Importing a car from United States to Netherlands
Yes, but check whether your specific model was ever officially sold in Europe first: certain US-market performance cars (some Mustang and Corvette generations, notably) already have EU-type-approved European-market siblings, which is a real shortcut, while a purely US-only model needs full individual approval including laboratory emissions testing.
The Netherlands, Belgium, and Lithuania have a reputation for a more workable process for US-spec vehicles; Germany and France tend toward stricter requirements.
What's different about a United States car
Some high-performance US models, notably certain Mustang and Corvette generations, had European-market versions with genuine EU type-approval. Starting from that reference point is materially easier than a purely US-domestic model with no European counterpart.
Where no clear type-approval reference exists, the vehicle typically needs documentation of which emissions standard it meets and, where that's unclear, laboratory emissions testing at an approved facility.
Germany and France tend toward stricter requirements that often necessitate full homologation, while the Netherlands, Belgium, and Lithuania have a reputation for a more workable process for US-spec vehicles.
The Netherlands process, at a glance
Individuele goedkeuring (RDW)
RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer)
RDW's own guidance points to several weeks to a few months depending on complexity: straightforward imports often clear in roughly 6-8 weeks, while vehicles without any standard type approval on file can take 3-6 months.
Frequently asked
Yes, but check whether your specific model was ever officially sold in Europe first: certain US-market performance cars (some Mustang and Corvette generations, notably) already have EU-type-approved European-market siblings, which is a real shortcut, while a purely US-only model needs full individual approval including laboratory emissions testing. The Netherlands, Belgium, and Lithuania have a reputation for a more workable process for US-spec vehicles; Germany and France tend toward stricter requirements.
Individuele goedkeuring (RDW), handled via RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer). RDW's own guidance points to several weeks to a few months depending on complexity: straightforward imports often clear in roughly 6-8 weeks, while vehicles without any standard type approval on file can take 3-6 months. The underlying process is the same one covered on our full Netherlands guide; what's specific to a United States vehicle is covered on our United States guide.