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Should You Hire a Car in Amsterdam? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Amsterdam (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Amsterdam - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by AI, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
âś… Car Score 9
đźš« No Car Score 10
đźš— Should you rent a car?

(0= absolutely not; 10 = rental car or heavy dependence on taxis absolutely essential)

🚲 Amsterdam: Car or No Car? (Here’s the Honest Truth)

Amsterdam isn’t just a city—it’s a lifestyle. With canals, trams, bikes, and ferries effortlessly gliding through daily life, you quickly realise cars are not the main event here… in fact, they’re often the problem.

Quick answer:
🚫 Do not rent a car if you’re staying in Amsterdam
✅ Only consider a car if you’re planning to explore rural Netherlands or multiple towns beyond the city

Now let’s look at why.

🚶 Why You Don’t Need a Car in Amsterdam (and Probably Shouldn’t Get One)

Amsterdam is one of the most walkable and connected cities in Europe. It is purposely designed to make life easy without a car.

Reasons to Skip the Car:

  • Firstly, the city centre is full of pedestrians, cyclists, and trams—not cars.

  • Secondly, parking is extremely limited and very expensive (up to €7 per hour).

  • Additionally, many streets are car-restricted or completely car-free.

  • Finally, public transport is brilliant—fast, frequent, and well-integrated.

🚲 Your Best Friends Instead:

  • Bikes – the most popular way to get around

  • Trams & Metro – quick and reliable

  • Ferries – free! and scenic across the IJ river

  • Walking – every canal is a postcard, so you’ll want to be on foot

âś” Ideal for: City breaks, canal cruising, food tours, museums, nightlife, romantic weekends.

đźš— When a Car Might Be Helpful

To be fair, there is one scenario where renting a car makes sense—and that’s when you plan to explore beyond Amsterdam and into the countryside or coastal towns.

âś… You Might Consider a Car If:

  • You’re visiting multiple towns in one day (like Volendam, Giethoorn, Kinderdijk, The Hague, Delft)

  • You’re staying in rural areas or cottages

  • You want to do a road trip through the Netherlands or into Belgium/Germany

However—even then—it’s worth noting that the Netherlands has outstanding trains connecting all major cities and towns with ease and speed. Often, even for exploring the country, the train is still the better option.

🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your Travel Style Car Needed?
Amsterdam city break (museums, canals, nightlife) ❌ No
Staying in the city centre ❌ No
Visiting Zaanse Schans / Volendam / Haarlem ❌ No (train/tram/tour)
Dutch countryside road trip âś… Yes
Multi-country drive (Netherlands + Belgium) âś… Yes

🎯 Final Verdict

  • đźš« Skip the car if your trip is focused on Amsterdam itself. The city is literally built for biking, walking, and public transit—not driving.

  • âś… Rent a car only if you’re embarking on a wider Dutch or European road trip.

Amsterdam is one of the easiest cities in the world to enjoy without a car. You’ll save money, stress less, and genuinely live like a local.

Should You Hire a Car in Amsterdam — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder

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