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. The chauffeur drops you at Departure Hall 3, where the customs desk and the refund desks are, comes inside with you, helps with the customs app, and goes with you to the customs desk if the app fails and then to the refund desk. Customs decides, and you must be there in person with your passports and purchases.
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The ride to Schiphol: fixed prices per car
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, any Amsterdam address → Schiphol | €80 | E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, any Amsterdam address → Schiphol | €85 | V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, any Amsterdam address → Schiphol | €90 | S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Mercedes-Maybach (Ultra), any Amsterdam address → Schiphol | €225 | Maybach S-Class · up to 2 passengers, 2 bags · confirmed by dispatch, not instant |
Ask for the help inside the airport when you book; we confirm its price on WhatsApp before the ride. With many bags and purchases, choose Van Class (€85). Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20–26, 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 the chauffeur does
- At the hotel. Checks with you that the purchases are in hand luggage or a separate bag, and that the NL Customs VAT app is installed with your passport number.
- At Departure Hall 3. Drops you at the hall with the customs desk and the refund desks.
- Inside the airport. Comes in with you and fetches a luggage cart.
- The app. Helps you request validation, with GPS and Bluetooth on.
- If the app fails. Goes with you to the customs desk and explains what the officer asks for.
- The money. Goes with you to the refund company’s desk for cash, or you choose a card refund.
- Check-in. Helps move the bags to your airline’s check-in desk.
- Goodbye. Leaves you at the security checkpoint.
What the chauffeur cannot do
So that expectations are clear:
- Validate on your behalf: customs checks your own passport, travel documents and purchases.
- Go past the security checkpoint.
- Promise that the refund is accepted; that is up to customs and the refund company.
Prepare before you leave the hotel
A short list:
- Passports and boarding passes
- The NL Customs VAT app, installed
- Receipts and the refund company’s forms
- The purchases, unused, in a separate bag
- A credit card if you choose a card refund
How long it takes
That depends on how many purchases you have and how long the line is, so plan extra time on top of your airline’s advice: how early to be at Schiphol with a refund. Every step is explained in the VAT refund in the Netherlands.
Related questions
My flight is very early — can I still get this help?
Yes, the service runs around the clock. But the customs desk opens at 7am and the Planet desk at 6am according to Planet’s lists, so before then you validate in the app and choose a card refund.
Will the chauffeur explain the steps in Arabic?
If you ask for it when booking, we look for an Arabic-speaking chauffeur and tell you before your travel day whether one is available; otherwise the chauffeur explains in English.
Can the chauffeur validate my purchases for me?
No: customs checks your own passport, travel documents and the goods, so you must be present. The chauffeur helps, explains and carries the bags.
Is there a minimum purchase for a VAT refund?
€50 in one store on one day. If you bought only a little, the app on its own may be all you need.
Sources
- Dutch Customs (Douane) — VAT refund for customers: digital registration mandatory since January 1, 2026; validation in the NL Customs VAT app or at the customs desk; leave the EU within 3 months after the month of purchase (checked October 8, 2026)
- Planet — export validation points in the Netherlands: customs desk in Schiphol Departure Hall 3, before security, daily 7:00am–8:30pm (checked October 8, 2026)
- Planet — refund locations in the Netherlands: Planet desk in Departures 3 near customs, daily 6:00am–10:00pm (checked October 8, 2026)
- Amsterdam Tourism — tax-free shopping and VAT refund guide (2026) (checked October 8, 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.