Can I drive in the Netherlands with an Indian license ?

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

Not a simple answer as you haven't told us anything about your circumstances.  Basically, as a tourist, it you want to rent a car, it will depend on the T&C's of your rental provider, so ask them first.

If you are coming to the Netherlands to live, then you will need to hand in your Indian licence in exchange for a Dutch driving licence; you do this at the Gemeentehuis, you generally have 6 months to do this.  The only thing you need to be aware of is that your Indian licence must be valid at the time you apply for a Dutch licence.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Hi,

If you are going to live in the Netherlands then unfortunately your Indian drivers license cannot be exchanged for a Netherlands drivers license. You still can use it for 185 days after which you have to get a Dutch drivers license.
See: https://www.rdw.nl/over-rdw/information … ng-licence

If you come here as a tourist then see: https://www.rdw.nl/over-rdw/information … ng-licence

Thanks all

MartijnR wrote:

Hi,

If you are going to live in the Netherlands then unfortunately your Indian drivers license cannot be exchanged for a Netherlands drivers license. You still can use it for 185 days after which you have to get a Dutch drivers license.
See: https://www.rdw.nl/over-rdw/information … ng-licence

If you come here as a tourist then see: https://www.rdw.nl/over-rdw/information … ng-licence

There is an exception to this rule. HIghly skilled migrants who are in the 30% tax ruling, can exchange their driving licenses even if they are not in the RDW list of countries eligible to exchange.

https://www.amsterdam.nl/en/civil-affai … e-foreign/

I know some Indians who did exchange their driving license for a NL one  in Amsterdam.  The above link has detais.