Car Rental in the Netherlands: the Land of Tulips and Windmills
The Netherlands, though small, offer visitors the most beautiful visual sights every day, from fields of tulips to the unique marriage of old and new culture and design. Wherever you go, you will be impressed by the Dutch aesthetic, whether you’re visiting the quaint countryside or the phenomenal clubs and restaurants of the inner city. Book your rental car today to see the most of the Netherlands!
Tourist season in the Netherlands runs from April to October, with the busiest months being July and August.
The national language of the Netherlands is Dutch, but many Dutch are multilingual and English is the first non-native language of choice. German, French, Italian, and Spanish are also spoken by numerous people in the Netherlands. Frisian is the country’s second official language.
The Netherlands are located in the Central European Time Zone, UTC+1.
The currency is the euro, and credit cards are widely accepted, though perhaps less widely than Americans and other Europeans are accustomed to. ATMs are widely available, so take advantage of them to have cash on hand for minor transactions.
While Dutch cities have a lot to offer, you’ll definitely want to head out into the countryside. Visit, for example, picturesque Bourtange, located two and a half hours northwest of Amsterdam. Stop in the Drenthe province on your way to see the ‘hunebedden’ – rock structures left by the Dutch’s Neolithic ancestors.
Automobile hire is available in virtually every Dutch city, though the most popular places to rent cars are in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague.
Visa Regulations
As a member of the Schengen Agreement, the Netherlands accepts visitors visa-free from countries within the EU and others such as Switzerland, New Zealand, and Australia. Citizens of other countries will be required to apply for a visa before they arrive and are permitted to stay for up to three months.
Driving in the Netherlands
Highways are excellently maintained throughout the Netherlands and provide an excellent link to any of your domestic and international travel destinations; they are crowded, however, so plan some extra time into your travels to deal with full roads, particularly during morning and evening rush hours. Renting a car will greatly ease your travels, especially if you’re interested in visiting the Dutch countryside, so book one today!
Right-Hand Driving
- As in the rest of continental Europe, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road.
- In cities and towns: 50 km/h
- On local rural roads: 80 km/h
- On expressways (autoweg): 100 km/h
- On motorways (autosnelweg): 130 km/h
- Note that in 30 km/h zones in cities and towns, all intersections are unregulated, meaning that the car approaching from the right always has right of way.
- Speeding is heavily regulated and fined throughout the country.
Speed Limits
- In cities and towns: 50 km/h
- On local rural roads: 80 km/h
- On expressways (autoweg): 100 km/h
- On motorways (autosnelweg): 130 km/h
- Note that in 30 km/h zones in cities and towns, all intersections are unregulated, meaning that the car approaching from the right always has right of way.
- Speeding is heavily regulated and fined throughout the country.
Other Regulations
- Parking is expensive and limited in major Dutch cities, so be sure to book a hotel with complementary off-street parking if you’re planning on retaining your car while visiting Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam in particular.
- An international driver’s permit is not strictly required, but is recommended.
- There are no toll roads in the Netherlands, but the Kiltunnel and the Westerscheldetunnel are the two tolled tunnels of the country, costing between $1.70 and $5.00 for passenger cars.
- Drivers have to be a minimum of 18 years old to be licensed in the Netherlands, though you will have to be 19 years old, with a minimum of one year’s driving experience in order to rent. Drivers under the age of 25 are likely to face young-driver surcharges.
- Note that public buses have right of way throughout the Netherlands, so they may pull out in front of you.
Other Tips
- Particularly for city driving and for meandering from village to village through the Dutch countryside, a GPS or satnav will be necessary, as many roads are winding and one-way, and the excellent highway infrastructure typically directs travelers back to the main throughways.
Cheap Car Rental in the Netherlands
Automobile hire in the Netherlands typically starts at around $16 a day. Here are some of the best deals in the Netherlands:
- Hyundai I10 or similar (mini class) – $16/day
- Ford Fiesta or similar (economy class) – $17/day
- Kia Ceed or similar (compact class) – $18/day
- Ford C-Max or similar (intermediate class) – $25/day
- Kia Sportage or similar (intermediate class) – $40/day
Note that prices vary depending on the availability of each specific car and the season in which you rent. For the most accurate offers, use the search bar above.
Tips for Renting a Car Inexpensively in the Netherlands
There is very little seasonal variation in price, though if you’re planning on travelling through the Netherlands in July or August, booking a car well in advance is likely to save you some money!
You can likely also save $1 a day and more by extending your rental agreement to over a week.
Green Motion is the cheapest rental brands in the Netherlands and typically has the best offerings at its airport locations, particularly in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
