You must sit an exam if you want to use maritime radio equipment or want to become an amateur radio operator. You can sit this exam at the Authority of Digital Infrastucture.
Exam and operator certificate for maritime radio equipment
You must possess an operator certificate if you want to use a marine radio or other maritime radio equipment. This can be obtained by sitting an exam at the Authority of Digital Infrastucture. Do so via the registration form.
Exams take place in the spring and autumn. Exam dates will be announced in due time on this website and via local media.
On Bonaire, you can sit the exam at the office of the Authority of Digital Infrastucture at Kaya Grandi 69. Exams may be held at an alternative location in certain cases, for example, due to the size of the group.
On Sint-Eustatius, exams are organised together with the New Challenges Foundation at Rosemary Lane.
On Saba, exams are organised together with the Saba Comprehensive School in St. Johns.
You can sit exams for 3 types of operator certificates:
- The Basic Marine Radio or VHF Certificate is the most basic certificate, and is intended for using maritime radio equipment on inland waterways and in the immediate surroundings of the islands.
- The Restricted Operator's Certificate (ROC) or Marcom-B is intended for using maritime radio equipment on inland waterways and coastal waters.
- The General Operator's Certificate (GOC) or Marcom-A is the most extensive certificate, and is intended for using maritime radio equipment on inland waterways, the open seas and the oceans.
Here you can see which equipment can be operated with each type of certificate. If you have a Short Range or Long Range Certificate (Royal Yacht Association), this is also sufficient in certain cases.
Amateur radio operator exam
You must first sit an exam if you want to become an amateur radio operator. This exam tests whether you know enough about (international) rules and whether you can use radio communication equipment in the correct manner. For instance, your frequency use cannot disrupt the radio communications of, for example, the airline industry or the emergency services. If you pass the exam, you must apply for authorisation from the Authority of Digital Infrastucture. You will then be able to start transmitting.
The exam is a written exam and is more or less identical to the exams offered in the Netherlands. The only differences are the call signs and the frequency bands.
Do you want to sit the amateur exam? Then please contact the Authority of Digital Infrastucture: BES@RDI.nl
Changes to marine radio exams
Although the Authority for Digital Infrastructure (Rijksinspectie Digitale Infrastructuur, RDI) used to be fully responsible for marine radio exams, the responsibility for exams in the European Netherlands was transferred to the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen, CBR) on 1 July 2024. Because the CBR does not have any branches on the islands, the RDI continues to be responsible for organising the exams on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.
Consequently, the RDI now receives exam materials from the CBR. This guarantees that the exams held on the islands fulfil the same requirements as those in the Netherlands.
The exams include questions about specific situations in the Netherlands and Europe, for example in relation to inland waterways. As a result, some people may find the exams taken on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba to be more difficult. It is therefore essential to prepare properly!
The CBR introduced a number of changes to the exam for the Basic Marine Radio Certificate on 1 October 2025. This certificate is obligatory for anyone who wants to operate a marine radio on board a vessel. The changes now ensure that the exam aligns even more closely with current maritime practices and modern requirements for marine radio users.
The most important changes are as follows:
- There are more questions: the number of exam questions has been increased from 35 to 40.
- There is a new scoring system: each correct answer scores 1 point and the total number of points has been changed from 60 to 40. A candidate passes if they provide 28 correct answers.
- Revised topics: The topics covered in the exam have been re-drafted and updated so that they align more effectively with current marine radio usage. There is, for example, a greater focus on digital technologies, regulations and maritime safety.
- Assessment per topic: The exam now tests each topic separately, meaning that candidates have to have sufficient knowledge of all elements.
What do the changes mean for you as a candidate?
The new exam format requires broader and more in-depth preparation. Candidates must have up-to-date knowledge and be properly informed about all aspects of marine radio use. It is no longer sufficient simply to have a command of the basics because the exam now also covers specific situations, digital applications and regulations.
The RDI is adapting the syllabus accordingly so that candidates are properly prepared when they come to take the exam.
The following also applies:
- Exam duration: 60 minutes (with the option of requesting 15 extra minutes if a candidate suffers from, for example, dyslexia).
- Validity of results: In the Netherlands the exam result is valid for 5 years when it comes to applying for the certificate. You do not need to apply for the certificate on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. On Bonaire you can simply make an appointment to collect the certificate after you have received the exam result. If you live on St. Eustatius or Saba, the certificate will be sent to you.
- Validity of certificate: The basic certificate is valid for life.
Although the exam is open to anyone over the age of 11, the certificate is only issued to people aged 16 or over.
If you would like to find out more, you can study the full examination requirements on the CBR website: