The Netherlands for travelers from the Gulf: Giethoorn, the Roermond outlet, Schiphol and the tax refund
AmstelCab is a private chauffeur service in Amsterdam; the rides are performed by independent licensed Chauffeur Partners in cars with blue taxi plates. We meet you inside the Schiphol arrivals hall, you can ask for an Arabic-speaking chauffeur when you book (we confirm availability before the ride), and we drive families to Giethoorn, the Roermond outlet and back at one price per car that you know before you book.
In Giethoorn we book a private boat with a skipper at the boat company’s own price, with nothing added by us, and on the day you fly home the chauffeur can come into the departure hall and help with the tax refund. Each page below answers one question, with the numbers and the sources; the same pages exist in Arabic.
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A chauffeur by the hour: prices per car
| Class | Cars and capacity | Per hour | 8 hours | 10 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Class | E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags | €65 | €520 | €650 |
| Van Class | V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags | €80 | €640 | €800 |
| First Class | S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags | €100 | €800 | €1,000 |
| Mercedes-Maybach (Ultra) | Maybach S-Class · up to 2 passengers, 2 bags | On request | — | — |
Per car, not per person, VAT included. Minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, and the booking starts and ends in the same city. Details: hourly prices.
Giethoorn
How long does a private car from Amsterdam to Giethoorn take?About 1 hour 40 minutes without traffic for the roughly 116 km, so plan on 3½ to 4 hours of driving for the round trip.
How do I book a private boat in Giethoorn without surprises?We book a private boat with a skipper through our local partner in Giethoorn at exactly the price you would pay the boat company directly, with nothing added: from €160 an hour for a boat that seats 9, with a 2-hour minimum.
How much is a boat in Giethoorn, and which type should we choose?There are three kinds: a shared canal tour in a covered boat at about €10–12 per person, a small electric “whisper boat” you steer yourself without a license at about €20–30 an hour, and a private boat with a skipper from €160 an hour for up to 9 people to €350 for the VIP boat, 2 hours minimum.
When is the best time to visit Giethoorn to avoid the crowds?Early, before 11am: the tour buses arrive in force between 11am and 1pm, stay until about 4pm in summer, and then the village empties again.
Is Giethoorn a good day out with young children and elderly parents?Yes, with the right boat: on a private boat with a skipper nobody in the family has to steer through the narrow, busy canal, everyone sits together in one boat for up to 9 people, and the Comfortable and VIP boats have a full cover.
Can we do Giethoorn and the Batavia Stad outlet in one day?Yes.
Can we see Giethoorn and Volendam or the Zaanse Schans windmills in one day?It can be done, but it is a long day: Giethoorn to Volendam is 130 km, about 1 h 48 by car, because Giethoorn lies in the northeast while Volendam and the Zaanse Schans are close to Amsterdam.
Designer Outlet Roermond
How do I get from Amsterdam to the Roermond Designer Outlet?Designer Outlet Roermond is in the south of the Netherlands near the German border, 178 km from Amsterdam, about 2 h 25 by car on a clear road.
How much is a private driver for a full shopping day at the Roermond outlet?A Roermond day usually takes 10 hours: about 2 h 25 of driving each way and some 5 hours for shopping and lunch.
What are the Roermond outlet’s opening hours, and how do we get the most out of the day?Designer Outlet Roermond opens Monday to Friday 10am–8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am–9pm, and closes only two days a year, December 25 and January 1.
Can we combine the Roermond outlet with Maastricht or Valkenburg on the same trip?Yes.
Arriving and leaving
Can I book an Arabic-speaking driver to meet me at Schiphol Airport?Yes: ask for an Arabic-speaking chauffeur when you book, and we confirm before the ride whether one is available for your arrival time.
We are a big family with a lot of luggage — which car do we need in the Netherlands?Book Van Class: its Mercedes V-Class takes 7 passengers and 7 suitcases, and from Schiphol to any Amsterdam address it is a fixed €125 for the whole car.
How do I get a VAT refund on shopping in the Netherlands, and what changed in 2026?If you live outside the EU, in Saudi Arabia or another Gulf state for example, you can reclaim the Dutch VAT of 21%, minus the refund company’s fee, when you spend at least €50 in one store on one day and take the goods out of the EU within 3 months after the month of purchase.
Can my driver come into Schiphol with me and help with the VAT refund?Yes, ask for this help when you book the ride to the airport.
How early should I be at Schiphol if I am claiming a VAT refund?Start from your airline’s advice — we usually suggest about 3 hours for flights outside Europe — and add about an hour for the refund, because purchases must be validated before you check your bags and you may need the customs desk and then the refund desk.
Good to know
How much does it cost to hire a private driver in Amsterdam by the hour or for a full day?A chauffeur by the hour costs €65 an hour in Business Class, €80 in Van Class and €100 in First Class, with a 2-hour minimum and 40 km included per hour, so an 8-hour day is €520, €640 or €800 for the car.
How do I know a taxi in Amsterdam is licensed?Check the plate first: Dutch rules require every legal taxi to carry a blue license plate and an on-board computer, and its rates must be on a tariff card readable from inside and outside the car.
Will the driver stop for prayer, and where can we find halal food on trips to Giethoorn and Roermond?Yes: tell us when you book and we plan the day around prayer times, and stops are part of the hours you book (from €65 an hour) at no extra cost.
When should we visit the Netherlands in the 2026–27 Gulf school holidays, and what suits each break?By the Saudi 1448 school calendar, the autumn break starts November 20, 2026, the mid-year break January 8, 2027, the Eid al-Fitr break February 26 (back March 14), the Eid al-Adha break May 7, and summer after the last school day on June 24, 2027.
Why families from the Gulf book us
What we offer every family, from landing to the flight home:
- An Arabic-speaking chauffeur on request, confirmed before the ride
- Meet & greet inside the arrivals hall, with the chauffeur carrying the luggage to the car
- A Mercedes V-Class family van for up to 7 passengers and 7 bags, €80 an hour
- One fixed price per car, known before you book
- A private boat with a skipper in Giethoorn at the boat company’s own price
- Help with the tax refund steps at Schiphol, and booking on WhatsApp around the clock