Europe > 🇳🇱 The Netherlands
The city by city Car or no Car advice for The Netherlands can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in The Netherlands; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in The Netherlands?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in The Netherlands?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🏙️ Main Cities in The Netherlands
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | AMS | |
| Eindhoven | EIN | |
| Groningen | GRQ | |
| Maastricht | MST | |
| Rotterdam | RTM |
Let’s break it down in a friendly, real-world way 👇
🚆 You Probably Don’t Need a Car (and that’s a good thing)
The Netherlands has one of the best public transport networks in the world. Trains connect every major city. Trams and buses are fast. And bikes are practically sacred.
✅ Best No-Car Areas
| Location | Why a Car Isn’t Needed | How You’ll Get Around |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Narrow streets, canals, no parking | Trams, metro, bicycles |
| Rotterdam | Excellent transit | Metro, buses, trains |
| Utrecht | Central hub | Walk or bike from the station |
| The Hague | Coastal trams | Easy day trips |
| Leiden, Delft, Haarlem | Beautiful historic towns | 30-minute trains from Amsterdam |
➡ Result: You can see the entire Randstad region (the heart of The Netherlands) without ever touching a steering wheel.
🚴 Bonus: This is the Bike Capital of the World
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The Netherlands has more bicycles than people
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Bike lanes are everywhere
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Even locals prefer cycling to driving
You’ll often get places faster by bike than by car.
🚫 When a Car Is Not a Good Idea
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Parking fees are high
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City centres restrict vehicles
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Roads are flat and boring for scenic drives (sorry… no Alps here)
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Dutch trains are much faster between cities than cars
🚗 When a Car Can Be Useful
There are a few situations where a car makes sense:
| Situation | Why a Car Helps |
|---|---|
| Staying in a rural farmhouse | Flexibility to reach small villages |
| Visiting Friesland, Zeeland, or the Wadden Islands | Public transport is limited |
| Planning a road trip through Europe starting in Amsterdam | Renting a car here is efficient |
| Travelling with kids and lots of luggage | Easier than loading trains and buses |
But even in these places, trains, buses, and ferries often exist — they just run less frequently.
🏁 Final Verdict
| Traveller Type | Car Needed? | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| City traveller | ❌ No | Use trains, trams, and bikes |
| Culture & museums | ❌ No | Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam are transit heaven |
| Nature & countryside | ✅ Optional | A car adds flexibility in rural north/south |
| Euro road trip explorer | ✅ Yes | Good starting point for Belgium & Germany trips |
| Bike enthusiast | 🚲 Definitely not | Just rent a bike and cycle like a local |
✨ Conclusion
The Netherlands is one of the easiest countries in the world to explore without a car.
Use trains between cities, trams in towns, and bikes for everything in between.
However, if your goal is to explore windmill villages, remote coastlines, or cross borders by road, then renting a car can be a smart move.
