The municipality of Maastricht has stopped fighting the closure of the CBR exam locations in South Limburg. That is the news from an update Mayor Hillenaar sent to the city council on September 30, 2026. The national government admits that local driving schools were not properly involved in the plans, but the centralization itself is going ahead.
Are you getting your Dutch driving license in or around Maastricht? Then here is what this means for you, explained clearly.
First, what is the CBR?
The CBR (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen) is the Dutch organization that runs all driving exams in the Netherlands, both the theory exam and the practical driving test. Wherever you live in the country, you take your exams at a CBR exam center. When the CBR closes a location, candidates in that area simply have to travel further.
Maastricht takes a step back
Maastricht had been opposing the CBR's plans for some time, together with the municipalities of Heerlen and Kerkrade, the province of Limburg and a group of local driving schools. The city even sent the CBR a list of possible alternative exam locations within Maastricht.
Now that the CBR is talking directly with the driving schools, the city council sees no further role for itself. Mayor Hillenaar also delivered this message personally to the Collectief Rijopleiders Zuid-Limburg (CRZ-L), the association representing driving schools in the region. From now on, it is up to the driving schools themselves to look after their interests in talks with the CBR.
What did the lobby achieve?
The effort was not for nothing. The most concrete result is that the Kerkrade exam location will stay open one year longer than originally planned. The CBR will discuss this with the owner of the building.
On top of that, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management acknowledged on September 3, in a meeting with the province, that driving schools in South Limburg had not been properly involved in the plans. The CBR will now explain the reasons behind the centralization to them and support them through the transition.
We covered the earlier meeting between the CBR management and the driving school association in our article CBR sticks to closing exam locations in South Limburg (in Dutch).
Why can't the city stop the CBR?
The CBR is an independent administrative body (in Dutch: zelfstandig bestuursorgaan, or zbo). That means the CBR decides on its own buildings and exam locations. Municipalities have no formal authority over those decisions. They can lobby and offer ideas, but the final call is the CBR's. That is exactly the reason Hillenaar gives for ending the city's active role.
What changes for your driving test in South Limburg?
The CBR plans to bring the practical driving tests from Maastricht, Kerkrade and Urmond together at one central location in Sittard-Geleen. The exam location near De Geusselt in Maastricht is expected to close in spring 2027. Kerkrade will follow later, thanks to the one-year extension.
The mayor's letter does not yet say exactly when each location closes or where you will go for your test. One thing is clear, though: if you take your driving test in South Limburg, plan for a longer journey to the exam center.
What about your theory exam?
This news does not change anything for the theory exam. Candidates from Maastricht and the surrounding area already take their theory exam at the CBR in Roermond, at Hamstraat 37. With Nutheorie, you can follow a theory course in Roermond close to the CBR, so you can walk straight to your exam after the course day. You can find more details on our page about the theory course for Maastricht and surroundings.
Prefer to learn in English? Take a look at our English theory courses.
Live in North Limburg? Then also read our article on the closure of the CBR theory location in Venlo (in Dutch).
How to prepare for the new situation
A longer trip to the CBR means more time and more money for every exam attempt. Good preparation keeps both to a minimum.
- Pass your theory exam the first time. Every retake means traveling again and paying the exam fee again. Our English courses and the online theory course help you walk into the exam well prepared.
- Practice with real exam-style questions. With our practice exams, you know exactly where you stand before you go to the CBR.
- Talk to your driving school about the new location. Your instructor can focus your lessons on the roads and traffic situations around the new exam center.
- Allow plenty of travel time. Arrive early so you can start your test calm and relaxed.
- Always check your exam location. When you book, double-check where your exam takes place, especially during the transition period.
We will keep you posted
We are following the developments around the CBR locations in Limburg closely and will update this article as soon as more is known. Want to get your theory sorted in the meantime? Check out our English courses or start right away with the online course.
Source: De Nieuwe Ster Maastricht, September 30, 2026.
