Is it worth paying for a private car from Schiphol when I’m jet lagged, or is the train easy?
The train is easy if you travel light and your hotel is near Amsterdam Centraal: trains leave from under Schiphol Plaza and reach Centraal in about 15 to 20 minutes. A private car is worth it when the train means a second leg by tram or on foot with luggage — which is most hotels — and it costs a fixed €90 per car in Business Class, not per person, so up to 3 people share that price.
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The car option: 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 |
One price for the whole car. Two travelers in Business Class pay the same as one; a family of five fits a Van Class car. 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.
Train and car, side by side
| Train to Amsterdam Centraal | AmstelCab car | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it starts | Platforms under Schiphol Plaza | Your name on a sign inside the arrivals hall |
| Time | About 15–20 minutes to Centraal, then your onward leg | 25–35 minutes to the canal ring or Museum Quarter in normal traffic |
| Luggage | You carry it: to the platform, onto the train, onward | The chauffeur carries it |
| Changes | At least one more leg for most hotels (tram, taxi or walk) | None, door to door |
| Price | Per person (train fare) | €90 per car in Business Class |
Train timing as published on amstelcab.nl for Schiphol → Centraal; check the Dutch railways (NS) for fares and service on your day.
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
The honest answer
When the train is fine
- You carry one bag and your hotel is within a short walk of Amsterdam Centraal.
- You slept on the flight and feel fine.
- You travel alone and want the lowest cost.
When a chauffeur is the better choice
- Your hotel is on the canals, in the Museum Quarter, De Pijp, Zuidas or Amstelveen — not next to Centraal.
- You have two or more big suitcases.
- You are traveling with children, older parents, or as a group of three or more (the price is per car).
- You didn’t sleep and don’t want to work out tickets, platforms and trams on arrival.
- Trains are disrupted — see what to do during a train strike.
If you choose the car
- Book before you fly. With your flight number; the price is fixed at booking.
- Clear passport control. The chauffeur waits inside the arrivals hall; the first 60 minutes of waiting are free.
- Hand over the bags. A covered two-minute walk to the car.
- Sleep if you like. The car goes door to door; nothing to navigate.
Related questions
Is the train from Schiphol hard to use after an overnight flight?
The ride itself is simple and frequent. What people find hard after a red-eye is the rest: buying the right ticket, finding the platform with luggage, and the tram or walk from Centraal to the hotel.
How much does the car cost per person?
The price is per car. In Business Class, €90 covers up to 3 passengers; in Van Class, €125 covers up to 7.
Is a taxi from the rank the same thing?
The official taxi rank outside Schiphol Plaza needs no booking and charges by the meter. It does not meet you inside the arrivals hall or track your flight; a pre-booked car does both at a price fixed in advance.
Sources
- NL Times — "Schiphol says new border controls are causing one- to two-hour waits" (August 13, 2026) (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.