How do I get back to my hotel from RAI Amsterdam when the show closes at 6pm?
When a large show closes, most visitors leave at the same moment — Metstrade 2026, for example, closes at 18:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday and at 17:00 on Thursday. Metro 52, tram 4 and the trains at Amsterdam RAI station leave right by the venue; if you would rather walk out to a waiting car, pre-book it for your closing time. A ride from the RAI to an Amsterdam hotel up to 10 km away is a fixed €50 in Business Class, VAT included.
Last updated:
RAI Amsterdam → your Amsterdam hotel: fixed prices
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, RAI → Amsterdam hotel up to 10 km | €50 | fixed · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Business Class, RAI → Amsterdam address up to 15 km | €70 | fixed · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, RAI → Amsterdam hotel up to 10 km | €70 | fixed · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| Van Class, RAI → Amsterdam address up to 15 km | €100 | fixed · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, RAI → Amsterdam hotel up to 10 km | €90 | fixed · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| First Class, RAI → Amsterdam address up to 15 km | €120 | fixed · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
Rides within Amsterdam have a minimum fare by distance; beyond 15 km the price is per kilometer, shown before you book. RAI → Schiphol is a fixed €80 in Business Class. 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.
Your options at closing time
| Option | Where you board | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Metro 52 or tram 4 | Stops in front of the RAI (per the organizer) | Lowest cost; fine if your hotel is on the line |
| Train | Amsterdam RAI station, a couple of minutes’ walk | Direct trains toward Schiphol and beyond |
| Ride-hailing app | Wherever the app sends you | Price and pickup set by the app at the moment you request |
| Pre-booked car | The pickup point agreed with your chauffeur | Price fixed at booking; chauffeur and you can message each other |
Public-transport details from Metstrade’s travel page, checked September 24, 2026.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
- A pickup time you can move by messaging dispatch if a meeting at the stand runs late
Metro or car after the show?
When the train is fine
- Your hotel is on Metro 52 or tram 4, or one train stop away.
- You are traveling alone with only a laptop bag.
- You are happy to wait for the first crowd to clear before leaving.
When a chauffeur is the better choice
- You go on to a dinner, then to your hotel — hold the car for the evening.
- You are hosting clients and want them collected together.
- You carry samples or a case from the stand.
- You head to Schiphol straight from the show — see the Thursday departure.
How a closing-time pickup works
- Book for your closing time. Add your hotel address and, if you can, which exit you will use.
- Before pickup. You receive the chauffeur’s name, car and phone number; the two of you can message each other.
- Running late at the stand? Message the chauffeur or dispatch. The first 15 minutes of waiting are free; after that waiting is charged per minute at the hourly rate.
- Walk out, get in. The ride to a hotel up to 10 km away is €50 in Business Class, whatever the traffic.
Related questions
Is it hard to get an Uber at RAI when a show closes?
We can’t give you a waiting time for Uber — ride-hailing apps dispatch and price by live demand, and demand is highest when everyone leaves at once. A pre-booked car is priced when you book and is assigned to you before you walk out.
How much is a taxi from RAI Amsterdam to the city center?
With AmstelCab, a ride from the RAI to a hotel in central Amsterdam is a fixed €50 in Business Class for up to 10 km (€70 up to 15 km), per car with VAT included. Metered taxis charge by distance and time.
Can the car wait while I finish a meeting at the stand?
On a single ride the first 15 minutes are free. If you are not sure when you will finish, hold the car by the hour instead: €65 an hour in Business Class, minimum 2 hours, 40 km per hour included.
Where exactly does the chauffeur pick me up?
At the point you agree when you book; cars cannot drive up to the hall entrances, and the RAI’s own passenger drop-off is at Lodge P7, in the middle of the complex. The chauffeur messages you before pickup so you find each other.
Sources
- Metstrade — exhibition dates and opening hours (checked September 24, 2026)
- Metstrade — Your trip (train, Metro 52, tram 4, hotels) (checked September 24, 2026)
- RAI Amsterdam — frequently asked questions (cloakroom, lockers, drop-off at Lodge P7, wheelchairs, travel times) (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.