Driving in Amsterdam is not really recommended as the city centre streets are narrow, there is often ongoing construction work and parking places are limited and expensive.
Most visitors can get efficiently around Amsterdam by public transport.
That said there may be times when you need to rent a car.
All of the major car rental firms have offices at Amsterdam Schiphol airport and also in Amsterdam city – many (including Europcar, Hertz and Avis) are clustered around Overtoom, a long boulevard which is not far from Leidseplein.
From Overtoom it’s a straight forward drive to reach the A10 Amsterdam ring road which connects on to the Dutch motorway system.
Some car rental outfits also have locations near Amsterdam Central Station.
Amsterdam Car Rental Offices
You can book a rental car with Discover Cars here which checks all the main sites.
| Company | Address | Telephone |
| Avis/Budget | Overtoom 197, 1054 HT | +31(0)20 6832123 |
| Alamo/Enterprise* | Harry Banninkstraat 129, 1011 DD | +31(0)20 7400950 |
| Enterprise | Nassaukade 380, 1054 CA | +31(0)20 7401950 |
| Europcar | Marnixstraat 250, 1016 TL | +31(0)20 8092092 |
| Hertz | Overtoom 333, 1054 JM | +31(0)20 6122441 |
| Sixt | Nassaukade 345-346, 1053 LW | – |
| Sixt* | De Ruijterkade 44b, 1012 AA | – |
* Central Station
Tips for Driving in Holland
Here are a few basic things to consider when driving in the Netherlands:
Like most of Europe, the Dutch drive on the right-hand side of the road.
The roads and highways in the Netherlands are very clearly sign-posted. The Dutch road network is one of the safest in Europe.
Priority is normally given to vehicles coming from the right. Watch out on some roundabouts as this means entering traffic may have priority. A priority road is also marked by a yellow diamond symbol.
Try to avoid using the motorways during rush-hour – especially around the Schiphol airport area and the major cities – as long traffic jams (“files“) are common.
On the motorway keep right unless overtaking. The speed limit has been lowered to 100km/h (62 mph) although some will have a higher limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) at night (19:00-06:00).
There are no tolls to pay for using the Dutch motorways.
Speed limits are 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas and 80 km/h (50 mph) outside, unless marked otherwise.
In Amsterdam watch out for trams and don’t get in their way!
Take extra care with cyclists. When turning right and crossing a cycle lane you must slow down or stop, check behind and give way to any cyclist coming through. Always assume that cyclists have priority.
It is illegal to hold a mobile phone whilst driving.
Unmarked police patrol cars are common. If you are stopped for a traffic infringement and cannot produce a Dutch license you will likely be given a higher on-the-spot fine than a local.
If you are caught speeding 50 km/h over the limit your license will be seized (for a period decided by the justice ministry) and you will not be allowed to drive on.
Fuel is not cheap – high taxes mean that the cost of petrol and diesel is amongst the highest in the world.
Expect to pay around €2.20 per litre of standard “Euro 95/E10” petrol – that’s €8.30 (or about US$9.70) per US gallon.
Diesel costs around €1.95 per litre and LPG costs €1.00 per litre.
Prices will vary amongst petrol stations – those on the motorway are more expensive, so try to fill up in town. Be aware that fuel in Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg is generally cheaper than in the Netherlands.
Instead of driving into the city, consider one of Amsterdam’s Park+Ride (P+R) schemes. You will find similar car parks outside major cities in the Netherlands and they often provide cheap public transport to the centre.
For residents/expats you could either buy a car or consider using one of the Dutch car sharing schemes such as Greenwheels.
This article was originally published in 2010. Last checked and updated 8 January 2026.
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