Layover guideAmsterdam · AMS

Ride-hailing in Amsterdam

Licensed taxis carry blue number plates; the apps use a separate marked pick-up point at Schiphol.

John Robert McPherson / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Official taxis are identified by a blue licence plate and an official sign on the roof. I amsterdam's advice is to take only taxis with a blue plate.

Licensed taxis run on the meter, and you pay the amount displayed on arrival. Order through a platform app such as Uber or Bolt and you will probably pay a fixed fare quoted in advance instead.

Schiphol has an official taxi rank and no reservation is needed. Uber and Bolt collect from a separate designated App pick-up point, signed inside the terminal.

I amsterdam strongly advises against taking rides from drivers soliciting within the airport. They are not officially approved taxi drivers.

Always ask for a receipt after the ride. It contains the information needed to file a complaint. For an app booking, feedback goes through the app instead.

I amsterdam: Taxi services in Amsterdam · checked 2026-09-03
I amsterdam: How to get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam · checked 2026-09-03

The rest of Amsterdam

The whole guide

Getting out of the airportStation directly beneath the terminal, seventeen minutes to Centraal, eight trains an hour.Local laws that catch crew outCannabis is not legal, it is tolerated under conditions, and central Amsterdam's street rules are a separate layer again.Staying connectedAn EU or EEA SIM works at home rates; a Gulf, UK or US SIM does not.WeatherMild, grey and wet in small doses rather than downpours. Take a jacket in every month.Eating near the crew hotelsDinner is early, kitchens shut around ten, and the card comes out rather than cash.What to buyCrew allowances into the Netherlands are lower than a passenger's, and the VAT refund is now a digital process.TippingNot mandatory, 10% for good service, and nothing is added for you.