What is the Dutch driving license?
The rijbewijs is the official card that shows you may drive a motor vehicle on public roads. It is a polycarbonate card in the standard credit card size of 85.60 × 53.98 mm, protected by holograms, microprinting, UV printing and laser engraving. The photo you hand in for it has to meet the pasfoto rules. The Dutch driving license is recognised across the European Union and in many other countries.
Dutch driving license photo size explained
A Dutch driving license photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high (3.5 × 4.5 cm), the same as a passport photo. In our template the head is about 29 mm from chin to crown, with about 6.5 mm between the top edge and the top of the hair. A print at 600 DPI keeps the photo sharp. The official government photo requirements describe the pose, light and background that apply.
When you need a new photo
You need a new photo when you apply for your first Dutch driving license, when you renew it at your gemeente before it expires, and when you replace a lost or stolen card after you report it to the police. A standard license is valid for 10 years; from the age of 70 it is valid for 5 years, so older drivers renew more often. A foreign national who becomes a resident and exchanges a foreign licence for a local one also needs a photo.
How to get a Dutch driving license
To apply, you must be at least 17 for category B (car) and 18 for other categories, hold a valid passport or ID card and be a resident of the Netherlands. First you complete a health declaration with your GP, which can be submitted online or in person. Then you take lessons at a recognised driving school, register online for the theory test on the CBR website and, after passing it, take the practical test. Finally you apply at your gemeente with your ID, the health declaration, proof of the passed tests and a photo. Check the current fees on the CBR website; the government.nl driving licence pages explain the rules in English.
Categories and the photo
One card can cover several categories: A for motorcycles, B for cars, C for trucks and D for buses. Whatever you drive, the photo rules are the same: one 35×45 mm photo with a plain light background and a neutral face.
Photo checklist
- Correct size: 35×45 mm, head about 29 mm.
- Plain light grey background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Head straight and centred in the photo.
- Your full face visible, no hair over the eyes.
- Sharp colour photo with no filters or retouching of your features.
Other documents from the Netherlands
The Dutch driving license photo uses the same pasfoto size as the Netherlands passport photo and the Dutch ID card photo. Visitors who need a visa can use our Netherlands visa photo page.
