Car rentals in Amsterdam

Part of our guide to car hire in the Netherlands.

Driving and Parking in Amsterdam: What You Need to Know

• 30 km/h almost everywhere: Since 8 December 2023 the limit is 30 km/h on about 80% of the city's roads. Weesperstraat, Prins Hendrikkade and Piet Heinkade stay at 50 km/h, and trams, buses and taxis may keep 50 km/h in their own lanes. Enforcement has been described as gradual, but temporary speed cameras are used on roads where speeding is frequent.
• Cyclists and trams: When you turn, you must give way to cyclists and moped riders going straight ahead, even on a green light. Trams generally have priority at junctions, and buses and trams have priority over cars. Read the signs and the shark's teeth markings at each crossing, and check the cycle path before you open a door.
• Low emission zone: Diesel cars face a zone inside the A10 ring road, and the rules apply to foreign vehicles. Euro 5 or newer is listed for the Amsterdam zone, and access is checked by number plate. Petrol cars are not affected. Confirm the fuel type with the supplier at collection.
• Street parking: Street rates for 2026 range from €0.20 to €8.05 an hour, with the highest rate in the centre, and rates and charging hours vary by zone. Payment is cashless, by card, contactless or parking app. The fine is €79.10 plus at least an hour's parking fee, and a car scanned twice at the same space owes the fee for the whole period between scans.
• King's Day: Street parking was free citywide on 27 April in 2026, but the city centre fills and many streets close to traffic, so plan to arrive early or leave the car at a park and ride site.
• Park and ride: The city runs sites at P+R ArenA (exit Ouderkerk), P+R Zeeburg (exit S114), P+R RAI (exit S109), P+R Sloterdijk (exit S102), P+R Bos en Lommer (exit S105 from the west or S104 from the north), P+R Olympisch Stadion (exit S108) and P+R Noord (exit S116). The rate is €6 a day off-peak and €13 for weekday arrivals before 10:00 am, with a four-day maximum, or 24 hours at P+R RAI. The rate applies only if you continue into the centre zone by public transport, pay within an hour of checking out, and do not pay by credit card at the entrance, which does not give the discount.
• Park and ride tickets and limits: The P+R GVB card covers transit for the people in the car and costs €6 for one or two people, €7 for three, €8.50 for four and €9.50 for five. P+R ArenA is not valid for park and ride rates during major events at the ArenA and Ziggo Dome, P+R Olympisch Stadion is popular and often full, and P+R VUmc operates at weekends only, from Friday 6:00 pm to Monday 4:00 am. Check the city's parking site for availability before you set out.
• Garages: The Centrum Oosterdok garage near Centraal is listed from €10 to €25 a day when booked in advance. Hotel garages in the centre are listed at €45 to €100 a day. Pay before you leave, and book ahead where the garage offers it.
• Tolls and fuel: There are no tolls on the roads around Amsterdam. The only toll for cars on the Dutch motorway network is the A24 Blankenburg connection west of Rotterdam, at €1.57 in 2026. Most stations sell Euro 95 (E10) and diesel, and prices are generally higher at motorway stations.
• Best approach: Collect the car when you are ready to leave the city, not when you arrive. Within the A10, trams, bicycles and the 30 km/h limit make a car slower than the metro.

Top Places to Visit from Amsterdam by Car

• Zaanse Schans — about 18 to 20 km north, in roughly 18 to 20 minutes via the A8. The open-air village of windmills and workshops on the River Zaan is the shortest trip from the city.
• Zandvoort — about 39 km west, in roughly 40 minutes. The seaside town has the North Sea beach and the Circuit Zandvoort, and one guide advises looping round the city rather than driving through the centre.
• Keukenhof — about 37 km south-west, in roughly 37 minutes via the A4 and the N207 to Lisse. The garden is open 18 March to 9 May 2027, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, and parking is listed at €10 to €14 a day on 2026 prices. Gates close at 6:15 pm, so buy a timed ticket online before you set out. Bicycles can be rented at the Keukenhof car park for the paths around Lisse.
• Volendam and Marken — about 25 to 35 minutes to Volendam, heading north on the N247 and turning right onto the N517. One guide reaches Marken by the ferry from Volendam, or by driving south to Monnickendam and crossing the bridge on the N518.
• Utrecht — about 42 km south-east, in roughly 43 minutes via the A2. The old centre has a diesel low emission zone, so park outside it and walk or take the bus.
• The Hague — about 64 km south-west, in roughly 55 minutes via the A4. The city has its own diesel low emission zones in the centre.
• Giethoorn — about 119 km north-east, in roughly 1 hour 30 minutes via the A6. The canal village is slow to reach without a car, with public transport taking close to three hours each way, so it is the clearest case for a hire car.

When is the Best Time to Hire a Car in Amsterdam?

Peak season: Spring is the busiest period for day trips by car, because Keukenhof opens from 18 March to 9 May in 2027 and the roads towards Lisse carry heavy traffic. King's Day on 27 April fills the city centre. July and August bring the summer holiday demand.

Shoulder season: The weeks around the tulip season, together with September and October, are steadier. Roads are quieter, and the long drives to Giethoorn and the coast are easier.

Low season: November to February is the quietest period for visitors. Trips from the city are shorter and parking is easier, although daylight is limited.

Advance booking: Book several weeks ahead for the tulip season, King's Day and the summer, and earlier for automatic cars or larger vehicles. Free cancellation means booking early carries no penalty.

How Payment Works for Car Hire in Amsterdam

A rental prepayment confirms your booking online with Instant Confirmation, and you pay the balance directly to the supplier on arrival. The price and vehicle class shown at booking are the terms you receive at the desk, and cancellation is free. The supplier may place an excess hold on the main driver's credit card, so check that the card in the driver's name has enough available limit.

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Amsterdam

Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys.

• Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
• Amsterdam Central Station
• Amsterdam Downtown