TRANSPORT

CONDITIONS APPLY TO FOREIGNERS DRIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS, OTHERWISE THERE’S AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

• To drive in the Netherlands you must have a valid licence recognised by

Dutch law, and have third party insurance. • At age 16 you can do the theory exam. • You may take driving lessons for your driving license from the age of 16.5. You can take practical exams from the age of 17. Until the age of 18 you are then allowed to drive under the supervision of a coach.

EXCHANGING A DRIVING LICENCE

• You can use your existing driver’s licence for 185 days after becoming a resident. • During those 185 days, you need to take the CBR theory and driving tests. • You can take both the theory and practical exam in English. • Tourists or short-term visitors are considered nonresidents and do not need a Dutch driving licence. • Still, non-EU nationals should check with their Dutch embassy if an international licence is required. • Dutch licences are generally issued for 10 years. • Foreign licences from EU/EFTA countries can be used in the Netherlands for 10 years from the date of issue. • You may want to exchange it anyway: it is a valid proof of identity in many cases.

LICENSES THAT CAN BE EXCHANGED:

• To exchange (omwisselen) your existing national driving licence (rijbewijs) for a Dutch one, you must fit into the categories below: - You are registered in the Basic Registration

Persons (BRP). - You have a valid residence permit (unless you are a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland). - You are from the EU, the EEA, Switzerland OR are from a country with a special agreement OR you have the 30% ruling - Your current driving license is valid. - Your current driving licence, if issued in a country outside the EU, was issued after being a resident of that country for at least 185 days. • If you do not meet the conditions you cannot exchange your licence for a Dutch one. This means you will need to take a standard theory and practical test at the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (CBR). • To exchange, apply at a municipal office for an “Aanvraag omwisseling voor Nederlands rijbewijs” form (or download it prior from www.rdw.nl) after being registered in the municipality database for 185 consecutive days.

• You may be asked to provide a certificate of fitness (verklaring van geschiktheid), proving you are physically and psychologically fit to drive a vehicle. This statement is needed in the following cases: - You have an EU/EEA or Switzerland driving licence with categories C, CE, C1, D etc - You benefit from the 30% tax ruling - Your driving licence is from the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba - Your driving licence is from one of the countries with a special agreement • If you are 75 years or over you’ll need a medical examination, which the CBR may request for non-EU/

ETFA/Swiss nationals also. • If you are applying under the 30 percent ruling you will need a statement from the tax office’s international department. • Check with all departments if additional documentation is required for your certain situation, and if any document requires translation or authentication. • You will generally forfeit your original licence (unless applying under the 30 percent ruling). • You need a special licence for a bromfiets (moped), snorfiets (light moped), or brommobiel (mobility car) (unless you have a licence of the A or B category) and you must be 16 or over to get one. • For all information on driving licences and tests visit www.rdw.nl or www.rijbewijs.nl. • The hefty hindrance for bringing a car into the

Netherlands is the private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax (BPM) -- levied as a percentage of the value of the car. • Exemption certificates are dealt by customs (www.belastingdienst.nl/douane) • There are many implications affecting car tax calculations: consult the website www.belastingdienst.nl for full details (in English). • Also note that as a Dutch resident you may not drive in a vehicle with foreign registration plates – you will be considered as evading the import duty on the vehicle and road tax, and risk heavy fines. • All cars must be registered with the RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer). If you bring your vehicle from abroad, it must first be reviewed at an RDW inspection station, after which registration plates are handled through the same office. • To register ownership of a Dutch-registered car, go to any post office or RDW–TV (Tenaamstellen

Voertuigen) certified company with: identification documents, certificate of ownership, vehicle registration documents, statutory liability insurance (WA) and safety certificate (APK). • For second hand vehicles, there is a transfer certificate (overschrijvingsbewijs). A seller should ensure their previous ownership certificate has been officially invalidated. • After registering your car, you will receive a bill for road tax (motorrijtuigenbelasting) from the tax office. • The vehicle’s registration card (kentekencard, or bewijs) and the certificate of ownership (tenaamstellingsbewijs) must be in the car at all times when on the road.

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TIPS: TRAFFIC AND PARKING

• Unless otherwise marked, the speed limits are 50 km/hr in the city, 80 km/hr on other roads and 100, 120, or 130 km/hr on motorways. • Traffic is an issue (www.trafficnet.nl) and so is parking, for which you generally need a permit. • Options for paying for parking are cash, chip or via your mobile phone. See www.parkmobiel.nl, www.park-line.nl or www.yellowbrick.nl. • Many Dutch drivers are members of motoring organisation ANWB (www.anwb.nl), which can provide breakdown cover (wegenwacht) at home or abroad. • There are park and ride (P+R) schemes in most cities and the car-sharing scheme Green Wheels is a popular option (www.greenwheels.nl).

CONTACTS

• The Department of Road Transport: www.rdw.nl, 088 008 7447, or +31 (0)59 839 3330 (abroad) • Information on driving licences: www.rijbewijs.nl • Theory and driving tests: www.cbr.nl, 088 227 7700 • “Road Traffic Signs and Regulations” brochure: do a search on www.government.nl to download • Common traffic offences: www.politie.nl/themas/verkeershandhaving.html

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

• The swipecard payment system OV-chipkaart is the official public transport payment system for the metro, bus, tram and train throughout the Netherlands. • There are two types of OV-chipkaarts: anonymous, which anyone can buy from the OV-chipkaart machines or station; or personal, which you can apply for online. • Your pass can be loaded from one of the OV-chipkaart machines strategically placed at train and metro stations, or you can arrange for your personal card to “load” automatically from a bank account. You pay for the distance travelled by swiping it upon entering and leaving your transport station. • Personal products, such as season or discount tickets, can be loaded to your personal OV-chipkaart and you are automatically eligible for discounts. • The OV-chipkaart website (www.ov-chipkaart.nl) also has an English language section where you can find lines of action should you lose your card or forget to swipe out.

Helpline: 0900 0980 (EUR 0.50/min) or @ovgevonden on social media. • Infrequent travellers can buy a single-use chipkaart ticket per trip.

TRAIN

• The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (www.ns.nl), or NS, is the national train company and offers season tickets and discounts for off-peak travel (dal voordeel abonnement), which include up to 40 percent discount off the price of your tickets and up to three people travelling with you. • Either buy a single ticket at a kiosk, or use your

OV-chipkaart to travel on the NS. Make sure you have a minimum EUR 20 uploaded on your OV-chipkaart (EUR 10 if you have a discount pass), and that you swipe out on arrival or your travel costs could triple. • If you forget to swipe out, you have up to six hours to go back and check out, otherwise you must claim back the added costs. Call 030 751 5155 for help with claims. • For certain cities, you can organize the NS Zonetaxi when you buy your train ticket. This is a door-to-door taxi service at fixed prices, for up to four people (starting at

EUR 8,50).

https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information for all information.

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