Getting a Dutch driving licence runs through the CBR (the national examining body), and the process is full of Dutch terms even though you can sit the tests in English. Whether you are learning from scratch or exchanging a foreign licence, a little driving vocabulary smooths every step. Here is what to know.
First: do you even need to test?
Before booking anything, check whether you can simply exchange (omwisselen) your foreign licence. As iamexpat’s driving-licence guide explains, some licences (and 30%-ruling holders) can be swapped without a test, while others require passing the Dutch exams. Confirm your situation first, it can save you months and a lot of money. If you converted a licence, our kennismigrant cheat sheet on exchanging a foreign driving licence covers that route.
The exams (yes, in English)
If you must test, there are two parts, and you can take them in English. As guides to passing the theory exam in English note and DutchReview’s licence guide covers:
| Exam | Dutch | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Theory | Theorie-examen | 65 questions, ~30 min, 3 parts |
| Hazard perception | Gevaarherkenning | Spot the developing hazard |
| Practical | Praktijkexamen | ~55 min drive with an examiner |
| Interim test | Tussentijdse toets | Optional mid-course practice exam |
The theory test covers gevaarherkenning (hazard perception), traffic knowledge, and traffic insight. The practical is about a 55-minute drive.
The part that trips people up is gevaarherkenning: you see a photo and must decide in seconds whether to brake, release the gas, or do nothing, and the “right” answer is about the developing hazard, not just the rules. Do plenty of practice exams, and budget for lessons: instructors typically recommend 20 to 35 before the practical if you are new to driving. The pass is not free either, so prepare properly rather than booking the exam on optimism.
The driving vocabulary that helps
Even testing in English, you live the process in Dutch: lessons with a rijinstructeur (driving instructor), road signs, and your rijschool (driving school). Useful words: rijbewijs (licence), voorrang (right of way), rotonde (roundabout), invoegen (to merge), snelheid (speed), uitrit (exit/driveway), fietsers (cyclists, who you must always watch for here). Knowing these makes lessons faster and signs instantly readable. For the wider road culture, see the changing rules on fatbikes in Amsterdam, and for public transport, what conductors announce on Dutch trains. You collect the physical licence at the gemeente, like other documents.
The bottom line
Check first whether you can omwisselen your foreign licence, it may skip the tests entirely. If you must sit the CBR, both the theorie-examen and praktijkexamen are available in English, so Dutch is not strictly required. But learning the driving vocabulary, voorrang, rotonde, invoegen, makes lessons quicker, signs clearer, and the whole process far less stressful.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the practical Dutch around driving, the words for road signs, lessons, and the test, by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can follow your instructor, read the signs, and handle the CBR process with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the Dutch driving test in English?
The CBR theory exam (theorie-examen) is offered in both Dutch and English, so you can sit it in English. The practical exam can be done in any language; if you need it, your driving school can arrange an interpreter. So you do not strictly need Dutch to get a licence, but knowing the driving vocabulary helps with lessons and signs.
How does the Dutch CBR theory exam work?
It covers three areas, hazard perception (gevaarherkenning), traffic knowledge, and traffic insight, with 65 questions in about 30 minutes (more time available if eligible). It is multiple-choice with situational and hazard-spotting tasks. You can take it in English, and most learners prepare with practice exams before booking through the CBR.
Do I need a Dutch licence if I already have a foreign one?
It depends on where it is from and your residence status. Some licences can be exchanged (omwisselen) without a test, for example under the 30%-ruling, while others require passing the Dutch theory and practical exams. Check the exchange rules first; if you must test, the CBR exams (available in English) are the route.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for driving and the CBR?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the practical Dutch around driving, the words for road signs, lessons, and the test, by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can follow your instructor, read the signs, and handle the CBR process with confidence.
