Licence categories: how to read your licence

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Example with made-up details

AM: moped and microcar

Moped with 2 wheels, or a microcar (brommobiel) with 4 wheels. From 16. If you get licence B, AM is added automatically.

A1: light motorcycle

Motorcycle up to 125 cc. From 18.

A2: mid-size motorcycle

Motorcycle with up to 35 kW of power. From 20.

A: motorcycle

Motorcycle with unlimited power. From 21.

B1: on the card, but not available

European rules require this row on every licence. You can't get B1 in the Netherlands. You may drive the vehicles it covers with licence B.

B: car

Car or van up to 3,500 kg, with up to 8 passengers. You can take the exam from 17; until 18 you drive with a supervisor. This is the licence you get at Rijschool Aysem.

C1: small truck

Truck over 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg. From 18.

C: truck

Truck over 3,500 kg. From 21.

D1: minibus

Bus for more than 8 and up to 16 passengers. From 21.

D: bus

Bus for more than 8 passengers. From 24.

BE: car with heavy trailer

Car with a trailer up to 3,500 kg. From 18.

C1E: small truck with trailer

A category C1 vehicle with a trailer.

CE: truck with trailer

A category C vehicle with a trailer.

D1E: minibus with trailer

A category D1 vehicle with a trailer.

DE: bus with trailer

A category D vehicle with a trailer.

T: tractor

Agricultural or forestry tractor, or a slow motor vehicle. From 16.

10: from

The date you first obtained this category. It stays the same when you renew your licence, so it always shows how long you have held the category.

11: until

You may drive in this category until this date. For B and AM that is usually ten years, for trucks and buses five years. After that you renew the category, or you may no longer drive with it.

12: restrictions and notes

Codes that attach a condition to a category. 01.06 means you may only drive with glasses or lenses, 78 that you may only drive an automatic. A dash means no extra conditions apply.

BSN and licence number

Your citizen service number is your personal number with the Dutch government, and below it is the number of this licence. These numbers link the licence to you in the driving licence register.

ID mark

This mark means you can use the licence to log in online, for example on government, healthcare and pension websites. Licences without this mark cannot do that.

QR code

A code that belongs to the chip in your licence. A reader scans it to unlock the chip; it holds the same code as the line at the bottom of the front.

RDW logo

The logo of the RDW, the organisation that manages the driving licence register and has the licences made. You apply for and collect your licence at your municipality.

Antenna

The copper-coloured lines are an antenna that belongs to the chip in your licence. Through this antenna the chip can be read wirelessly. You see it in the transparent part below and to the left of the RDW logo.

Clear window

A small part of the card you can see through, with an extra image of the holder in it. It is a security feature: a window like this is very hard to copy.

12: codes bottom left

Sometimes codes are not in the right-hand column but here at the bottom left. They work the same way: they attach a condition to your licence, such as driving with glasses or lenses.

What the numbers mean

Along the edge it says what each number on the card means: 1 surname, 2 first names, 3 date and place of birth, 4a date of issue, 4b valid until, 4c issued by, 5 licence number, 10 from, 11 until and 12 restrictions and notes. The numbers are the same across Europe, so a licence can be read anywhere.

European Union model

The licence follows the European model. That is why it looks the same in every EU country and is recognised throughout the EU.

European flag with NL

The European flag with the letters NL shows that this is a Dutch licence in the European model. Other EU countries use the same flag with their own country code.

Rijbewijs

The name of the document, with the English, French and German translation next to it. That way people abroad can see straight away what kind of document it is.

Antenna

The copper-coloured lines are an antenna that belongs to the chip in your licence. Through this antenna the chip can be read wirelessly. You see it in the transparent letters NL to the left of the photo and at the top right of the card.

Text along the edge

It says that the card belongs to the State of the Netherlands and that unauthorised changes make the document invalid. A licence that has been altered no longer counts.

Photo

Your passport photo, so anyone can see that the licence belongs to you. The year below it is your year of birth.

1: surname

Your surname, exactly as it is registered with your municipality. It matches the name in your passport or on your ID card.

2: first names

All your first names, as registered with your municipality. First names you don't use in daily life are listed here too.

3: date and place of birth

Your date of birth and the place you were born. From the date you can tell, for example, whether you are already 18 and may drive without a supervisor.

4a: date of issue

The date this card was issued. It changes with every new or renewed licence.

4b: valid until

The card itself is valid until this date. After that your licence has expired, so renew it in time.

4c: issued by

The municipality that issued the licence. Usually that is the municipality where you were registered when you applied.

5: licence number

The unique number of this card. It is on the back too, together with your BSN.

Signature

Your own signature. It can be compared with the signature on your other documents.

9: your categories

A short list of all categories you hold, such as AM and B. The back shows exactly which ones and until when they are valid.

Clear window

A small part of the card you can see through, with a small image of the holder in it. It is a security feature that is very hard to copy.

Extra image of the holder

Next to the window is another small image of the holder. Because the photo appears in several places, it quickly shows if someone tries to put a different photo in the licence.

Licence in every EU language

Below the photo, the word driving licence is printed in small letters in every language of the European Union. That makes the document recognisable in every EU country.

Code at the bottom

A line of letters and numbers that a reader can scan. It unlocks the chip in your licence, so the data on it can be checked electronically.