While doing research for another project of mine, I came across a web page at the site of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in the Netherlands ((Known locally as the Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat which actually seems to translate to Ministry of Movement and Water State, leaving Public Works… not sure where.)), that was advising its citizens about the brand new credit card sized driving license that was now available. The date was October 1, 2006. The site also touts how this new fangled convenience can be used as an ID card, too, but warns that it will take at least five days to get the card once you order it.

Apparently they previously had large, folded up documents. Similar to what you had to show the officials in World War II movies when they asked to see your “papers.” And yet, the page has an RSS feed.

They conveniently provide the page in English if you prefer (I did) but the translation could use a tweak. In the section where they discuss using your license as ID, they mention that it has no nationality identifier, and so your employer will still need your passport to register you “for employee insurance schemes.” Available options: pyramid, ponzi, and dastardly.

[Yes, I know the British use scheme in this other way, and that the Dutch translation was probably done by someone familiar with the Queen's English, but I still found it amusing.]