Parking in Amsterdam
Parking outside the city centre
In order to control the accessibility of Amsterdam, the streets within the ring road A10 are a paid parking area. The parking spaces in the city centre are the most expensive. These fees can be rather considerable, as are the fines if the rules are broken. And it's simply not efficient to drive within central areas, as the narrow streets are too busy. It is recommended to make use of the parking garages and park & ride facilities outside of the central area. These offer excellent public transport links which enable you to reach your final destination quickly and efficiently.
Park your car in one of the P+R locations and continue your journey on public transport.
There are five P+R car parking sites in Amsterdam
Parking information signs
Note the parking information signs along roads in Amsterdam. These signs are part of a dynamic parking information system designed to help you find a parking place. The parking signs are linked via a central computer, which contains real-time information about ten parking garages. When you enter the city, you will receive the latest information about the availability of parking places and the nearest parking garage.
Official parking places
Always park your car at official parking spots where there is a parking meter. In much of Amsterdam - especially within the canal belt - there is only public parking at official garages. For on-street parking, look for the blue light box with the white letter P. In these situations, you must typically pre-pay for parking from the nearest parking meter.
If you do not hold a valid parking permit, you must display your pre-paid parking receipt inside your front windscreen. If you do not, you run the risk of clamping or even being towed.
