License Plate

History:
Two years after the first car appeared on Dutch roads, the first license plates (then referred to as driving permits) were installed on some cars in 1898. This made the Netherlands the first country in the world to introduce a national license plate.

The initial series of license plates ranged from 1 to 14, omitting the number 11 which was considered unlucky. Documents show that by August 8, 1899, this first series of numbers had progressed to 168. Seven years later, on January 15, 1906, the last driving permit (number 2065) was issued. From that point onward, both vehicle and driver had to possess a driver’s license as well as a number license. This number license, which can be considered the new license plate, was organized by a provincial system. Each province received its own letter. This system functioned until after World War II.

Initially, the first license plate numbers were linked to a province, because motorists generally stayed within their province. But as traffic began crossing provincial borders, it was decided to centralize the administration, which led to the creation of the RDW (formerly the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer). It wasn’t until 1951 that the license plate system we know today was introduced, featuring a combination of three pairs of letters or numbers.

The Dutch license numbers consist of a combination of 2 letters and 4 numbers or 4 letters and 2 numbers arranged in pairs. Before 1951, extensive research was conducted to determine the best combination of letters and numbers. Numerous visual possibilities were tested for recognition. The current license plate design, divided into three groups of two characters, proved to be the clearest and most quickly recognizable. This is crucial because the owner of a vehicle must be quickly and easily identifiable in certain situations.
Until 1951, vehicle documents were issued and registered by the Provincial Executive. The number licenses were personal and issued ‘for life’ (of the holder). Each province had one or two fixed letters, followed by a maximum of five numbers. Below are the letters assigned to each province:

A = Groningen
GZ = North Holland
B = Friesland
H = South Holland
D = Drenthe
HZ = South Holland
E = Overijssel
K = Zeeland
M = Gelderland
N = North Brabant
L = Utrecht
P = Limburg
G = North Holland
R = Departments

The new series began with two letters placed before four numbers. The first plate issued was ND-00-01.
In 1965, letters were placed after the numbers. The first plate then was 00-01-AD. In 1973, the first license plate was issued with letters between the numbers. That was 00-AD-01. In these three series, the letter combinations SA and SS were omitted, as they were reminiscent of World War II. After these series were exhausted, license plates with four letters and two numbers began. The first plate (DB-01-BB) was issued in October 1978.

After this series filled up, it was time for a different combination. The letters came before the numbers. DB-BB-01 was the first number and was issued in September 1991.

From June 1999, the numbers appeared before the letters. The first number was 01-DB-BB.
Current series of four letters and two numbers exclude vowels. This is to prevent unwanted word formation. The letters C and Q are also not used because they look too similar to a zero.