Amsterdam's hotel taxes went up in 2026. Is it worth staying outside the city?
Rarely for the tax alone. Amsterdam charges a city tax of 12.5% of the room rate before VAT, and VAT on hotel stays rose from 9% to 21% on 1 January 2026. Haarlem charges €5 per person per night and Zaandam €7.71 instead of a percentage, so on a €220 room for two the tax difference is about €12 to €18 a night. That's real money over a week, but you pay a daily train fare into Amsterdam and lose canal-side evenings. Stay outside for the town itself, not to dodge the tax.
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Prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €90 | E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €125 | V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €140 | S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
Schiphol to any Amsterdam address is a fixed price per car, with meet and greet inside the arrivals hall and the first 60 minutes of waiting free. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- Flight tracking from the moment you book: an early or late landing moves the pickup, at no extra cost
- Your chauffeur inside the arrivals hall your flight feeds into, holding an iPad sign with your name (or a company name, or no name)
- A message or call from the chauffeur around landing, so you find each other quickly
- Luggage carried from the hall to the car, which waits in the Privium section at the front of P1, a covered walk of about two minutes
- The first 60 minutes of waiting at Schiphol
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car; English-speaking chauffeur and 24/7 dispatch
One night, worked example (room €220 before taxes, two guests)
| Amsterdam | Haarlem | Zaandam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| City tax | €27.50 (12.5%) | €10.00 (€5 × 2) | €15.42 (€7.71 × 2) |
| VAT at 21% | €46.20 | €46.20 | €46.20 |
| Total | €293.70 | €276.20 | €281.62 |
The other side of the ledger
Set the train fare into Amsterdam and back against what the tax saves; a car is only worth it when it replaces a day trip or carries luggage. On arrival day, Schiphol to any Amsterdam hotel is €90 in Business Class; to Haarlem or Zaandam it's priced per kilometer.
Related questions
Does the tax apply per room or per person?
In Amsterdam it's a percentage of the room rate; in Haarlem and Zaandam a fixed amount per person per night.
Do cruise passengers pay too?
Day-visiting cruise passengers pay €15 each per day in 2026.
Is Schiphol's tax lower?
Yes: 6.29% of the rate.
Sources
- Amsterdam Explorer: tourist tax rates 2026 (checked October 31, 2026)
- Meininger: VAT increase on accommodation in Amsterdam (checked October 31, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.