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Discover Amsterdam
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Arrival by car

Each year, about one million visitors arrive in Amsterdam by car. While the city is very hospitable to drivers, the inner city is quite an enclosed area. Before arriving, it is advisable to learn about the city's motorways, roads and parking options in order to make the most of your trip.

Parking in the outskirts of Amsterdam

It is typically recommended to make use of the parking garages and park & ride (P+R) facilities outside the central area. These offer excellent public transport connections which enable you to reach your final destination quickly and efficiently. During your stay in Amsterdam, travelling by tram, bus or metro is a relaxing option wherever you go. Learn more about the P+R parking options in Amsterdam or check the current parking availability.

Traveling within Amsterdam by car

When Amsterdam's streets and canals were built in the 17th century, they were obviously not created with the cars of residents, visitors and commuters in mind. In the popular central districts, it's also common to experience crowds on the streets, making driving conditions difficult for those new to the city. Not to mention the warren of trams and fast-cycling locals.

For those wishing to navigate Amsterdam by car, the most important road to be familiar with is the A10 ring road, which loops around the city. This road is intersected by 18 S-routes, each offering a direct path into a separate district of the city. If you know which S-route to use, your journey is likely to be much more simple. 

Sometimes, Amsterdam's roads and bridges are under construction. This can lead to new traffic situations. The road information on your navigation system (TomTom, Garmin, Google Maps, etc.) may therefore be out of date. Therefore, always pay extra attention to the (temporary, often yellow) navigation signs to follow the correct route.

Livable and accessible city

80% of the roads in Amsterdam have a speed limit of 30 km/h. The maximum speed will be clearly indicated on each street with the familiar round red and white traffic signs. Read more about the speed limit in Amsterdam's City Centre.

In order to maintain the liveability and accessibility in Amsterdam, the streets within the ring road A10 are all paid parking areas. The parking spaces in the city centre are the most expensive, since these spaces are the most scarce. These fees can be rather considerable, as are the fines if the rules are broken. What's more, it's simply not efficient to drive within central areas, as the narrow streets are too busy.

Low emission zone

Amsterdam has a low emission zone (LEZ) for diesel vehicles only. Petrol fuelled vehicles can enter the environmental zone without restrictions. The LEZ starts when you leave the A10 ring road and enter the city. In some cases you can apply for an exemption.