New to Rotterdam? An English-speaking garage for your car, van or motorhome

Just moved to Rotterdam and looking for a garage you can rely on? Autobedrijf Willemsbrug is an independent garage for all makes and an RDW-approved APK station in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, diagonally opposite De Kuip. We service and repair cars, vans up to 3,500 kg and the base vehicle of motorhomes. Our team speaks English. You hear what it costs first, and we only carry out repairs after you agree.

Customers rate us 4.8 from 235 reviews. Read their reviews (in Dutch and English)

Nederlands? Lees deze pagina in het Nederlands.

Autobedrijf Willemsbrug at a glance

Address Boterdiep 11, 3077 AW Rotterdam (Rotterdam-IJsselmonde), diagonally opposite De Kuip. Plan your route
Getting here Exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16, the A15 is five minutes away. The Stadion Feijenoord tram stop (line 3) is nearby. Free parking in front of the garage when there is space.
Opening hours Monday to Friday 8.00 to 17.30, Saturday 9.00 to 15.00 (no APK). Closed on Sunday.
Appointments Call +31 10 479 00 00 for servicing, repairs, tyres or air conditioning. Book your APK online for your car, van or motorhome.
Vehicles Cars of all makes, including hybrid and electric. Vans and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg. The base vehicle of motorhomes.
Languages Dutch and English
Payment Debit card or cash. We do not accept credit cards.

Jump to: checklist after your move · moving from abroad · what the APK is · our services · reviews · FAQ

Just moved? Five things to sort out for your car

A new home also means a new garage. These five points help you get started.

  • Check when your APK is due: enter your number plate in the RDW vehicle information (in Dutch). Then book your APK online for your car, van or motorhome.
  • Bring your service records: such as your service booklet or the data from the digital service record. We then continue according to the manufacturer’s schedule. Servicing at an independent garage does not automatically void your manufacturer’s warranty.
  • Driving a van for your business: check the zero-emission zone in Rotterdam. Vans with emission class 4 or lower may not enter. Euro 5 vans may enter until 1 January 2027, Euro 6 vans until 1 January 2028. See the current rules on opwegnaarzes.nl (in Dutch).
  • Driving a motorhome: we have five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg. If your motorhome is very long or high, please call us first.
  • Moving from abroad: extra rules apply to your number plate. Read what you need to arrange.

Moving to Rotterdam from abroad with your own car?

Driving with a foreign number plate. Once you are registered in the BRP (the Dutch population register), you may in principle not drive a car with a foreign registration in the Netherlands. There are a few exceptions. See the rules on NederlandWereldwijd (in Dutch).

Registering your car. To keep your car, you register it with the RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority. The RDW inspects the car itself at an RDW inspection station, and you must attend the appointment in person as the owner. You also file a BPM (registration tax) declaration. The full step-by-step plan is on NederlandWereldwijd (in Dutch).

How we can help:

  • Before the RDW inspection: we check your car and carry out the repairs it needs within our normal work, such as brakes, tyres, suspension, exhaust and leaks. Whether your car passes is decided by the RDW.
  • After registration: if your car does not have a valid APK yet, have it done straight away. According to NederlandWereldwijd, you do this 1 day after receiving the registration certificate, or you may get a fine. Book your APK online for your car, van or motorhome.
  • On foreign plates: we also service and repair cars with a foreign registration. An APK is only possible with a Dutch number plate.

What we do not do: convert or adjust lights and headlights (for example on a right-hand drive car), handle paperwork or the BPM declaration, or take your car to the RDW. If you may no longer drive on your plates, arrange a one-day plate from the RDW or have the car transported.

What is the APK?

The APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) is the Dutch roadworthiness test, similar to the MOT in the UK. Most cars need their first APK after three or four years, depending on the fuel, and then every one or two years. You may not drive on public roads without a valid APK.

At our garage, the APK costs € 50 for a petrol, hybrid or electric car and € 60 for a diesel with a factory-fitted particulate filter, including the particle counter test. A van with a van registration costs € 125, a motorhome € 100 to € 125. The APK is free when you combine it with a major service. Read more about the APK (MOT) in Rotterdam. Has your APK expired? See APK expired.

How we can help

Broken down? See car breakdown in Rotterdam. For questions, call +31 10 479 00 00.

For your car

For your van

For your motorhome

Why newcomers choose us

  • Price first: you hear what it costs first. If anything else needs repairing, we call you. We only carry out repairs after you agree.
  • See your old parts: you can see the replaced parts on request, as long as they are still available.
  • A family business since 1979: founded on the Noordereiland, today based in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde.
  • Approved and certified: RDW-approved APK station, GMTO-certified for hybrid and electric cars and F-gas certified for car air conditioning.
  • Open on Saturday: from 9.00 to 15.00, without a weekend surcharge. We do the APK on weekdays.

Easy to reach from all over Rotterdam. Our customers come from Feijenoord, IJsselmonde, Charlois, Kralingen, Crooswijk and the city centre, and from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel and Zwijndrecht. If the work takes longer, you can borrow a bike for free, as long as one is available.

What English-speaking customers say

Customers rate us 4.8 from 235 reviews.

“Went for a APK inspection. Seemed like a good, honest operation, would definitely go back. I don’t speak Dutch but the head mechanic spoke enough English for us to communicate mostly fine.”

Kevin Gajewski (review on Google)

“Excellent experience with this company. Service without appointment and car mechanics who know what they are doing.”

James Rodger (review on Google)

“Very good english speaker. Very fast, i took back the car very clean. I will use their services in the future. Thank you.”

Vlad Lulian (review on Google)

“Top mechanic, honest, fairly priced and complete explanation of what each repair is. (…) This place I recommend, customer driven and attention to your budget is given. Very happy.”

Spartan Clon (review on Google)

APK (MOT) for your make. Read more about the APK for your Volkswagen, Toyota, Peugeot, Ford, Renault, Kia, Opel, Volvo, Hyundai, Audi, Skoda or Citroën, or see all 42 makes.

Frequently asked questions from newcomers

No need to click: all answers are shown below. For more, see our contact page in English.

Do I have to go to the dealer to keep my manufacturer’s warranty?

No. Servicing at an independent garage does not automatically void your manufacturer’s warranty. We work according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ask us beforehand which service conditions apply to your car.

How do I find out when my APK is due?

Enter your number plate in the RDW vehicle information (in Dutch). It shows the expiry date of the APK. Then book your APK online for your car, van or motorhome.

What should I bring to my first appointment?

The keys to your car, the wheel lock key if your wheels have locking wheel nuts, and your service booklet or service records. For the APK, please also bring your previous APK report if you still have it.

Can I drop in without an appointment?

We mainly work by appointment. For a quick question or check, you can drop in. For other work, call +31 10 479 00 00.

Can I drive in Rotterdam with a foreign number plate?

Once you are registered in the BRP, this is in principle not allowed. There are a few exceptions, for example for a short period. See the rules on NederlandWereldwijd (in Dutch). We also service and repair cars with a foreign registration.

Can you prepare my car for the RDW import inspection?

We check your car beforehand and carry out the repairs it needs within our normal work, such as brakes, tyres, suspension, exhaust and leaks. The inspection itself is done by the RDW, and the RDW decides whether your car passes. We do not convert or adjust lights and headlights, and we do not handle paperwork or the BPM declaration.

My car has just been registered in the Netherlands but has no valid APK. What now?

Have the APK done straight away. According to NederlandWereldwijd, you do this 1 day after receiving the registration certificate, or you may get a fine. Book your APK online for your car, van or motorhome.

Can my van enter the zero-emission zone in Rotterdam?

That depends on its emission class. Vans with emission class 4 or lower may not enter. Euro 5 vans may enter until 1 January 2027, Euro 6 vans until 1 January 2028. Check the current rules on opwegnaarzes.nl (in Dutch). We service your van and do its APK, see van repairs.

How can I pay?

By debit card or in cash. We do not accept credit cards. Regular business customers in the Netherlands can pay by invoice by arrangement, once we have worked together for a while.

Does your team speak English?

Yes. Our team speaks English, and many of our customers are expats and international visitors. You can also call us in English on +31 10 479 00 00.

Meet your new garage

Call us for advice or an appointment in our workshop. Prefer to book online? Book the APK for your car, van or motorhome.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, diagonally opposite De Kuip. We mainly work by appointment. For a quick question or check, you can drop in.