Netherlands getting around

Whether you go with your own car, rent a car, or go by boat or plane, on this page you will find all practical information about transport in the Netherlands.

Car hire

Rental locations

• Cars can be hired at major international rental companies at airports and stations and in cities, but also at many smaller national or local rental companies. The general name for car rental in the Netherlands is Auto verhuur.

Rental car booking

• The rates can vary greatly per season and per provider. Booking in advance can be cheaper.
• It is possible to rent an ‘all-inclusive’ car in the Netherlands via Sunny Cars. You can check the availability of rental cars in the search engine and book your car hire of choice:

More information on car rentals can be found here.

Requirements

Drivers license

• In order to rent a car in the Netherlands, the driver must have a valid driver’s license.
• Often the driver must be in possession of the driving license for at least 1 or 2 years.

Age

• The driver must often be at least 21 years old, but not older than 80 years.
• Sometimes the age limit is lower or higher depending on the rental company or the type of vehicle.
• Drivers under 25 years of age often have to pay a young driver’s allowance.

Deposit

• A car can only be rented with a credit card (with pin code) in the name of the main driver. Cash is rarely accepted as a deposit.

Particularities

Winter equipment

• Check in the winter whether the rental car is equipped with the right winter equipment. Winter tires are recommended in winter conditions and snow chains can be made mandatory with a sign.

Environmental sticker

• In a growing number of Dutch cities, environmental zones have been set up that can only be accessed with an environmental sticker. Cars that are rented in the Netherlands may have such an environmental sticker, but rental cars registered in another country usually do not. Inform at the rental station in time. See also environmental zones in the Netherlands.

Roadside assistance in The Netherlands

Safety first

• Put your car aside as far as possible (preferably on the roadside).
• Turn the wheels towards the shoulder.
• Turn on your hazard lights (also make them flash after placing a warning triangle).
• Put on a safety vest and have your passengers put on a vest as well.
• Get out of the car on the side where there is no traffic and let your passengers out on that side as well.
• If necessary, place a warning triangle.
• Stand behind the crash barrier or on the verge and wait for the roadside assistance service, with a view of the traffic.
• Never cross the highway, that is dangerous!

Ferry services

Ferry services to the Wadden Islands

Plane

International airports

• Amsterdam.
• Rotterdam.
• Eindhoven.
• Groningen.
• Lelystad.
• Maastricht.

National airline

• KLM

Particularities

• In case of cancellation, transfer, delay or baggage problems you can appeal to the European Regulation 261/2004. when a number of conditions are met.

Here you will find more information about The Netherlands.