Is there a maximum taxi fare in the Netherlands?
Yes, for taxis you take from a rank or hail on the street: in 2026 a regular taxi may charge at most a €4.31 starting fare, €3.17 per kilometer and €0.52 per minute, and a van carrying five to eight people at most €8.77, €4.00 per kilometer and €0.59 per minute. A taxi you book in advance agrees its price before the ride instead, which is how AmstelCab works: one fixed price per car, such as €90 from Schiphol to any Amsterdam address.
Last updated:
Agreed before the ride: Schiphol → any Amsterdam address
| 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 |
| Mercedes-Maybach (Ultra), Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €250 | Maybach S-Class · up to 2 passengers, 2 bags · confirmed by dispatch, not instant |
A fixed price does not change with traffic, a detour or a wait at a red light. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At Schiphol 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.
Maximum taxi tariffs in 2026 (ranks and street hails)
| Vehicle | Starting fare | Per kilometer | Per minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car (up to 4 passengers) | €4.31 | €3.17 | €0.52 |
| Van (5 to 8 passengers) | €8.77 | €4.00 | €0.59 |
Source: Dutch government (Rijksoverheid). The government’s own example: 7 km taking 15 minutes costs at most €34.30. A waiting rate of up to €59.41 an hour applies only if agreed before the ride.
What the maximum means for Schiphol → central Amsterdam
| Assumption | Maximum on the meter |
|---|---|
| About 24 km, 25 minutes | €93.39 |
| About 24 km, 35 minutes | €98.59 |
Our arithmetic with the 2026 maximum rates, a routing distance to Dam Square and the 25–35 minute normal-traffic range. A meter may charge less than the maximum; it may not charge more. AmstelCab’s fixed Business Class price for the same ride is €90.
Metered, or agreed in advance
The maximum exists for the moment you have no bargaining power: a taxi at a rank or one you wave down. Each taxi company sets its own rates and must show them on the tariff card; they may be lower than the maximum, never higher. Delays in traffic are shared between you and the taxi, because the per-minute part keeps running.
When you order a taxi, or book a chauffeur, the rules expect a price to be agreed before the ride. Extras — lifting suitcases, a waiting period — must also be agreed beforehand. AmstelCab’s waiting after the included free time is charged at the booked class’s hourly rate (€65 an hour in Business Class), and the price is on your confirmation before you travel.
Related questions
Does the maximum fare apply to a taxi I booked by phone or app?
The maximum is set for the rank and street-hail market. For a booked ride the government’s rule is that the price is agreed in advance, so check it before you confirm.
Can a taxi charge more at night in the Netherlands?
At a rank the maximum rates are the ceiling at any hour. AmstelCab’s fixed prices are the same day and night.
Is a van taxi allowed to charge more than a car?
Yes, but only when it is equipped for five to eight people and at least five travel, or when it is wheelchair accessible; then the higher van maximum applies.
What if a taxi charged me more than the maximum?
Keep the receipt, which carries the company’s P-number, and complain to the taxi company first; it has 6 weeks to respond before you can go to the taxi disputes committee.
Sources
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch government) — “Wat zijn de tarieven voor een taxi?”: 2026 maximum taxi tariffs (checked September 24, 2026)
- Taxiregels.nl — 2026 indexation of the maximum taxi tariffs, with the conditions for the van rate (January 1, 2026) (checked September 24, 2026)
- Rijksoverheid — “Kwaliteitseisen taxi en taxichauffeur” (maximum tariffs apply to ranks and street hails; a booked taxi agrees its price in advance) (checked September 24, 2026)
- Rijksoverheid — “Hoe kan ik een klacht indienen over een taxi?” (checked September 24, 2026)
- OpenStreetMap road routing (OSRM) — distances quoted as “about … km” (checked September 24, 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.