Before you can take the Dutch practical car test, the CBR must consider you fit enough to drive safely. That process begins with the Health Declaration (Gezondheidsverklaring). It is separate from learning the clutch, passing theory and applying for the licence after you pass.
I’m Elvis Begic from Rijschool in Maastricht. I provide calm, personal manual driving lessons in English and Dutch in a Volkswagen Golf. This guide explains where the Health Declaration fits into your training, while your medical answers and the CBR’s decision remain private matters between you and the relevant professionals.
Complete it near the beginning of your training
The CBR says learner drivers should complete the Health Declaration at the beginning of their driving course. You do it yourself through Mijn CBR, logging in with DigiD, because the questions concern confidential personal information.
Do not wait until you feel nearly ready for the practical test. According to the CBR, you normally receive a response within four weeks. If more information is required, the process can include information from a doctor or specialist, or a driving test for medical fitness. Starting early therefore leaves room for the official process without turning the final weeks of practical preparation into unnecessary stress.
Use the official CBR page: complete the Health Declaration for a car licence.
What does the declaration decide?
The Health Declaration is not a driving-school assessment and it is not the practical exam. The CBR evaluates whether you meet the legal physical and mental fitness requirements for driving.
Depending on your situation, the CBR may decide that you are:
- fit to drive;
- fit for a limited period;
- fit under conditions, such as wearing glasses or using an adapted vehicle; or
- not fit to drive.
The CBR may need additional medical information or a separate driving test before making a decision. A driving instructor cannot predict or replace that decision.
The Dutch government explanation of fitness to drive confirms that the CBR assesses fitness and may request a medical examination in some situations.
Answer the questions yourself and truthfully
Your instructor can remind you of the process, but should not complete personal health answers for you. Log in to Mijn CBR yourself and answer truthfully. If you do not understand a question or are unsure how a health condition or medicine affects driving, use the CBR guidance and discuss it with a doctor or pharmacist where appropriate.
Do not send medical details through an ordinary lesson enquiry. For general learning questions, it is enough to say that you are arranging the CBR procedure or are waiting for its decision.
If medicine may affect alertness or reaction, also read our guide to medicines and driving lessons. It explains why the pharmacy label, package leaflet and professional advice matter before driving.
Health Declaration, theory and practical test are different steps
These three parts are easy to mix up:
- The Health Declaration is about medical fitness to drive.
- The theory test checks knowledge and traffic insight.
- The practical test checks whether you can drive safely and independently in real traffic.
The CBR states that, for the practical car test, you must have passed theory and have been declared fit enough to drive. Completing the declaration alone does not book an exam and does not guarantee a result.
While the CBR handles the declaration, your lessons can focus on observation, decisions and manual car control. Calm repetition in Maastricht traffic helps you connect rules with real situations rather than learning isolated exam tricks.
Preparing locally in Maastricht
In personal lessons we can work on the practical skills you need around Maastricht: moving off smoothly, junction observation, lane position, roundabouts and independent decision-making. Depending on your agreed route and current possibilities, lessons may also involve nearby areas such as Meerssen, Bunde, Gronsveld and Cadier en Keer.
My role is to teach and give honest feedback in English or Dutch. The CBR decides medical fitness and conducts the official exam. No driving school can guarantee an exam result.
Read about building confidence with a patient driving instructor and how to plan the number of driving lessons.
A practical checklist
At the start of your driving course:
- read the official CBR information;
- complete your own Health Declaration through Mijn CBR;
- keep CBR messages and follow any requested steps;
- continue preparing theory and practical skills;
- tell your instructor only the practical information needed for safe lessons; and
- ask the CBR or a healthcare professional about questions outside your instructor’s role.
When you are ready to discuss lessons, view the current prices and lesson options or contact Elvis. Mention your location, preferred language and driving experience; ask about current possibilities rather than assuming availability.
Official information was checked on 23 October 2026 on the CBR and Rijksoverheid websites. Rules and individual decisions can change, so always follow your own current CBR correspondence.