collect it within 3 months after you apply for it. After that the document will no longer be valid and the municipality will have to destroy it. If you would like a driving licence after this 3-month period, then you will have to apply and pay for it again.
• You will not get your old driving licence back after the exchange. The RDW will send your driving licence to the country which issued it.

Needed for the application

• A passport photo: strict rules apply to the passport photo. Read these requirements on the website of the Dutch government.

• A valid form of identification.

• The driving licence you want to exchange. You will not get it back.
• A Statement of Health.
• Has your foreign driving licence been lost or stolen? Then you will need to fill in a declaration of loss with the police. Make sure to bring the police report as well as a declaration from the authority which issued the driving licence.

Fees

Exchanging a driving licence costs € 44.65 (rate in 2023).
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.

How long does it take?

The Dutch Road Transport Directorate (RDW) will notify you when you can collect your driving licence at the municipality. Your Dutch driving licence is valid for a maximum of 10 years.

Make an appointment

To exchange your driving licence you must visit a counter of the Department of Public Service in person.

You can make an appointment to do this.

Make an appointment (in Dutch)