Car Rental in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the most touristic countries in Europe, which offers its visitors green landscapes with tulip fields, windmills, hospitable residents, vibrant cities with people, bicycles, excellent museums, cheeses and fries whose name goes before it. It is a country that will enter your heart from the first trip.
With more than 16 million inhabitants, the Netherlands, located in the northwest corner of the European continent, is considered one of the most advanced countries in the world.
Here were born Van Gogh and Rembrandt, windmills and wooden corks, Amstel and Heineken beers and also one of the most liberal legislative systems on the globe.
Ofran operates in the Netherlands through several leading international rental companies, such as Europcar, Alamo, Budget, and Enterprise. allowing you to rent a car at Amsterdam Airport, as well as in Rotterdam, The Hague, and other cities.
There's a variety of car groups to choose from – from small and medium vehicles, family, and minivans to premium cars and automatic vehicles.
The most popular car rental companies in Holland:
Working with several rental companies in the Netherlands allows us to offer you higher availability of vehicles, and, especially if you're planning to rent a car during summertime, it is recommended to book a car in advance, even more so if you're intending to rent a large vehicle, station wagon, minivan, or an automatic car.
Thanks to the convenient road system, and the fact that the country is relatively small, driving in the Netherlands is particularly comfortable and will allow you to easily travel between the large amusement parks, the landscapes and the large cities.
◾ Driving in cities
The use of bicycles is very widespread in all parts of the Netherlands. Be sure to give the right of way to riders at intersections with roads and bike paths and not to mistakenly drive in the lanes designated for them.
Public transportation is also given clear priority and drivers are required to give way to trams or buses that want to leave stations. The use of the horn is absolutely prohibited at night and must be used wisely during the day.
◾ Parking in cities
Parking in cities can be expensive, especially in Amsterdam. The streets are also narrow and confusing, so if you intend to enter the city with the rental car, it is strongly recommended to park it in an underground parking lot or one of the parking garages. The rates are usually similar. If you prefer to avoid entering Amsterdam with a car, the "Park and Ride" parking lots located near the end stations of the train and tram will allow you to park for a long time cheaply.
◾ Toll roads in the Netherlands
Dutch roads are not subject to any toll or payment, but there are two toll tunnels, the Kiltunnel and the Westerscheldetunnel. The toll prices range from 2 euros to 5 euros. There are alternative ways, but they lengthen the road significantly and considering the low toll prices, traveling through the tunnels is extremely profitable.
◾ Turning on lights
It is recommended to turn on lights all the time, all the more so in the winter season. Wearing seat belts is mandatory in the front and back.
◾ Speed reports in the Netherlands
When driving on urban and interurban roads in the Netherlands, pay attention to the Trajectcontrole signs indicating the existence of an automatic system for checking driving speed.
Contrary to the method we are familiar with in Israel, in the Netherlands even driving a few kilometers over the speed limit is caught by the many speed cameras scattered on the roads and may result in high fines.
Please notice that Dutch law prohibits the use of devices or apps that detect speed cameras.
◾ Travelling outside The Netherlands with the rented car
From The Netherlands, you can travel to the neighboring countries. However, some vehicle groups (mainly luxury vehicles and automatic vehicles) are subject to restrictions when exiting to former Eastern European countries.
Be sure to mark the countries to which you wish to travel already when you start booking the car on our website (or telling our representative if you are making the booking via phone), so you will receive written confirmation from the supplier and will be covered in terms of insurance and road service.
Please note that in some countries in Europe, like Switzerland and Austria, a special sticker is required for driving on highways, which you can purchase in kiosks at the borders.
The responsibility of purchasing the sticker is the renter's alone, so make sure to stick it according to the local guided and make sure whether a sticker is needed whenever you exit a country and enter another.
Driving in the Netherlands during winter
Planning a winter trip to the Netherlands? Here are some important tips for you:
◾ Winter tires and snow chains
Please note that many countries have different winter laws that sometimes require driving with winter tires and/or snow chains depending on the road conditions. A vehicle with summer tires in the winter season is subject to fines and even immediate shutdown. It is recommended to order snow chains in advance and in any case make sure before leaving the rental station that you know how to put them on and that they fit your vehicle's tires.
We recommend everyone who goes on winter vacations in the Netherlands to check in advance the relevant laws for the destination country and for each country to which they plan to go with the rental car. You can of course consult our team with any question.
Antifreeze liquid
at very low temperatures, the fuel in the tank may freeze. Therefore, we recommend parking the vehicle in a covered parking lot and/or adding antifreeze liquid to the fuel tank when refueling (a special substance that prevents freezing), which can be purchased at gas stations if necessary.
For more tips regarding renting a car during wintertime click here
and for important tips regarding renting a car abroad click here
Booking a car in the Netherlands with Ofran will allow you to enjoy the benefits of traveling with a rental car in Switzerland, exploring all the sites and attractions that interest you, and having the freedom to do so according to your schedule.
Ofran wishes you a safe and pleasant trip with your rental car in the Netherlands
Amsterdam canals
It is impossible to talk about the Netherlands without talking about Amsterdam, and in particular, its water canals. Similar to Venice in Italy, Amsterdam is also located above a river and is therefore full of canals. Almost every attraction in the city is a water taxi or boat ride away, and in even more frequent cases, the ride is the attraction itself.
A walk by the water in the smaller and quieter streets is also an unforgettable experience and we recommend the Jordaan neighborhood, an immigrant neighborhood built in 1600 AD, and strolling through its small houses and courtyards by the water.
Keukenhof
The (colorful) tulips are one of the famous symbols of the Netherlands, and there is no better place to watch them bloom than the Keukenhof Tulip Garden. About 45 minutes by rental car from Amsterdam, the tulip carpets are located in the gardens known as the "Garden of Europe". They are located on the outskirts of the city of Lissa, and are considered the largest public garden in the world, with over 4000 square meters housing about 700 varieties of tulips, which reach their peak bloom in the months of April-May, but are displayed throughout the year, thanks to the greenhouses on site.
The Windmills of Kinderdijk
About a 75 minutes’ drive from Amsterdam, near Rotterdam, the village of Kindrijk, recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site, is the village with the largest cluster of windmills, preserved in their original state.
The majestic structures carry 28-meter-long blades and are open to the public from April to October, including days when the mills are in motion.
The Netherlands with children
The Netherlands offers a number of attractions especially loved by children, including one of the most popular amusement parks in Europe. A family trip to the Netherlands will provide you with many opportunities to make family memories.
Efteling Themepark Resort
Only 110 km from Amsterdam is one of the largest and most popular amusement parks in Europe, which is a must for those coming for a family vacation in the Netherlands. The park covers a huge area and contains enchanted castles, giant mushrooms, fairy houses and gnome caves. Children will enjoy the opportunity to meet their favorite characters from fairy tales, to visit Little Red Riding Hood's house, to meet face to face with fire-breathing dragons and to meet a magical talking tree.
Madurodam, The Hague Netherlands
At Madurodam, the little ones will feel like giants when they walk among exact replicas in miniature size of famous Dutch buildings, cities and landscapes. The place houses 65,000 miniature "residents" living their daily lives, and the children will be able to learn about Dutch history through them and through the buildings.
There are 21 interactive attractions that add to the experience, for example the children will be able to load tankers onto cargo ships in the port of Rotterdam or help a plane take off from Schiphol Airport, they will even be able to feel like a DJ at a local festival.
Shopping in the Netherlands
Mall of the Netherlands Leidschendam
The Mall of the Netherlands officially opened in 2021, and immediately became the largest mall in the country. It is located in Leidsendam in the south of the Netherlands, close to The Hague. It is a complete lifestyle center with about 300 stores, including reputable fashion brands, electronics and home goods stores, galleries, movie theaters, an outdoor concert stage and an international food market. Next to them, of course, you can find a children's play area.
Alexandrium, Rotterdam
The large shopping complex in Rotterdam includes three separate areas - the Alexandria shopping center, with 140 stores that include well-known fashion brands (Zara, Primark, H&M and more), an outdoor area with huge stores such as Decathlon and Media Market and an additional area for home design stores.
