The maximum taxi fare in 2026
In the Netherlands, the government sets a maximum fare every year for taxis on the "opstapmarkt", meaning those you take from a rank or flag down in the street. Companies may charge less, never more. For 2026, the caps are:
- car for up to 4 passengers: €4.31 starting fare, €3.17 per kilometre, €0.52 per minute;
- minibus for 5 to 8 passengers: €8.77 starting fare, €4.00 per kilometre, €0.59 per minute;
- waiting time: no more than €59.41 per hour.
In practice, a 3 km, 12-minute ride in the centre costs at most around €20 by car. The driver may also offer you a fixed price, as long as it is agreed before you set off; any surcharge, for example for carrying luggage, must also be announced beforehand. The fare card must be readable both inside and outside the vehicle.
This cap does not apply to rides booked in advance by phone, online or through an app: their price can be higher, but it must be agreed before the trip.
How to recognise an official taxi
A legal taxi, whether taken from a rank or booked through an app, always shows the same signs:
- blue number plates at the front and back;
- a driver's card with a photo, visible inside the vehicle;
- an on-board computer that records the trip and calculates the fare;
- a receipt, printed or digital, handed over at the end of the ride, with the company's details.
In Amsterdam, only drivers affiliated with a taxi organisation licensed by the city (TTO, Toegelaten Taxi Organisatie) may pick up passengers at ranks or in the street. I amsterdam lists among them Taxi Centrale Amsterdam (TCA), Staxi, Taxistad, Taxi Direct, TCS, Stichting Take a Taxi and Schipholtaxi. An official taxi also has a "Taxi" sign on its roof. If something goes wrong, keep the receipt: complaints are handled by the company.
Taxi ranks in Amsterdam
Official ranks are located outside every station in the city, including Central Station and Amsterdam Zuid, and on the main squares: Dam, Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, Nieuwmarkt and Museumplein. The ranks at Central Station and Leidseplein are reserved for zero-emission taxis, electric or hydrogen-powered, and the city plans for every rank inside the S100 ring road to follow on 1 January 2028. On nights out, taxi hosts appointed by the city organise the queue around Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein.
The Central Station queue trap
The rank at Central Station is the subject of repeated complaints. In 2026, the trade press and the city describe a practice known as the "handremmethode": the first taxi in the queue turns down a short ride, then a colleague further back offers the same trip at a flat price well above the meter. If this happens to you, refuse the flat fare, ask for the meter or book a ride through an app. For other arrival traps, from fake drivers to pickpockets, read our guide to scams and safety in Amsterdam.
Taxis from Schiphol: the official queue
At the airport, the official rank ("Officiële taxistandplaats") is in front of Schiphol Plaza, at the arrivals exit. Since 1 November 2025, four companies have shared the queue under the airport's concession: Lacus Schiphol (Schiphol Taxi), Noot Touringcar Ede, Taxi Centrale Amsterdam and Willemsen-de Koning (Schipholservice, with minibuses). The cars are electric, and the fare is calculated on the meter, within the maximum fare.
For around twenty kilometres and 25 minutes to the centre, this cap works out at about €80 by car and just over €100 by minibus. If you book in advance, you can get a fixed price: TCA lists €50 between Schiphol and the centre by saloon car and €57.50 by people carrier on its website. By comparison, the train to Amsterdam Centraal costs €5.50 and takes about 17 minutes. Never follow a driver who approaches you in the hall. The train, bus 397 and the ride-hailing pick-up point are covered in our guide Schiphol airport to central Amsterdam.
Uber, Bolt and taxi apps
Uber and Bolt operate in Amsterdam and at Schiphol. Uber offers UberX, UberXL (up to 6 people) and Uber Taxi, which books a regular taxi; Bolt offers standard, Comfort, Premium, Electric and XL cars (up to 6 people), as well as e-scooters and e-bikes. The price is shown before you book but varies with the time, the weather and events: compare both apps before confirming.
Uber and Bolt drivers are subject to the same rules as taxis: blue plates and a driver's card. Check that the number plate matches the one shown in the app before getting in. As these are booked rides, the maximum fare does not apply.
Taxi companies also have their own tools: TCA takes bookings through its app, by phone on 020 777 7777 or on WhatsApp, by sending the word "taxi" to the same number. An app launched by Amsterdam drivers, NLCabs, has been running since 1 September 2026. To book a ride as soon as you land, you will need mobile data: see our guide to internet, SIM cards and eSIMs in Amsterdam.
Tipping and payment
Taxis accept bank cards, and apps charge the card on file. Tipping is not compulsory: rounding up the fare is common, nothing more. All the customs are explained in our guide to money, payment and tipping in Amsterdam.
Bike taxis and water taxis
Bike taxis (fietstaxi)
In the centre, covered bike taxis carry two adults, or three slim people. They are not bound by the taxi maximum fare: with Amsterdam Fietstaxi, a ride between two points in the centre costs from €30, a 45-minute tour €50 and a one-hour tour €70. Always ask for the price before getting in.
Water taxis
Water taxis run on the canals, but they must be booked in advance and do not publish a fare for a simple transfer. With Rederij Mokum, for example, you book through a form at least 36 hours ahead, departing from City Marina IJdock, a five-minute walk from Central Station. To cross the IJ, the GVB ferries are free.
Accessibility
Taxis may not refuse an assistance dog, even on grounds of allergy: a refusal counts as discrimination. For a wheelchair, book an adapted vehicle in advance with a taxi company and state your needs; the XL categories of Uber and Bolt are large cars, not adapted vehicles.
Summary table
| Option | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi from a rank or the street | max. €4.31 + €3.17/km + €0.52/min | Capped fare, car for up to 4 passengers |
| Minibus for 5 to 8 passengers | max. €8.77 + €4.00/km + €0.59/min | Same rule, waiting max. €59.41/h |
| Taxi at Schiphol (official queue) | about €80 maximum to the centre | In front of Schiphol Plaza, electric cars |
| Pre-booked taxi (TCA) | €50 Schiphol-centre, €57.50 by people carrier | Fixed price agreed when booking |
| Uber, Bolt | Dynamic pricing | Price shown before the ride, blue plates |
| Train Schiphol-Amsterdam Centraal | €5.50 | About 17 minutes |
| Bike taxi (Amsterdam Fietstaxi) | from €30 a ride, €50 for 45 min | 2 adults, agree the price first |
| Water taxi (Rederij Mokum) | On request | Book 36 hours ahead |
Prices checked in October 2026, based on the Dutch government, I amsterdam and the websites of the companies mentioned.
Further reading
For short trips, cycling is often faster than a taxi: our guide to cycling in Amsterdam explains how to rent a bike and which rules to follow. If you have to check out before a late flight, our guide to left luggage in Amsterdam shows where to leave your bags. And for trams, the metro and the free ferries, see our guide to public transport in Amsterdam.
