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The Dutch identity card (identiteitskaart) uses the same photo as the Dutch passport: 35 x 45 mm with a head height of just 26–30 mm from chin to crown — noticeably smaller than the 32–36 mm most other countries using this format require.
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Not sure whether your photo will pass? See Why ID photos get rejected.
Dutch ID Card Photo (Identiteitskaart) requirements
| Photo size | 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Pixels (print) | 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI · 827 x 1063 px at 600 DPI |
| Head height | 26–30 mm from chin to crown — official published figure. |
| Background | Light gray or light blue or plain white. |
| Glasses | Allowed if there is no glare, no tint, and the frames do not cover the eyes. |
| Editing | Must be original and unedited — retouching, filters and replaced backgrounds are explicitly banned for this document. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing the camera straight on. |
| Official source | Official photo requirements ↗ |
Good to know
The Dutch head height is the trap here. A photo cropped to the common 32–36 mm band is too tightly framed for a Dutch document and is refused, even though the outer dimensions are identical. The guides in the maker are set to the Dutch 26–30 mm range when you pick this document.
The Netherlands publishes an unusually detailed photo matrix (fotomatrix) covering lighting, sharpness and background evenness as well as geometry, and Dutch municipalities apply it strictly. Editing or retouching the photo is not permitted.
How to make it in 3 steps
- Take or choose a photo. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even light with no shadows, camera at eye level about 2 m away, head and shoulders in frame with space around your head.
- Crop with the head guides. The maker opens preset to the 35 x 45 mm standard with the official 26–30 mm head range marked. Drag and zoom until the crown of your head and your chin sit on the guides, then run the built-in photo check.
- Download. Save the single photo (for online uploads) or the 4 x 6 in print sheet, and print it at any photo shop, pharmacy photo kiosk or at home for the price of a regular photo print.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Dutch ID Card Photo (Identiteitskaart)?
35 x 45 mm — 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI. The head must measure 26–30 mm from chin to the top of the head.
What background color does a Dutch ID Card Photo (Identiteitskaart) need?
Light gray or light blue or plain white.
Can I take a Dutch ID Card Photo (Identiteitskaart) at home with my phone?
Yes. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even daylight, have someone take a sharp, front-facing photo from about 2 m away, then crop it to the exact 35 x 45 mm standard with the free maker — the head guides show you the official head-height range.
Is this Dutch ID Card Photo (Identiteitskaart) maker really free and private?
Yes — completely free, with no ads, no watermark and no signup. Unlike photo-booth apps and paid services, your photo is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded to any server.
Where can I print my Dutch ID Card Photo (Identiteitskaart)?
Download the 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) sheet and print it as an ordinary borderless 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) photo at actual size (100%, no scaling) at a photo shop, a pharmacy photo kiosk, an online print service or on a home printer, then cut along the guide lines. You pay only for an ordinary photo print, not a photo-booth service fee. More detail: Printing passport photos in the Netherlands.
Is the Dutch ID card photo the same as the Dutch passport photo?
Yes — the same 35 x 45 mm format with a 26–30 mm chin-to-crown head height, from the same official photo matrix. One photo covers both.
Why is the Dutch head height smaller than everyone else's?
The Netherlands specifies 26–30 mm from chin to crown on a 35 x 45 mm photo, against the 32–36 mm used by Germany and the Schengen standard. It is simply a different national choice within the same outer format, and it means a photo made for a German document will be refused for a Dutch one and vice versa.