Everything you need to know about driving in the Netherlands

Are you planning to visit the Netherlands soon? Although it is known as the land of bicycles, the car remains the ideal means of transport for comfortably covering long distances and enjoying the landscape.

The minimum age and official documents for a European country

The Netherlands is a member of the European Union, so your valid national driving license is sufficient. As in most places, the minimum age to drive a car is 18 years.

Watch your speed

Keep a close eye on your speedometer, as the maximum speed limit is often different. On highways, the limit is 120 km/h, on expressways it is 100 km/h, and on other roads outside built-up areas, it is 80 km/h. Within built-up areas and in cities, the allowed speed is 50 km/h, as in most countries.

Respect the maximum allowed blood alcohol level

As in most other European countries, you are allowed a maximum of 0.5 g/l of alcohol in your blood. Note that if you obtained your driving license less than five years ago, the allowed blood alcohol level is only 0.2 g/l.

Parking: be mindful of other means of transport

The Netherlands places a high value on ecology, public transport, bicycles, and pedestrians. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to park your vehicle less than 12 meters from a bus stop or less than 5 meters from a pedestrian crossing.