Amsterdam parking

Amsterdam is a historic city with many small streets and a lot of traffic. In an effort to keep out cars, parking rates have gotten sky-high. You have to pay practically everywhere within the city borders for parking. Within the centre, you’ll pay a parking rate between €4,50 and  €7,50 per hour. Besides the high parking rates, finding a free parking spot can be challenging. This is why locals mainly rely on their bicycles and public transport in Amsterdam.

So if you plan on visiting Amsterdam by car, parking is something to take into account. You might want to select a hotel with parking facilities, or park elsewhere during your stay. Apart from the parking difficulties in the capital, the Netherlands has one of the best road infrastructures in the world. So don’t be afraid to visit Amsterdam by car, but make sure to come prepared! As Amsterdam is a relatively small city compared to other European capitals, chances that you need your car are scarce.

On this page;

• Parking tips; some tips to prevent high costs and issues with parking
• Rates for street parking; check out the rates that are charged for parking your vehicle on the streets
• P+R parking; park and ride options offer cheaper parking for your vehicle just outside of the centre, special conditions do apply
• Free parking; if you’re willing to travel a bit by public transport, you can find a few free parking options near Amsterdam

Rates for street parking

You have to pay parking expenses practically everywhere within the A10 city ring. Naturally, the further away you get from the centre, the cheaper the rates. Outside of the city ring, parking rates are usually a lot cheaper but still apply. These area’s include; Slotervaart, Buitenveldert, Plein 40-45, IJburg, Osdoper-plein, Noord, Amsterdamse Poort and the area of the Arena station. The map below provides an overview of the parking prices. Please note: these are average prices to provide you with a quick overview. In the map below, you can find the current prices.

*Source: parken-amsterdam.com – prices are for indicative purposes and are subject to change. 

Park plus ride (P+R) in Amsterdam

Using Park + Ride (P+R) facilities is the best way to save money on your parking expenses. In our opinion, this is the best option when you plan to be for half a day or more in Amsterdam’s city centre by car. The Park plus Ride spots are located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, nearby motorways and have an outstanding public transport connection to the city centre. Keep in mind that there are certain requirements for parking at discounted Park + Ride rates, which we’ll discuss later.

P+R locations in Amsterdam

These are the various locations where you can park on P+R conditions;

• P+R RAI (maximum 24 hours discounted P+R rates, after that regular rates apply)
• P+R Zeeburg l + ll (two locations)
• P+R Zeeburg lll
• P+R Sloterdijk
• P+R Noord
• P+R Bos en Lommer
• P+R Johan Cruijff Arena
• P+R Olympisch Stadion

How much does P+R parking cost in Amsterdam?

Parking at a Park and Ride zone will only cost you either €6,– or €13,– per 24 hours of parking, depending on your time of arrival. A major saving compared to street parking, which costs up to €45,- per 24 hours. At the P+R zones, you are allowed to park for up to 96 hours. The parking rates at the P+R work as follows;

• Arrival during weekdays before 10:00 a.m. will cost you €13,- the first 24 hours. The next 24 hours will cost you only €1,-
• Arrival during the weekend or on weekdays after 10:00 a.m. will cost you €6,- per 24 hours.

What are the requirements for the discounted P+R parking?

The parking rates mentioned above are discounted rates, regular price for parking in these areas is €1.40 or 3.50 per hour. To get the discounted rates, you must travel into the city centre zone by public transport. Make sure to keep your public transport ticket, as it will be checked by the P+R vending machine. Please note; that you must purchase your public transport ticket within an hour after parking your car.

Summary of P+R conditions

1. Make sure you only travel in the city centre zones by public transport. Take a look at the P+R map above.
2. Don’t forget to check in and out with your public transport card.
3. Use public transport on your return to the P+R where you parked your car./li>
4. To pay the P+R is mandatory to get your P+R discount.

As we mentioned earlier, our mission is to help you get the best out of your stay in Amsterdam. If you doubt whether you will be able to meet the conditions above, then you should consider other options, such as Mobypark or simply paying the regular parking rates.

thingstodoinamsterdam.com tip:: Take a screenshot of the infographic below to make sure you carry the right information with you:

Free parking in (the vicinity of) Amsterdam

With the outrageous parking rates in Amsterdam, free parking in Amsterdam seems like a myth and frankly, it is. However, within the vicinity of the city there are some options for free parking, with fairly easy access to the city by public transport. So if you want to come by car to Amsterdam without spending your budget on parking make sure to check out the parking options below. The following parking facilities are free to use, although special conditions might apply. Please note that these conditions might be subject to change, so make sure to inform yourself at each of the locations for the most recent conditions for free parking. Free parking near Amsterdam can be found at;

P+R Muiden

This is one of the closest free parking spots near Amsterdam close to the historical village of Muiden. The parking can be located next to the A1 highway leading into Amsterdam. Also, it’s one of the few options that (currently) doesn’t have conditions for the duration.

This P+R spot is free 24/7 and offers a great bus connection to multiple stations in Amsterdam: Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena and Amsterdam Zuid. Each of these stations is less than 20 minutes by bus.

Beware to remove all valuables and personal belongings! We can tell you from personal experience that this parking lot is also a popular target for car burglars.

Location on Google Maps

P+R Sassenheim

This free parking can be found in the village of Sassenheim, south of Amsterdam, next to the train station. It is next to the A44 highway, which connects The Hague and Leiden. This parking is an ideal option for people travelling to the Netherlands from France or Belgium. Also, it’s one of the few options that (currently) doesn’t have conditions for the duration.

This P+R spot is free 24/7 and offers a great train connection to multiple stations in Amsterdam, including; Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Amsterdam Centraal, and Amsterdam Muiderpoort. The travel time to these stations is between 30-50 minutes. Take the train in the direction of “Almere Oostvaarders” for the smoothest connection without transfers.

Beware to take out all valuables and personal belongings!

Location on Google Maps

P+R Nieuw-Vennep

This free parking can be found in the village of Nieuw-Vennep, south of Amsterdam, next to the train station. It is near the A4 highway, which connects Rotterdam and Amsterdam. This parking is ideal for people travelling to the Netherlands from France or Belgium. However, there are restrictions; only the first 24 hours are free of charge.

This P+R spot is free for the first 24 hours; the following two days are €1,35 per day. After that, the price goes up to €2,24 per hour. The parking offers a great train connection to multiple stations in Amsterdam, including Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Amsterdam Centraal, and Amsterdam Muiderpoort. The travel time to these stations is between 20 and 40 minutes. Take the train in the direction of “Almere Oostvaarders” for the smoothest connection without transfers.

Beware to take out all valuables and personal belongings!

Location on Google Maps

Cheap parking near Amsterdam Central Station

Are you going to Amsterdam? Park your car at Parking Centrum Oosterdok. Our parking is in the heart of the capital close to Amsterdam Central Station. The cheapest option is to book a day ticket in advance, which can be purchased from € 5 per day up to a maximum of € 25 per day. Tickets are also available at the entrance of the parking, for a daily rate of € 37.50. Do you want to reserve a parking ticket? Visit parkingcentrumoosterdok.nl

Parking options & tips

As stated before, parking in Amsterdam is practically never free. However, for the parking rates, it does matter a lot where exactly you park. So we’ve gathered the following tips, so you can keep your parking expenses as low as possible. When visiting Amsterdam by car, please note that;

• There are several P+R zones in Amsterdam. These parking lots are designated areas where visitors can park their car. Usage of these parking facilities isn’t free, but prices are just a fraction of what you’d pay for parking on the streets.
• Amsterdam is divided into different parking zones with varying rates for parking. Naturally, the city centre is the most expensive parking zone. Depending on your destination, walking a bit from one zone to another might be worth walking.
• Some companies, such as Mobypark parking, specialise in renting out parking spots in the city centre for reasonable rates. By booking a parking spot online, you ensure you have a convenient parking spot near your destination in a safe environment for your car. Besides, it’s also cheaper than parking on the streets.
• If you need a car for transportation within the city, you can also use the shared Car2go. These electric cars can easily be picked up and dropped off anywhere in Amsterdam, without having to worry about parking costs. If you sign up with car2go, you can leave your car elsewhere.
• Pick a hotel that suits your parking needs. If you need your car near your hotel, you might want to pick a hotel in the South Eastern or Northern part of Amsterdam or a hotel that has parking facilities.