Renting a Car in the Netherlands: Is it Worth it For a Family Trip?
One of the most common questions asked when traveling anywhere in Europe with kids is whether to rent a car or not. When it comes to the Netherlands, most will tell you that the country offers excellent public transportation, and combined with its extensive network of bike paths, there’s no reason for renting a car.
While I agree that you definitely don’t need a car if you’re only staying in cities, after living in the Netherlands and traveling around the country with my children I can honestly say that a car can be helpful and we ended up renting a car for part of our trip and honestly regretted not renting it for longer.
Why We Rented a Car When Visiting the Netherlands with Kids?
We absolutely didn’t have to rent a car in the Netherlands, but I opted for this option as it made our trip smoother. Many attractions are located all over the country. Buses and trains work well, but using them can often take longer and might require longer walks, which, with a few kids in tow can be a hassle. It might also be more expensive depending on the size of your family.
For example, when we visited Efteling, I was very glad we had a car that the kids could fall asleep in on the way back. I cannot imagine having to switch from buses to trains with two tired kids after an entire day of exploring the park. The same goes for visiting Hans & Grietje restaurant, as it’s in the middle of nowhere and would require a long walk to the bus stop. Especially when it just started raining.
Is Driving in the Netherlands Easy to Navigate?
Roads in the Netherlands tend to get busy, and whilst I personally can’t say that drivers are bad (I learned to drive in Mexico after all), I know Americans complain about the number of bikes everywhere, and driving is more aggressive than they’re used to. That said, you don’t want to be looking at signs and figuring out a way when navigating all this, and having directions on your phone set up is a must.
This is why I recommend getting a reliable internet connection to navigate. Roaming is an option, but it’s undeniably expensive, and these days it’s easier just to get an eSIM. It’s best to get a Dutch provider like Odido Sim Wallet to ensure the cheapest eSIM in the Netherlands with 5G fast connection. You can get it for a day, a week, or as long as you wish without any commitments.
You actually might need a connection even if you’re not renting a car to check bus, train, and route schedules. If you check the 9292 website or app, it will show you the fastest route, potential delays, and the price of it all.
What Do You Need to Rent a Car in the Netherlands?
The most frequently asked question is whether an International Driving Permit is required to rent a car in the Netherlands if your driver’s license is from outside of the EU. The good news is that it’s recommended, but not required. We rented a car using only an American license with no issues.
Dutch car rental agencies don’t care if you’re going to use a credit card or debit card for your deposit. Remember that if you’re using a debit card, a large sum of money will be blocked for the duration of your rental, so ensure you have the money in your account. The funds will be returned if everything is all right with the car, but it usually takes a week.
Where to Rent a Car in the Netherlands
Since we were just renting a car for a few days out of the entire trip, we opted to rent from a company in town rather than from the airport. You still can rent a car at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport during your stay, even if you don’t have a boarding pass coming out of the flight (that’s not the case in neighbouring Belgium!).
I always recommend searching through Discover Cars to find a rental company that can give you the best deal based on your preferences.
Some people like to claim it’s cheaper when you book directly with the company, but every single time I tested this theory, it proved me wrong – it was always cheaper on Discover Cars.
Is It Expensive?
Renting a car in the Netherlands isn’t exactly cheap. Rental alone might be affordable if you find a deal, but then you need to add the expense of gas, potential tolls, and parking fees. The latter is actually the worst, as it can add up pretty quickly.
Car insurance can change your cost significantly when added upon arrival at the rental agency, and this is why I recommend adding a cheaper version that covers the same option through Discover Cars.
Car Seat Laws in the Netherlands
Do you need car seats in the Netherlands? A car seat is mandatory for children under 135 cm (53 inches).
US car seats are illegal in Europe and vice versa (read more here on traveling with car seats). EU regulations require the straps to be secured in such a way that you need a one-push button for quick release so if your car seat has two closures (like a chest strap), it’s NOT legal in European countries.
You can easily rent a car seat from your rental agency, despite the claims of the online crowd that it’s unsafe to do so, as these car seats aren’t well-maintained. It hasn’t been my experience; Dutch and German rental places actually tend to have the best car seats.
Some Americans might be taken by surprise as under EU regulations, backless booster seats are legally allowed for those weighing 15 kg or more, so you might get a backless booster even for a 3-year-old. Just because you might get a booster doesn’t mean that you can’t ask for a full-length booster, so
One curiosity you might notice is that many parents put a car seat in the front seat, especially infant bucket car seats. Some cars even have ISOFIX on the front seat. It’s legal, but don’t do it in a rental car, as the airbag most likely isn’t disabled! I you put your child in a front seat, you are required to turn off the airbag, and you can’t do it in a rental car.
