Traveling around the Netherlands in your own car isn't the most convenient option. Tourist towns often have narrow and winding streets. Consider leaving your large SUV at home and renting a compact city car for your trip.
Conditions for Car Rental in the Netherlands
Car rental in the Netherlands is handled by private companies. In Amsterdam, branches of major international agencies such as Sunnycars, Hertz, Budget, Europcar, and Sixt sit alongside local DIKS, Bo-Rent, and Stuur. It's impossible to anticipate every whim of a particular landlord, so in this article, we'll only cover the general rules that are the same for all renters.
The minimum age of a driver for renting a car in the Netherlands is 21 with at least a year of driving experience. Solid class cars can be rented only after the age of 23 and 25 with at least two years of driving experience. You must have a valid international driver's license and two credit cards.
Return your car with a full tank, as you'll be charged the highest rate for any shortage. The average cost of gasoline in the Netherlands is not encouraging. As of the end of 2015, the price of a liter of gasoline A-95 increased to 1.60 EUR. For the elite brand A-98, the cost of a liter of gasoline in the Netherlands is 1.67 EUR. Diesel is an order of magnitude cheaper at 1.27 EUR per liter.
It is not customary to delay the deadline for returning a car. A twenty-minute delay is fined from 10 to 20 EUR on top of the bill, and an hour late is considered an extension of the rental for another day.
Cost of Renting a Car
Prices for car rental in the Netherlands are set according to the technical characteristics of the car. Large companies rent nice small cars for 35-40 EUR per day. Local rentals can offer a nice A-class model for 25-30 EUR. A compact car will cost 50 EUR per day, and a mid-sized car will lighten your wallet by 65-70 EUR.
In addition to the rental fee, drivers under the age of 25 will have to pay an additional "age fee" of about 15 EUR per day. Hertz is particularly intolerant of young people, increasing the fee to 30.25 EUR.
When signing a contract, make sure that all defects in the car are recorded on paper, otherwise you may be charged for damage you didn't cause.
Driving Culture in Holland
In general, traffic rules in the Netherlands don't differ too much from those in general Europe, but local knowledge doesn't hurt.
1. Road users should keep to the right sidewalk, yielding the center lane to public transport. Cyclists are given priority in the queue.
2. A driver's blood alcohol concentration should not exceed 0.5 ppm or 0.2 ppm for young people under the age of 24.
3. When transporting children under 135 cm tall, it is mandatory to use special restraint systems adjusted to the weight of the child. Babies under 3 years of age may only be transported in child seats.
4. Seat belts are provided for passengers occupying not only the front but also the rear seats.
5. Talking on the phone while driving is only allowed with a hands-free headset.
Fans who want to go for a breezy ride in Tulip Country will be in for a treat. You can only go up to 130km/h on the main highway, and you'll have to slow down to 100km/h on local highways.
The strictest speed limits in the Netherlands are in urban areas - up to 50 km/h in standard mode, and on difficult sections - up to 30 km/h. Ubiquitous radars impartially record every instance of speeding.
High traffic fines in the Netherlands have cooled off more than one hothead: prepare to shell out between 11 and 390 EUR for rushing on the road.
The Battle for Parking
The shortage of parking spaces in big cities adds to the worries of the motorist. Drivers are alerted to parking bans by curbs painted in bright yellow or black and white stripes. Disregarding the parking rules is punishable by a fine of 90 EUR. If you are lucky, you will get away with a wheel lock; in the worst case, the car will be towed to the impound lot. Attempting to occupy one of the spaces reserved for the disabled is punished even more severely, with fines of up to 360 EUR.
Savings on parking services can be made with the park&ride intercept parking system. After paying for parking, drivers receive a card for free public transportation to and from the city center.
Toll Roads and Toll Tunnels
The Netherlands is renowned for its excellent pavement quality, and all roads in the country are free. The only exceptions are the Westerschelde and Kiltunnel tunnels. Tolls for passenger cars are 5 and 2 EUR respectively.
The Westerschelde Tunnel, recognized as one of the safest tunnels in Europe, is located in the northwest between the towns of Gus and Törnesen. The tunnel has a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour. The Kiltunnel is located in the city of Dordrecht in the south of the country.
