Amsterdam does not charge its tourist tax (toeristenbelasting) per person but as a percentage of the room price. At 12.5 percent it is the highest rate among the large European cities.
How Amsterdam works it out
The rate stays at 12.5 percent in 2026. It is calculated on the room price before VAT and applies to every night with no cap. On top of that, VAT on overnight stays rose from 9 to 21 percent on 1 January 2026. Together that makes a tax load of 33.5 percent on the net price.
Example: a room costs 150 EUR net per night. Tourist tax 18.75 EUR, VAT 31.50 EUR, total 200.25 EUR per night. If you compare rates, check whether the tourist tax is listed separately; many booking sites do that.
Media reports say a further increase for 2027 is possible if overnight numbers do not fall. The city has not decided anything yet.
From Schiphol to the centre
- Train: about 5.90 EUR per person to Amsterdam Centraal, around 17 minutes.
- Taxi: about 40 to 60 EUR depending on traffic, with the city capping the fare.
The train beats the taxi on both price and speed. A taxi only starts to make sense with lots of luggage and small children.
Car hire
You do not need a car in Amsterdam itself. For trips to the tulip region or the coast there are desks at the airport. Ask about deposit, excess and fuel policy, and include city-centre parking fees in your budget.