We wouldn’t normally recommend driving in Amsterdam for visitors – one reason is that parking is limited and quite expensive in the city centre. However if you must bring your car into Amsterdam then here is an overview of parking options available.
Street Parking in Amsterdam
If you park somewhere on a street in Amsterdam then you will need to pay for a ticket at a parking meter.
You now have to input your vehicle registration (number plate) into the meter – there is no longer a need to display a ticket – although a receipt can be requested. Note that payment can only be made by debit or credit cards (Mastercard/Visa/Amex) – coins are no longer accepted.
Amsterdam is split into various zones that have different on-street parking rates. In 2019 rates were increased considerably. The inner centre is the most expensive at €7.50 per hour – charged 0900-0000 Mon to Sat and 1200-0000 Sun.
Parking for longer periods does lower this rate a little. From 0900 in the inner centre, parking day rates Mon-Sat cost €45 (until 1900), €54 (until 2100) and €67.50 (until midnight). Sunday rates are €31.50, €41.50 and €54 respectively.
As you get further away from the centre the hourly tariff reduces (generally €6 down to €0.10 zones).
You may also encounter special Blue Zones where paid parking is not in force. Here you can park for free for a limited (stated) time but you must display a blue parking disc with you arrival time.
There are around 4,000 charging points for electric vehicles in Amsterdam, though standard parking rates apply.
Those living in an area with paid parking can apply for an Amsterdam resident’s parking permit (vergunninghouders) which is charged every 6 months. Permit rates vary depending on the area you live and the rules for where you can park are complex.
Electric vehicle owners get priority on the waiting list for parking permits.
Traffic wardens patrol the city and have the power to issue tickets, clamp illegally parked vehicles or tow away persistent offenders.
Finally, take care if trying to park next to a canal… you really don’t want to end up going for a swim!
Car Parks in Amsterdam
There are a number of off-street car parks (parkeergarges) in the centre of Amsterdam.
The largest car park in central Amsterdam is Parking Centrum Oosterdok which charges a fixed €20 for 5-24 hours. It is located just east of central station.
IJDock car park has a pre-booked €10 day rate offer (until 0000), P1 Amsterdam Centre (pictured left, opposite central station) offers a pre-booked online rate of €20 for 24 hours.
Some other car parks may offer discounts for day parking at weekends.
The following is a list of car parks within Amsterdam city centre:
| Car Park – Address – Spaces – Tariff |
| Parking Centrum Oosterdok – Oosterdoksstraat 150 – 1,369 – €1 for 12mins, day €20 IJDock – IJ Dok 33 – 350 – €5 for 60mins, day €10/€30 P1 Amsterdam Centre – Prins Hendrikkade 20a – 410 – €5 for 60mins, day €20/€55 Parking The Bank – Amstelstraat 12 – 110 – €6 for 60mins, day €60 P1 Parking Waterlooplein – Valkenburgerstraat 238 – 195 – €5 for 60mins, day €20/€55 Q Park De Bijenkorf – Beursplein 15 – 457 – €3 for 24mins, day €55 Q Park Byzantium – Tesselschadestraat 1G – 446 – €3 for 27mins, day €68 Q Park Europarking – Marnixstraat 250 – 720 – €2 for 23mins, day €40 Q Park IJ Oever Centrum – Vriesseveem 9 – 400 – €0.60 for 9mins, day €40 Q Park Centrum Oost – Wibautstraat 3b – 255 – €4 for 60mins, day €30 Q Park Kalverstraat – Singel 451C – 122 – €2 for 17mins, day €50 Q Park Museumplein – Van Baerlestraat 33b – 585 – €3 for 24mins, day €55 Q Park Nieuwendijk – Nieuwezijds Kolk 18 – 362 – €3 for 24mins, day €55 Q Park Weesperplein – Eerste Boerhaavestraat – 114 – €4 for 60mins, day €30 Markenhoven – Anne Frankstraat 220 – 352 – €0.50 for 7mins, day €47.50 Piet Heingarage – Piet Heinkade 59 – 400 – €0.50 for 7mins, day €47.50 Stadhuis-Muziektheater – Waterlooplein 28 – 400 – €0.50 for 7mins, day €47.50 Willemspoort – Haarlemmer Houttuinen 549 – 109 – €0.50 for 7mins, day €47.50 APCOA Albert Cuyp – Ruysdaelkade 93 – 600 – €0.50 for 7mins, day €47.50 APCOA Museum Quarter – Nicolaas Maesstraat 2D – 72 – €1.60 for 20mins, day €40 APCOA Heinekenplein – 1e van der Helststraat 6 – 259 – €2 for 20mins, day €55 APCOA Prins&Keizer – Prinsengracht 927 – 140 – €1.50 for 15mins, day €55 APCOA De Loodsen – Veembroederhof 208 – 116 – €3 for 60mins, day €30 |
A few options for car parks just outside Amsterdam centre:
| Car Park – Address – Spaces – Tariff |
| P1 Parkeergarage Olympisch Stadion – Laan der Hesperiden opp. 66 – 500 – €0.50 for 9mins, day €35 P1 Parkeergarage AH Stadionplein – Stadionplein 115 – 118 – free first 90mins, then €0.50 every 5mins Q Park Comeniusstraat P+R – Comeniusstraat – 105 – €1.68 for 60mins, day €10.44 Q Park Eurocenter – Barbara Strozzilaan 342 – 482 – €2 for 19mins, day €30/€55 Q Park Mahler – Aaron Coplandstraat 8 – 1,762 – €2 for 15mins, day €80 Q Park Oostpoort – Polderweg 92 – 720 – €1 for 18mins, day €18 Q Park Symphony – Leo Smitstraat 4 – 538 – €2 for 15mins, day €80 Q Park Westergasfabriek – Van Bleiswijkstraat 8 – 484 – €2 for 33mins, day €30 De Hallen – Bellamyplein 41 – 110 – €0.50 for 10mins, day €27 Mercartorplein – Mercatorplein 2 A – 200 – €1.90 for 60mins, day €25 Dome – Passage 88, 1101 AX – 550 – €1 for 24mins, day €24.50 APCOA Flow Parking – Gelrestraat 2 – 170 – €4 for 60mins, day €25 P2 Bomengarage (Boven ‘t IJ) – Buikslotermeerplein 237 – 448 – €1.30 for 180mins, day €10 RAI Parking – Europaplein 24 – 4,000 – €4 for 60mins, day €20/€24 |
Park & Ride (P+R) in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has 11 Park & Ride locations around the city ring road A10 where you can park for up to 96 hours at a discounted rate.
P+R Amsterdam parking rates (2024) are as follows:
- The off-peak rate is €6 per 24 hours for arrivals after 1000 Mon-Fri and anytime at weekends.
- The peak rate is €13 for first 24 hours for arrivals before 1000 Mon-Fri and thereafter €6 per 24 hours.
You can stay for a maximum of 4 days (96 hours) at all P+R locations in Amsterdam except P+R RAI (max 24 hours). If you stay longer than the maximum 4 day period then higher hourly parking charges will apply.
The P+R parking tariff is only based on travelling to the centre by public transport using an OV-chip card, a paper ticket or a special P+R GVB ticket at select locations.
Other types of ticket (barcode tickets, using debit cards via OVpay) cannot get the P+R discount.
How to use Amsterdam P+Rs
On arrival at the P+R you receive a parking ticket – you should not use a credit card at the parking entrance gate. Note that P+R ArenA has a dedicated P+R entrance; at P+R Bos en Lommer push the special P+R button; P+R RAI used number plate recognition, no tickets are issued.
Within 1 hour of arriving, you can purchase up to 5 special P+R GVB tickets at the blue P+R ticket machines at these P+Rs: Bos en Lommer, Johan Cruijff ArenA, Olympisch Stadion and RAI. The costs are as follows:
1 card (€6), 2 cards (€6), 3 cards (€7), 4 cards (€8.50), 5 cards (€9.50)
These P+R GVB tickets are valid for 1 hour each way for your outward and return journey between the P+R facility and central Amsterdam. They can only be used on GVB trams, metro and buses – they are not valid for travel on GVB night buses, NS trains or Connexxion bus services.
When you return to the P+R car park you should pay at the ticket machine by entering your parking ticket (or vehicle registration) and scanning your transport card – this is to ensure that you have complied with the travel terms and that you indeed qualify for the P+R parking rate.
Payment can be made by debit and credit cards (Mastercard/Visa) and must be made within 1 hour of checking out of your public transport journey.
Directions to the Park & Rides are clearly marked on the A10.
P+R locations in Amsterdam
This list includes public transport options for metro (M), trams (T) and buses (B) to the city centre.
| P+R Location | Address | Transport |
| P+R Bos en Lommer * | Leeuwendalersweg 23b, 1055 JE Amsterdam / exit S104/S104 | T7/B21 |
| P+R Boven ‘t Y * | Buikslotermeerplein 237, 1025 XB Amsterdam / exit S116 | M52/B37 |
| P+R Johan Cruijff ArenA | Burgemeester Stramanweg 130, 1101 EP Amsterdam / exit Oudekerk | M54/train |
| P+R Noord * | Nieuwe Leeuwarderweg 25, 1022 BP Amsterdam / exit S116 | M52/B37 |
| P+R Olympisch Stadion * | Laan der Hesperiden opposite 66, 1076 DE Amsterdam / exit S108 | T24 |
| P+R RAI | Europaplein 24, 1078 GZ Amsterdam / exit S109 | M51/M52/T4 |
| P+R Sloterdijk | Piarcoplein 1, 1043 DW Amsterdam / exit S102 | M50+M51/T19/B22/train |
| P+R VUmc (weekends) | Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam / exit S108 | M51/T5/T24 |
| P+R Zeeburg 1 * | Zuiderzeeweg 46A , 1095 KJ Amsterdam / exit S114 | T26/B37 |
| P+R Zeeburg 2 * | Zuiderzeeweg 8, 1095 KG Amsterdam / exit S114 | T26/B37 |
| P+R Zeeburg 3 * | Marie Baronlaan, 1095 MV Amsterdam / exit S114 | T26/B37 |
* not accessible for diesel vehicles with emissions standard Euro 0/1/2/3
Amsterdam’s P+R car parks are generally open daily, 24 hours per day. The exception is VUmc which is a weekend P+R only – open Friday 1800 to Monday 0400.
In addition, be aware of any major events happening at either the ArenA/Ziggo Dome, Olympic Stadium or RAI will mean the respective P+R there is closed that day.
There are similar P+R parking schemes in place at cities all over the Netherlands.
Also check out Driving in Amsterdam/Netherlands
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