Taxis in the Netherlands are licensed, metered and expensive by European standards, with maximum fares for street and rank taxis set by the national government every year. In the larger cities, Uber and Bolt are widely used alongside traditional taxi companies, and for most journeys between cities the train is faster and much cheaper than either.
How Dutch taxis work
A licensed taxi in the Netherlands has blue number plates and a taxi sign on the roof. The driver must carry a driver's card, and the car has a board computer and a meter. Inside and outside the car, a tariff card (tariefkaart) behind one of the windows shows the prices; it has to be readable from both sides.
The law distinguishes two markets:
- Opstapmarkt: taxis you take from a rank (taxistandplaats) or hail on the street. These are bound by national maximum fares.
- Bestelmarkt: taxis you book in advance by phone, website or app. Here the price is agreed with the company, often as a fixed fare quoted at booking.
Hailing a taxi in the street is legal but uncommon outside central Amsterdam. In most towns you go to a rank at the railway station or call a local company.
Fares and maximum prices
For taxis taken from a rank or on the street, the Dutch government sets maximum tariffs each year. In 2026 the maximums are:
| Vehicle | Start fee | Per km | Per minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, up to 4 passengers | €4.31 | €3.17 | €0.52 |
| Minivan, 5–8 passengers | €8.77 | €4.00 | €0.59 |
Drivers may charge less but not more. A fixed price or surcharge is only valid if it was agreed before the ride started. Using the government's own worked example, a 7 km, 15-minute ride comes to about €34 at the 2026 maximums, which gives a sense of what short city trips cost.
Points that save money and arguments:
- Ask for an estimate before getting in, or agree a fixed price for longer trips.
- Make sure the meter is running if no price was agreed.
- Ask for a receipt (bonnetje); it shows the company and the ride details if you need to complain.
- Tipping is not expected. Rounding up for good service is common, but not obligatory.
Uber, Bolt and booking apps
Uber operates in many Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen and Maastricht, and at Schiphol. Bolt operates in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen and a number of other cities, including Arnhem, Nijmegen, Breda and Tilburg.
In the Netherlands these services use drivers with a professional taxi licence and blue plates, so a ride-hail car is legally a taxi on the booking market. The app shows the price before you confirm. At busy times surge pricing can make an app ride more expensive than a metered taxi, and the reverse is common outside peak hours. Comparing both before a long trip is worthwhile.
Local taxi companies in most cities also have their own booking apps or websites with fixed quotes. Outside the main cities, where ride-hail coverage is thin, calling a local firm is often the only realistic option, especially late at night.
Schiphol and the main stations
Schiphol Airport has an official taxi rank outside the arrivals hall. Use the rank, or the marked pick-up area for app rides, and ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride. For central Amsterdam, the direct train from the station beneath the terminal to Amsterdam Centraal takes about 15 minutes and costs a fraction of a taxi; trains run through the night on this line at reduced frequency.
Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal, Den Haag Centraal and Utrecht Centraal all have taxi ranks at the station exits. At the busiest ranks, take the first car in line unless you need a larger vehicle.
Cards, payment and receipts
Card payment is the norm. Most Dutch taxis accept debit cards and contactless payment; credit card acceptance is common but not universal, so confirm before setting off if that is all you have. Some drivers prefer not to take large banknotes. With Uber and Bolt, payment runs through the app.
Many Dutch shops and services are card-only, and some foreign cards are declined, so settle how you will pay before the ride rather than at the destination.
Safety and avoiding problems
Dutch taxis are generally safe and regulated. Most problems involve price rather than danger:
- Use only licensed taxis. No blue plates, no taxi sign or no tariff card means it is not a licensed taxi.
- Avoid touts at airports, stations and nightlife areas who approach on foot.
- Watch for detours. A map app open on your phone helps.
- Late at night in Amsterdam, around the Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein nightlife areas, queues at ranks can be long; booking through an app or a known company is often quicker.
If something goes wrong, note the plate number and driver's card details and contact the taxi company or app first; the receipt makes this much easier.
Accessibility and larger groups
Wheelchair-accessible taxis (rolstoeltaxi) exist in every region but usually need to be booked in advance through a local company. For groups of five to eight people, a taxi van (busje) is charged at the higher van tariff above, which can still be cheaper per person than two cars.
Child seats are not always available. If you need one, request it when booking rather than relying on a rank taxi to have one.
When to skip the taxi
- Between cities, NS trains are frequent and fast; a taxi from Amsterdam to Rotterdam costs many times the train fare.
- Within cities, trams, metros and buses are frequent, and you can check in with a contactless bank card or phone (OVpay) on every Dutch public transport service.
- Short distances in the centre of Amsterdam, Utrecht or Leiden are often quicker on foot or by bicycle than by car, given one-way streets and traffic restrictions.
- Night buses run in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and the Schiphol – Amsterdam train line runs through the night.
A taxi makes the most sense with heavy luggage, at night when public transport is thin, and for places such as hotels outside town that are hard to reach by bus.
