Taxi Ranks

How to catch a taxi in Amsterdam

You can find taxiranks at almost all the important tourist spots, and in front of -or near-most major hotels. Please be aware that, officially, you are not obliged to take the first taxi in the row.

The liberalization rules that were introduced a few years ago, have it that the customer can choose which taxi he/she takes. Since the quality of both cars and drivers have deteriorated since the liberalization, it may especially be wise to judge those before boarding.

In everyday practice, however, drivers get very upset if you do not take the first taxi in row. Also, instead of you choosing, many drivers will refuse you if you need to go just a short distance.

After many complaints, this problem was addressed by the city government by placing inspectors on the Central Train Station (Centraal Station) taxi rank. Since March 2008 only taxi's that comply with a set of quality standards are allowed to enter the Centraal Station taxi rank. The forementioned problems do still exist at other taxi ranks, but plans are in place to extend these measures to other taxi ranks.

Because of high fuel cost, most taxi's avoid driving around without passengers. It is possible to hail a taxi, but it may take a while before you found one that is available, unless you just happen to stand on a route that taxes empty taxi's to a major taxi rank.

Taxi's do not have a fixed colour in The Netherlands, can be recognized by the combination of a blue licence plate and a taxi sign on the roof (chauffeured car services and limousines also have blue licence plates).