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Netherlands — driver's guide
Verified links and explanations for drivers: inspection, emission test, service, recall, registration, motorway vignette.
Motorway vignette
The Netherlands has no motorway vignette — Dutch motorways are free for cars, so there is nothing to buy. Important: scam websites sell a fake 'Dutch vignette' that does not exist; do not pay for one. The only car tolls are two tunnels, the Westerscheldetunnel and the Kiltunnel, paid directly at the tunnel.
Environmental zones
The official national portal milieuzones.nl explains each city's environmental zone and offers the Milieuzonecheck: enter your licence plate to see whether you may enter. Important: there is no sticker to buy — enforcement is camera- and register-based, and the rules differ from city to city, with older diesels the usual target. Also good to know: Dutch motorways have a 100 km/h daytime limit between 06:00 and 19:00, with higher limits at night.
Open the official source ↗Live traffic info
Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch national roads authority, publishes official live traffic information and road closures at rijkswaterstaat.nl.
Open the official source ↗Emergency numbers
In an emergency call 112. For non-urgent police matters call 0900-8844. Roadside breakdown assistance is provided by the ANWB. If an accident involves injuries, call 112 and stay at the scene.
Open the official source ↗Periodic technical inspection (APK)
The APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) is mandatory for every car registered in the Netherlands: a petrol car is inspected for the first time after 4 years, then every 2 years, and annually once it is 8 years old. Diesel intervals differ. The national vehicle authority is the RDW.
Open the official source ↗Emission check
Emissions are checked as part of the APK inspection — there is no separate emission test to arrange in the Netherlands.
Open the official source ↗Service / repair
Servicing and repairs are a commercial matter, not a state obligation — there is no official government portal for this in the Netherlands. Use your manufacturer's dealer locator to find an authorised workshop.
Vehicle recall register
The Netherlands has an official national recall register, the RDW Terugroepregister. Manufacturers have reported recalls to the RDW since 2012, and you can search the register by licence plate to see whether your vehicle has an open recall.
Open the official source ↗Vehicle registration
The RDW is the national vehicle registration authority (kenteken). Important: simply parking a car does not stop your obligations — suspending a registration is a formal action you must arrange with the RDW.
Open the official source ↗