Netherlands on a South Korean Licence — IDP Plus the Cyclist Problem

For South Korean visitors the documents come first, but they are simple: bring an International Driving Permit to sit alongside your Korean licence and passport. South Korea is outside the EU, so the rental desk and any roadside officer will want the IDP, even though it is rarely the thing that decides whether you have a smooth trip. Sort it at home before departure — you can confirm exactly what you need with our Driving Permit Checker.

Once you have the car, the good news is there is no side to relearn — the Netherlands drives on the right, just like home. The genuine challenge is the bicycles. Cycling is the dominant way Dutch people move around their cities, and riders have their own lanes, their own signals and clear priority at junctions. The trap is the right turn: you wait for a gap in the cars and forget the cyclist drawing level on your inside. Make every turn slowly, glance down the bike lane before committing, and you will avoid the one mistake that catches most newcomers.

Speeds are calmer than Korean expressways. Daytime motorways are limited to 100 km/h, lifting to 130 overnight between 7pm and 6am on signed stretches; towns are 50 and rural roads 80. Camera coverage is heavy and automatic, so a margin of 10 km/h over typically costs EUR 39-66 with no leeway. The Speeding Fine Calculator will estimate any charge.

The drink-drive limit is 0.05, marginally above Korea’s 0.03, but Dutch police breath-test freely after dark, so don’t bank on the extra margin. Petrol is expensive at around $2.15/litre — fill at supermarket stations away from the motorway. The emergency number is 112. For the complete rules, read our Netherlands driving guide before you set off.