Amsterdam Parking
Just as in most larger cities around the world, going by car into Amsterdam city center is not easy. Especially if you are not familiar with its streets and customs.
Also be aware that car break-ins do happen. If you have a foreign car plate, thiefs assume that you have some of your vacation things stored in the car.
Amsterdam street parking
Free street parking spots
Free parking in central Amsterdam does not exist. Not even hotels provide parking permits for their guests. It is all payed garage or payed street parking. And finding a parking spot in city center is challenging.
That is why most locals use bicycles or public transport. If you are going to be using public transport consider buying an Amsterdam city card. If you buy the right version, it includes a free public transport usage. But it doesn't include transport from the airport.
Outside of central Amsterdam can be parking free during the night or on Sunday.
Street parking prices
The city is divided into zones and parking price depends on the time of the day. There are many zones and many hourly possibilities. As a very short generalisation, most areas inside the A10 ring are payed all the time except for a few hours deep in the night. But by that time most parking spots are taken anyway.
Amsterdam city center parking price is €7,50 per hour. The price goes lower as you go farther trom the city center. The lowest price is €1,60 per hour in the suburbs of Amsterdam.
How to pay for street parking
You can use a blue ticket machine. They are close to car parking spots. But they only accept debit or credit card payment. You need to enter your cars registration plate number and the machine will give you a receipt for you. But you do not need to display this in your car. It is only for you.
Parking penalty
Scan cars patrol the city and scan licence plates. If you are ticketed or clamped you have 24 hours to pay the penalty. Then your car will be towed. And that will increase the penalty substantially. Call parking control (Parkeerbeheer) at 020 251 3322 for any queries or if towed.
Amsterdam Park+Ride
As a good alternative to parking in Amsterdam city centre is to park your car on one of the parking lots on the outskirts of the city. Then use the excelent Amsterdam public transport to continue your visit. These P+R lots are located near the A10 highway ring around the city and are relatively cheap. There are seven of them.
However they are not watched and most of them don't even have a fence. They are just simple parking lots and leaving your car there for longer time might be dangerous. Even if you have parked in a closed car park, it is better to not leave anyting of value in your car. You may also consider to put this "no valuables inside" warning behind the car window.
Amsterdam parking garages
Still, if you decide to take your car to the centre of Amsterdam here we list some garages. You pay there on exiting, so you don't have to worry about time. The prices are usually similar to prices for street parking.
P1 Parking Amsterdam Centre
Prins Hendrikkade 20A
capacity: 475
open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
P1 Parking Waterlooplein
Valkenburgerstraat 238
capacity: 220
open: Monday- Wednesday 7.00 a.m.-1.30 a.m., Thursday-Saturday – 24 hours; Sunday closed at 1.30 a.m.
Q Park - Parking Byzantium
Tesselschadestraat 1G (just at the gate of Vondelpark near the Leidseplein);
capacity: 456;
open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Q Park - Parking Museumplein
Van Baerlestraat 33B, under the Museumplein - the best if you visit one of the three Amsterdam big museums;
capacity: 600;
open: Monday - Thursday, Sunday 7.00 a.m. - 1.00 a.m. Friday – Saturday 7.00 a.m. - 2.30 a.m.
Q-Park Europa Parking
Marnixstraat 250;
capacity: 800;
open: Monday – Wednesday, 6.30 a.m. - 01.00 a.m. Thursday - Saturday 24 hours; Sunday 7.00 a.m. - 01.00 a.m.
Q-Park Nieuwendijk
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal at the Nieuwezijds Kolk (behind the Dam direction Central Station);
capacity: 400
open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
De Bijenkorf Car Park
on the Beursplein, entry from Damrak street;
capacity: 487;
open: 24 hours; 7 days a week
Heinekenplein Parking
Eerste van der Helststraat 6, close to the Heineken Experience and the Albert Cuyp market;
capacity: 256
open: 7.00 a.m. – midnight, 7 days a week
Markenhoven
Anne Frankstraat 220;
capacity: 375
open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Het Muziektheater/Stadhuis
Waterlooplein 28, located under Stopera - the Town Hall and Music Theatre complex;
capacity: 385
open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Bus entry and parking in Amsterdam
Busses and other large vehicles cause trouble in the narrow and congested streets of Amsterdam city center. Amsterdam municipality tries to regulate their entry into historical areas.