01/06/2026
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐ & ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐ | Congratulations, Kristina from United States! ๐บ๐ธ๐
Recently passed through our standard Arrive & Drive program.
This was Kristinaโs experience:
๐ข ๐ ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐:
My biggest advice is: do not assume that because you already know how to drive, you know how to pass the Dutch driving exam.
The test here is not only about controlling the car. It is really about awareness, planning ahead, reading traffic situations early, and showing the examiner that you are safe and predictable. Especially as an expat, you almost have to โunlearnโ some habits and learn the Dutch way of thinking.
Also, do not rush. Take the lessons seriously, ask questions, and practice the things that feel unnatural. For me, it helped a lot to understand why certain things are expected, not just memorize what to do.
๐ข ๐ ๐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ท๐๐๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐:
I am from the US, and the biggest difference is how structured and precise driving is here. In the Netherlands, there is a lot more focus on cyclists, pedestrians, priority rules, mirror checks, speed control, and constantly scanning your surroundings.
Back home, the roads are often wider, there is more space, and driving can feel more straightforward. Here, everything is tighter and more layered. You are driving with cars, bikes, scooters, pedestrians, trams, narrow streets, roundabouts, and sometimes all of that at the same time.
The Dutch style is also very defensive and intentional. You need to show that you are thinking ahead, not just reacting.
๐ข ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐บ๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐:
The funniest thing for me is how much the bike is basically king here. In the US, you are mostly watching for cars. In the Netherlands, you are watching for cyclists coming from every possible direction, and sometimes they appear like little Dutch ninjas.
Also, the right-before-left priority rule felt so strange at first. In the US, I was used to much more obvious signs or traffic lights telling me what to do. Here, sometimes a tiny street on your right suddenly has priority and you just need to know it.
And the driving test itself is also very different. In the US, my memory of driving tests is that they are much more basic. Here, it really feels like they are checking if you can handle real traffic independently, not just drive around the block and park the car.
๐ข ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ & ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ:
My overall experience was really good. What I appreciated most about the Arrive & Drive expat program is that it understood the expat perspective. It was not treated like I was a brand-new driver, but also not assumed that my previous experience would automatically translate to the Dutch system.
The lessons helped me understand the Dutch driving style, the exam expectations, and the small details that make a big difference during the test. Having an instructor who could explain those differences clearly made the process much less stressful.
I would definitely recommend the program to other internationals. It helps you build confidence, but also teaches you to drive in a way that actually works here in the Netherlands.
Thanks again for all the help!
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ & ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ:
๐ https://www.lesdirect.nl/en/arrive-drive
