Applying for or renewing a driving licence
You apply for a driving license at the municipality where you live. To do this, make an appointment and visit us in person. There are also days when you can collect your passport without an appointment. You can also renew a driving licence online at de Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer (RDW). This procedure is faster. You can collect your driving licence at the Town Hall after 2 working days.
Conditions for online renewal
- You are registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) of the municipality of Leeuwarden.
- The applying is for renewal or to add a category.
- You have had a digital photograph taken by a recognised photographer.
- You have added the ID-check to the DigiD app. For this, you will need an Android smartphone version 7.0 or higher or an iPhone 7 or higher with iOS version 13.2 or higher.
Making an appointment to apply, extend or renew
Make an appointment for your visit
The dates you see when making an appointment are the only available dates. We therefore ask you not to contact us for an appointment at another time.
- Making an appointment for the first application.
- Making an appointment to extend or renew.
- Making an appointment to add a category.
Are you unable to make an appointment digitally?
Contact the City of Leeuwarden.
No appointment is required at the following times
- Monday from 1.40 pm to 4.00 pm.
- Tuesday from 8.30 pm to midday.
- Wednesday from 13.40 am to 4.00 pm.
- Thursday from 8.30 am to midday.
- Friday from 08.30 am to midday.
Collecting your driving licence
You can collect your driving licence in person from the Town Hall after five working days. You do not need to make an appointment for this. Take the old (expired) driver’s license with you if you have one, you must hand it in.
What do you need to take with you to the Town Hall?
- Valid proof of ID for a first application.
- Your current driving licence for an extension or renewal.
- A passport photo that meets the requirements.
- Means of payment. We prefer you to pay with PIN.
When is a health certificate required?
For example, if you are 75 or above, have a disability or want to apply for an HGV or bus driving licence. The health certificate contains questions about your health. Once you have completed this certificate, the Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen (CBR) will decide whether you are fit to drive. You will be informed of this automatically.
How to apply?
Apply online for a health certificate.
Unable to apply online?
Request a paper Health Certificate via the CBR.
Are you aged 75 or above?
In that case, you have the option of collecting a paper health certificate from the Town Hall. This costs more than an online application. The fee is € 45.70.
Adding categories
Have you obtained an additional driving licence? For example, your truck driver’s license. Your current driver’s license must be renewed. You will need a health certificate for this purpose. You can apply for this certificate online. Unable to apply online? If you are unable to apply online, you can collect a health certificate in person from the Town Hall.
Driving licence for persons under the age of 18
You are only permitted to drive when accompanied by a coach with a companion card. The coach applies for a companion card. You can arrange this online via the RDW. You can register at least one and a maximum of five coaches. Has guidance been arranged? Then apply for your driver’s license.
Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Dutch one
Do you have a foreign driving license and do you live in the Netherlands? You may temporarily drive in the Netherlands with a foreign driver’s license. After that, you will need to exchange your driving licence through the municipality. Make an appointment to exchange your driving licence. You will find more information at the website of RDW.
New Digital Government Act (chip in driving licence)
The new Digital Government Act came into effect on 1 July 2023. After that date, you can activate the chip in your driving licence. Once you have activated the chip in your driving licence you will be able to use it to log in. This is not mandatory.
Various governmental websites will be using this login function in the future. This provides extra protection for your personal data. Logging in with your driving licence and PIN will give you access to your personal data.
Do you have a driving license that was issued from July 1, 2023
You will then receive a PIN code by post within 5 working days after you have collected your driving licence.
- Have you not received a letter with PIN code after 5 working days? The request a new letter via the DigiD website within 6 weeks.
For questions about the login function
Go to the DigiD website.
Urgent applications
Do you need your driving license sooner than within 5 working days? Then make an urgent request. Apply for your driver’s license at the town hall before 14:00 pm. You will usually be able to collect it on the same working day. Discuss this with the person who processes your application.
Driving licence lost, stolen or relocated
Driving licence lost or stolen
The loss does not invalidate the driving licence. Your passport remains valid until it is registered as no longer valid at the RDW.
- Check if it has been found via the Lost and Found website or contact the City of Leeuwarden.
- Report the disappearance through the RDW website or through the City of Leeuwarden.
- After that, you can apply for a new driving licence. You are not required to report the loss to the police.
Driving license found again
Hand it in at the Town Hall. The driving licence is no longer valid if you have applied for a new one.
Charges
- First application/renewal/exchange: € 51.10.
- Urgent application: € 39.65 extra.
Conditions for online renewal
- You are registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) of the municipality of Leeuwarden.
- The applying is for renewal or to add a category.
- You have had a digital photograph taken by a recognised photographer.
- You have added the ID-check to the DigiD app. For this, you will need an Android smartphone version 7.0 or higher or an iPhone 7 or higher with iOS version 13.2 or higher.
Making an appointment to apply, extend or renew
Make an appointment for your visit
The dates you see when making an appointment are the only available dates. We therefore ask you not to contact us for an appointment at another time.
- Making an appointment for the first application.
- Making an appointment to extend or renew.
- Making an appointment to add a category.
Are you unable to make an appointment digitally?
Contact the City of Leeuwarden.
No appointment is required at the following times
- Monday from 1.40 pm to 4.00 pm.
- Tuesday from 8.30 pm to midday.
- Wednesday from 13.40 am to 4.00 pm.
- Thursday from 8.30 am to midday.
- Friday from 08.30 am to midday.
Collecting your driving licence
You can collect your driving licence in person from the Town Hall after five working days. You do not need to make an appointment for this. Take the old (expired) driver’s license with you if you have one, you must hand it in.
What do you need to take with you to the Town Hall?
- Valid proof of ID for a first application.
- Your current driving licence for an extension or renewal.
- A passport photo that meets the requirements.
- Means of payment. We prefer you to pay with PIN.
When is a health certificate required?
For example, if you are 75 or above, have a disability or want to apply for an HGV or bus driving licence. The health certificate contains questions about your health. Once you have completed this certificate, the Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen (CBR) will decide whether you are fit to drive. You will be informed of this automatically.
How to apply?
Apply online for a health certificate.
Unable to apply online?
Request a paper Health Certificate via the CBR.
Are you aged 75 or above?
In that case, you have the option of collecting a paper health certificate from the Town Hall. This costs more than an online application. The fee is € 45.70.
Adding categories
Have you obtained an additional driving licence? For example, your truck driver’s license. Your current driver’s license must be renewed. You will need a health certificate for this purpose. You can apply for this certificate online. Unable to apply online? If you are unable to apply online, you can collect a health certificate in person from the Town Hall.
Driving licence for persons under the age of 18
You are only permitted to drive when accompanied by a coach with a companion card. The coach applies for a companion card. You can arrange this online via the RDW. You can register at least one and a maximum of five coaches. Has guidance been arranged? Then apply for your driver’s license.
Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Dutch one
Do you have a foreign driving license and do you live in the Netherlands? You may temporarily drive in the Netherlands with a foreign driver’s license. After that, you will need to exchange your driving licence through the municipality. Make an appointment to exchange your driving licence. You will find more information at the website of RDW.
New Digital Government Act (chip in driving licence)
The new Digital Government Act came into effect on 1 July 2023. After that date, you can activate the chip in your driving licence. Once you have activated the chip in your driving licence you will be able to use it to log in. This is not mandatory.
Various governmental websites will be using this login function in the future. This provides extra protection for your personal data. Logging in with your driving licence and PIN will give you access to your personal data.
Do you have a driving license that was issued from July 1, 2023
You will then receive a PIN code by post within 5 working days after you have collected your driving licence.
- Have you not received a letter with PIN code after 5 working days? The request a new letter via the DigiD website within 6 weeks.
For questions about the login function
Go to the DigiD website.
Urgent applications
Do you need your driving license sooner than within 5 working days? Then make an urgent request. Apply for your driver’s license at the town hall before 14:00 pm. You will usually be able to collect it on the same working day. Discuss this with the person who processes your application.
Driving licence lost, stolen or relocated
Driving licence lost or stolen
The loss does not invalidate the driving licence. Your passport remains valid until it is registered as no longer valid at the RDW.
- Check if it has been found via the Lost and Found website or contact the City of Leeuwarden.
- Report the disappearance through the RDW website or through the City of Leeuwarden.
- After that, you can apply for a new driving licence. You are not required to report the loss to the police.
Driving license found again
Hand it in at the Town Hall. The driving licence is no longer valid if you have applied for a new one.
Charges
- First application/renewal/exchange: € 51.10.
- Urgent application: € 39.65 extra.