To drive in the Netherlands you must be at least 18-years-old. In addition to a valid drivers licence you should always carry your insurance and vehicle documents with you as well as a valid identification or passport. Driving in the Netherlands is fairly easy with short distances and well-maintained highways connecting all of the major cities. The Dutch drive on the right-side of the road as is the case with the majority of the European countries.
Maastricht’s city policy is focused on a car-free city centre meaning that many streets in the city are not accessible by car. This makes biking much more efficient for students.
Driver’s licence
You need a valid driver’s licence to drive in the Netherlands. Whether your foreign driver’s licence is valid, depends on where and when you received your driver’s licence:
- Non-EU driver’s licence: You can only use your licence for 185 days from the point you registered at the municipality if it was issued outside the EU. During that period you must obtain a Dutch driving licence.
- EU driver’s licence: If your driver’s license was issued after January 19th 2013 in an EU country, you can use it for up to 15 years after the issue date in the Netherlands. If your licence was issued before that date, you can use it for up to 10 years.
If you do not have a driver’s licence at all, it is possible to take driving lessons at a driving school. First, you need to pass a theory test. It takes around 40 driving lessons before you can take the driving test. For more information about driver’s licences in the Netherlands click here.
