How much alcohol can I drink and drive in the Netherlands?

The short answer

For experienced drivers, a maximum promille level of 0.5 applies under Dutch law. This roughly corresponds to 1-2 alcoholic drinks, depending on your weight, gender and whether you've eaten. New drivers may only have 0.2 promille, which amounts to practically no alcohol. It's important to know that these limits are legal maximums, but even smaller amounts of alcohol can affect your driving ability.

What does Dutch law say?

The Dutch Road Traffic Act (Wegenverkeerswet) sets clear limits on alcohol behind the wheel. For most drivers, the 0.5 promille limit applies, but for specific groups there are stricter rules. When these limits are exceeded, heavy sanctions follow, from fines to driving licence suspension. Police may always conduct a breathalyser test if they suspect you're driving under the influence.

What should you watch out for?

Alcohol affects everyone differently, so the amount you can drink varies per person. Factors such as weight, gender, medication use and whether you've eaten influence how much alcohol enters your bloodstream. Even the next day you may still have too much alcohol in your blood. Be aware that even small amounts of alcohol can reduce your reaction time.

Example from practice

Imagine you had three beers on Friday evening and think you can drive well on Saturday. You feel fine, but a breathalyser test shows you still have 0.6 promille in your blood. As an experienced driver in the Netherlands, you'll get a €350 fine and must surrender your driving licence for several months. If you'd had a provisional licence, the consequences would have been even more severe. This shows why it's important not to gamble with alcohol and traffic.

What can you do?

The safest choice is to drink no alcohol at all if you still need to drive. If you have consumed alcohol, there are alternatives to get home safely.