Seat belts and child seats in the Netherlands (2026)
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
In short: Seat belts are compulsory where a seat has one. Passengers under 18 who are shorter than 1.35 m must use an approved child restraint.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Seat belt compulsory in front seatsPassenger cars | Yes [1] |
| Seat belt compulsory in rear seatsPassenger cars | Yes [1] |
| Child restraint required untilPassenger cars | Passengers under 18 who are shorter than 1.35 m must use an approved child restraint system. [2] |
| Children in the front seatPassenger cars | Children shorter than 1.35 m may ride in the front or the back in an approved child seat. In a vehicle without belts or child restraints, children aged 3 to 18 under 1.35 m must not sit in the front seats. [3] |
| Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbagPassenger cars | No [2] |
Sources
- Rijksoverheid: Wanneer moet ik de autogordel gebruiken? (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
- Overheid.nl (wetten.overheid.nl): Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens 1990 (RVV 1990), artikel 59 (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
- Rijksoverheid: Moet mijn kind in de auto in een kinderzitje? (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.