Whether your foreign driver's licence is valid in the Netherlands depends on the country you are from.
EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland
If your driving licence was issued in a Member State of the European Union or in Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you can register it in the Netherlands or exchange it for a Dutch license. To do so, you must report to the municipal office within one year of taking up residency in the Netherlands.
Countries from outside the EU and EEA
You may continue to use your licence for a maximum of 185 days after making residence in the Netherlands, after which you must pass a CBR driving test. Please note that during these 185 days you may be obliged in certain cases to show on demand an international driving license. An international driving licence can be obtained at CBR (National Driver's Licence Agency; in Dutch: Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen). Your embassy can give you more information about the specific cases in which an international driving license is required.
Dutch procedure to obtain a driving licence
In the Netherlands you can obtain a driving licence after passing a theory test and a practical driving test. The normal procedure is to take practical driving lessons with a driving school (rijschool). You can start with these practical lessons before you have passed your theory test. Once your driving instructor thinks you are capable of passing the test, they will apply for a test appointment for you. During the test, an examiner will assess your driving skills. In the Netherlands, most people will not take it for granted that they will pass the test the first time. In fact, it is not uncommon to take the test several times before passing. CBR, the national driver licence agency, is responsible for organizing and conducting driving tests.
