Okay, so today I’m going to talk about how I finally got my Dutch driving license. It was a bit of a journey, let me tell you.
First off, I found out that you gotta be at least 18 years old to get a proper driving license here in the Netherlands. Makes sense, right? Then, obviously, you have to pass both a theory and a practical driving test. These tests are no joke, so you better study up and practice a lot.
Once I got the tests out of the way, I had to gather some documents. I needed my valid Dutch residence permit, and, of course, the paperwork showing I passed my driving tests. With these in hand, I headed over to my local city office.
The process at the city office wasn’t too bad. I filled out some forms, paid the fees, and they took my photo. They told me it would take a few weeks to process everything. The waiting was probably the worst part, to be honest. You’re so close, but you still can’t legally drive!
Finally, I got a letter saying my license was ready! I went back to the city office, picked it up, and that was it. I was officially a licensed driver in the Netherlands! It felt great to finally have it in my hand after all that work.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I needed:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass the theory and practical driving tests
- Valid Dutch residence permit
- Go to the local city office, fill out forms, pay the fee
- Wait a few weeks
- Pick up the driving license from the city office
Getting a driving license here is not cheap, I spent almost 3000 euros in total. This includes driving lessons, study materials, exam fees, everything. So be prepared for that!
Anyway, that’s my experience getting a Dutch driving license. It was a bit of a process, but definitely worth it in the end. Now I can drive anywhere in the Netherlands!
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