Do I Need an International Driving Permit in the Netherlands?Rule for all foreign drivers
Drivers who live outside the Netherlands may use a valid non-EU/EEA licence but must be able to show an IDP with it if stopped. New residents can drive on it for 185 days.
- You need: An IDP
Source: Municipality of Amstelveen (Dutch local government) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rule for all foreign drivers
Drivers who live outside the Netherlands may use a valid non-EU/EEA licence but must be able to show an IDP with it if stopped. New residents can drive on it for 185 days.
- You need: An IDP
Source: Municipality of Amstelveen (Dutch local government) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rules for all foreign drivers in the Netherlands
Drivers who live outside the Netherlands may use a valid non-EU/EEA licence but must be able to show an IDP with it if stopped. New residents can drive on it for 185 days.
- You need: An IDP
- How long a visitor can drive: While a visitor; new residents 185 days
Source: Municipality of Amstelveen (Dutch local government) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Which IDP version the Netherlands accepts
The Netherlands is a party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Convention, so both IDP formats are recognised.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 19 September 1952) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 8 November 2007) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for the Netherlands
Ask for the 1949 or 1968 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1949 or 1968 IDP). In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
No IDP needed with a UK licence or an EU/EEA licence. An IDP is recommended for Canadian licence holders.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: UK FCDO, updated 11 August 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersIDP recommended.Source: Government of Canada, updated 9 October 2026- EU/EEA licence holdersEU/EEA licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can drive in the Netherlands on a UK driving licence.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for the Netherlands, updated 11 August 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You should carry an international driving permit.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for the Netherlands, updated 9 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in the Netherlands with a foreign licence?
Drivers who live outside the Netherlands may use a valid non-EU/EEA licence but must be able to show an IDP with it if stopped. New residents can drive on it for 185 days. Source: Municipality of Amstelveen (Dutch local government).
How long can a visitor drive in the Netherlands?
While a visitor; new residents 185 days. Source: Municipality of Amstelveen (Dutch local government).
Can I drive in the Netherlands with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. The Netherlands is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (acceded 8 November 2007), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in the Netherlands with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. The Netherlands is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (ratified 19 September 1952), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in the Netherlands?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in the Netherlands. Source: UK FCDO, updated 11 August 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in the Netherlands?
Recommended, not strictly required. Source: Government of Canada, updated 9 October 2026.
Do EU licence holders need an IDP in the Netherlands?
No. An EU/EEA driving licence is recognised in the Netherlands. Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC.
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in Belgium?
- Do I need an IDP in Germany?
- Do I need an IDP in the United Kingdom?
- How to get citizenship of the Netherlands
Sources and methodology
- Municipality of Amstelveen (Dutch local government): rules for foreign drivers in the Netherlands (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for the Netherlands. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for the Netherlands. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- Your Europe (European Union): recognition of driving licences, Directive 2006/126/EC.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above were checked by hand against the government text on 9 November 2026. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.