Destinations / Netherlands
Driving in Netherlands as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Carry an IDP with your licence if it was issued outside the EU.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Netherlands expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h daytime, 130 km/h at night |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Right of way | Watch for cyclists: they have extensive right of way. |
|---|---|
| Crossings | Trams have priority. |
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.02% for novice drivers. |
| City zones | Low-emission zones in major cities. |
On the road in Netherlands
At the pump
Stations sell Euro 95 (E10) and Euro 98 petrol plus Diesel; almost all are self-service and take international cards, with unattended motorway pumps common. Prices are among Europe's highest, around EUR 2.00 per litre for petrol.
After a crash
Call 112 for injuries or blocked roads; for minor damage exchange details and jointly complete the schadeformulier (European Accident Statement) rather than calling police. Move vehicles out of live traffic where safe, but leave them in place and photograph the scene if fault is disputed.
Sources: rac.co.uk · amsterdam.nl · ftnnews.com · business.gov.nl
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Netherlands?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Carry an IDP with your licence if it was issued outside the EU.
Which translation format is used for Netherlands?
Netherlands uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Netherlands ask for a translation?
Requested for non-EU licences at Schiphol and city desks.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Netherlands?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.