80 percent of adults have a driving licence

© Nikki van Toorn (CBS)
Nearly 80 percent of the Dutch population aged 17 and over hold a valid car driving licence. At the start of 2019, just under 11.2 million people were holding a Dutch passenger car licence category B, i.e. one percent more people than one year previously. This is shown by new figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

[video: https://www.cbs.nlen-gb/video/9b85bf8372d5464091cd69c64cfc31fd]

(English subtitles available)

Licence ownership rates are higher among men than women in all age groups. In the population aged 17 years and over, 85 percent of men own a licence, versus 75 percent of women. The gender gap is largest among the over-70s: 85 percent of men aged 70 years and over are licence holders, against 53 percent of their female peers.

Driving licence ownership, 1 January 2019
 Men (%)Women (%)
17 yrs9.87.8
18 to 19 yrs49.246.9
20 to 24 yrs71.469.6
25 to 29 yrs80.278.1
30 to 39 yrs87.183
40 to 49 yrs89.284.3
50 to 59 yrs93.586.2
60 to 64 yrs93.983.2
65 to 69 yrs91.677.7
70 yrs and over85.452.6
Source: CBS, RDW

Licence ownership up among elderly, not among young people

At the start of 2019, 1.5 million people aged 70 years and over were driving licence holders. This is around 67 percent, up from 56 percent five years previously. In the age group 90 years and up, there were 19.5 thousand people with a driving licence. Car drivers over the age of 70 together have 1.2 million passenger cars registered in their name. The most common car brand among the over-70s is Opel, followed by Toyota and Renault. At the beginning of this year, 977 thousand young people under the age of 25 held a driving licence. In total, 57 percent of 17 to 24-year-olds are licence holders. This is barely more than five years previously, when 56 percent in this age group were licence holders. Young people under the age of 25 have 264 thousand cars registered in their name. The most popular car brand in this cohort is Volkswagen, followed by Peugeot and Opel.

Licence ownership rate highest in Renswoude, lowest in Amsterdam

The driving licence ownership rate is highest in the municipality of Renswoude (90.9 percent). It is also high in the municipalities of Tubbergen (90.3 percent), Rozendaal (90.3 percent), Staphorst (90.2 percent) and Wierden (89.6 percent). Licence ownership is lowest in urban municipalities. In Amsterdam, 63.5 percent of the adult population have an entitlement to drive, against 63.6 percent in Maastricht.

Driving licence ownership rates by municipality, 1 January 2019
GemeentenaamDriving licence ownership rate (%)
Renswoude90.9
Tubbergen90.3
Rozendaal90.3
Staphorst90.2
Wierden89.6
Mill en Sint Hubert89.6
Reusel-De Mierden89.2
Buren89.2
Dalfsen88.9
Hilvarenbeek88.8
Landerd88.7
Alphen-Chaam88.6
Bronckhorst88.5
Oirschot88.4
De Wolden88.4
Dinkelland88.1
Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten88
Neerijnen88
Aalburg88
Giessenlanden87.9
Kapelle87.8
Bergeijk87.8
Eemnes87.8
Borsele87.7
Bernheze87.6
West Maas en Waal87.6
Sint Anthonis87.5
Sint-Michielsgestel87.5
Zederik87.3
Koggenland87.3
Blaricum87.3
Lopik87.3
Twenterand87.1
Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude86.9
Eersel86.9
Opmeer86.9
Haaksbergen86.8
Hof van Twente86.8
Montfoort86.8
Leusden86.7
Marum86.7
Rucphen86.7
Waalre86.7
Veere86.7
Lingewaal86.6
Lansingerland86.6
Scherpenzeel86.6
Borger-Odoorn86.6
Boekel86.6
Barneveld86.5
Hellendoorn86.5
Bladel86.4
Korendijk86.4
Geldermalsen86.4
Mook en Middelaar86.3
Oost Gelre86.3
Cromstrijen86.3
Ommen86.3
Beemster86.3
Heeze-Leende86.2
Borne86.2
Westerveld86.2
Grootegast86.2
Westvoorne86.2
Woudrichem86.2
Woudenberg86.1
Putten86.1
Haaren86.1
Laarbeek86.1
Neder-Betuwe86.1
Rijssen-Holten86.1
Berkelland86
Midden-Drenthe86
Molenwaard86
Wijdemeren86
Cranendonck86
Hollands Kroon85.9
Beuningen85.9
Son en Breugel85.9
Aa en Hunze85.9
Raalte85.9
Overbetuwe85.9
Midden-Delfland85.9
Lochem85.8
Langedijk85.8
Nederweert85.8
Peel en Maas85.8
Oldebroek85.7
Werkendam85.7
Uitgeest85.7
Voerendaal85.6
Hardenberg85.6
Heusden85.6
Wijk bij Duurstede85.6
Heumen85.5
Kaag en Braassem85.5
Leudal85.5
Meierijstad85.5
Horst aan de Maas85.5
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht85.4
Heerde85.4
Maasdriel85.3
Nieuwkoop85.3
Oudewater85.3
Nijkerk85.2
Drimmelen85.2
Binnenmaas85.2
Voorst85.2
Opsterland85.2
Bergen (L.)85.2
Strijen85.2
Someren85.2
Wijchen85.1
Zwartewaterland85.1
Elburg85.1
De Ronde Venen85
Lingewaard85
Oostzaan85
Schinnen85
Aalten85
Houten85
Losser84.9
Achtkarspelen84.9
Loon op Zand84.9
De Fryske Marren84.9
Bunschoten84.9
Olst-Wijhe84.9
Dongen84.9
Drechterland84.9
Noord-Beveland84.9
Gemert-Bakel84.8
Duiven84.8
Goirle84.7
Eijsden-Margraten84.7
Tholen84.7
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk84.6
Best84.6
Hattem84.6
Oude IJsselstreek84.6
Nunspeet84.6
Zuidhorn84.6
Onderbanken84.5
Deurne84.5
Tynaarlo84.5
Uden84.4
Coevorden84.4
Baarle-Nassau84.3
Stein (L.)84.3
Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland84.2
Epe84.2
Landsmeer84.2
Zuidplas84.2
Bunnik84.2
Schagen84.1
Moerdijk84.1
Ten Boer84.1
Barendrecht84.1
Brummen84.1
Schouwen-Duiveland84.1
Montferland84.1
Pijnacker-Nootdorp84.1
Boxmeer84.1
Beek (L.)84
Tytsjerksteradiel84
Druten84
Oisterwijk84
Albrandswaard84
Veldhoven83.9
Steenwijkerland83.9
Zaltbommel83.9
Urk83.9
Halderberge83.9
Brielle83.8
Asten83.8
Medemblik83.8
Goeree-Overflakkee83.8
Nuth83.8
Weststellingwerf83.7
Geldrop-Mierlo83.7
Geertruidenberg83.7
Stichtse Vecht83.7
Gilze en Rijen83.6
Westerwolde83.6
Zundert83.6
Noordenveld83.6
Rhenen83.6
Dronten83.5
Castricum83.5
Ooststellingwerf83.5
Oldenzaal83.5
Roerdalen83.3
Etten-Leur83.3
Valkenswaard83.3
Dantumadiel83.3
Hardinxveld-Giessendam83.3
Krimpenerwaard83.3
Woensdrecht83.2
Ferwerderadiel83.2
Oud-Beijerland83.1
Oss83
Aalsmeer83
Lisse83
Bloemendaal83
Heiloo82.9
Grave82.9
Noordoostpolder82.9
Loppersum82.9
Edam-Volendam82.9
Reimerswaal82.9
Zeewolde82.9
Simpelveld82.8
Soest82.8
Leek82.8
Teylingen82.8
Gulpen-Wittem82.8
Maasgouw82.8
Huizen82.7
Oosterhout82.6
Vianen82.6
De Marne82.5
Zevenaar82.5
Laren (NH.)82.5
S�dwest-Frysl�n82.5
Wormerland82.5
Waddinxveen82.4
Dongeradeel82.4
Waalwijk82.4
Waadhoeke82.3
Winsum82.3
Haarlemmermeer82.3
Westervoort82.3
Papendrecht82.3
Woerden82.1
Hulst82.1
Meerssen82
Doetinchem81.9
Haren81.9
Ede81.9
Sluis81.9
Cuijk81.8
Waterland81.8
Gooise Meren81.7
Harderwijk81.7
Hoogeveen81.7
Utrechtse Heuvelrug81.7
Echt-Susteren81.6
Hellevoetsluis81.6
Terschelling81.6
Heerenveen81.6
Westland81.6
Meppel81.5
Veenendaal81.5
Beesel81.5
Vught81.5
Pekela81.4
IJsselstein81.4
Emmen81.3
Bergen (NH.)81.3
Heemstede81.3
Voorschoten81.2
Hengelo (O.)81.2
Zoeterwoude81.2
Venray81.2
Ameland81.2
's-Hertogenbosch81
Texel81
Gennep80.9
Bedum80.9
Kampen80.9
De Bilt80.9
Noordwijkerhout80.9
Heerhugowaard80.9
Apeldoorn80.9
Uithoorn80.9
Alphen aan den Rijn80.7
Berg en Dal80.6
Boxtel80.5
Amersfoort80.5
Ermelo80.5
Winterswijk80.4
Culemborg80.4
Stede Broec80.3
Hillegom80.3
Bergen op Zoom80.2
Veendam80.1
Roosendaal80
Smallingerland79.9
Doesburg79.9
Renkum79.9
Leiderdorp79.9
Weert79.8
Oegstgeest79.8
Tiel79.7
Midden-Groningen79.7
Goes79.7
Terneuzen79.7
Nieuwegein79.6
Heemskerk79.6
Landgraaf79.5
Valkenburg aan de Geul79.4
Oldambt79.4
Ouder-Amstel79.3
Stadskanaal79.2
Krimpen aan den IJssel79.2
Assen79.1
Breda79.1
Alblasserdam79.1
Zwolle79
Sittard-Geleen78.9
Katwijk78.7
Noordwijk78.7
Velsen78.7
Eemsmond78.7
Steenbergen78.5
Zoetermeer78.5
Zwijndrecht78.5
Helmond78.4
Baarn78.4
Deventer78.3
Brunssum78.3
Hoorn78.2
Wassenaar78.2
Middelburg (Z.)78.1
Zutphen77.9
Ridderkerk77.8
Leerdam77.7
Almelo77.7
Nissewaard77.6
Alkmaar77.4
Rheden77.4
Venlo77.1
Gorinchem77
Maassluis77
Roermond77
Zeist76.7
Zandvoort76.6
Enkhuizen76.4
Delfzijl76.4
Sliedrecht76.3
Leidschendam-Voorburg76.1
Harlingen76.1
Beverwijk76.1
Purmerend76
Almere75.9
Tilburg75.8
Zaanstad75.8
Weesp75.6
Hilversum75.6
Enschede75.5
Capelle aan den IJssel75.5
Leeuwarden75.4
Appingedam75.4
Lelystad75.1
Den Helder75.1
Nijmegen75.1
Gouda75
Dordrecht74.7
Vlissingen74.6
Haarlem74.6
Eindhoven74.5
Heerlen74.5
Utrecht (gemeente)74.2
Amstelveen73.7
Rijswijk (ZH.)73.4
Kerkrade73.2
Arnhem72.7
Schiermonnikoog72.6
Vlaardingen72.2
Vlieland71.9
Diemen70.5
Wageningen69.9
Groningen (gemeente)69.8
Leiden69.7
Schiedam68.5
Vaals67.1
Delft66.9
Rotterdam65.2
's-Gravenhage (gemeente)64.7
Maastricht63.6
Amsterdam63.5
Source: CBS, RDW