When you move to Amsterdam with your car, knowing the parking rules and customs is important as it is not always easy to find a parking spot in the city.
In Amsterdam, there is no free parking. It is all either paid garage parking or paid street parking. However, different prices apply to street parking as the city is divided into zones. For example, Amsterdam city center is more expensive than outer neighborhoods. You can check Amsterdam’ parking rates and hours in Parking Map.
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Keep in mind that the different rates may apply for different days or even at different times of the day.
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In this map, it is also possible to see if there is a paid parking garage in the area you are looking for. The prices are usually similar to prices for the street parking.
After you park your car, you need to use a blue ticket machine, close to car parking spots to make the payment. It is only possible to pay with debit or credit card. You need to enter your car's registration plate number and the machine will give you a receipt.
It could also be more convenient to buy a parking ticket for a day, week, month or a year to park your car on the street for a more affordable price. You can buy day, evening, week, month or annual parking tickets online at Parkeerkaart (in Dutch) or at one of the City Offices.
These tickets are cheaper than paying per hour at the parking meter. With a day ticket for instance, you receive a 40% reduction on the normal rate. The tickets are also valid for international number plates.
If you don’t want to park your car in the city, you can also use one of Amsterdam’s P+R locations. These P+R lots are located near the A10 highway ring around the city and are relatively cheap. Then you can travel by public transport to the city center.
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When you arrive before 10:00 on weekdays, you pay €8 for the first 24 hours, then €1 for subsequent 24 hour periods. If you arrive after 10.00 or during the weekend you pay only €1 per 24 hours.
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You can park at P+R for a maximum of 4 days. Please check P+R locations for current availability and how to get the ticket.
It is possible to apply for a parking permit in the areas where a paid parking is in force. You need to apply for a parking permit via the municipality website. You will receive the decision within 1 working day after your application is received. There might be a waiting list in your area and different rules may apply depending on your situation.
In the application form enter your address, to see which permit area your address is in. Also, you can see the costs for a parking permit and which documents you need to submit for the application.
Parking permit costs vary widely, ranging from €30 to €270 per month. Typically, they cost between €100-150 in Amsterdam and €80-120 in other cities/areas.