Parking permits and car costs in the Netherlands: Amsterdam's 2027 increase, four cities compared, visitors and imports

In a Dutch city, the first question about owning a car is not which car to buy but where it will sleep. Most cities hand out kerbside space through resident parking permits (parkeervergunning). The city sets the price, the zone and, where space is short, the waiting list.

On 27 October 2026, NL Times reported, based on Het Parool, that Amsterdam resident permits would rise "by up to €20.20 a month" in 2027. The municipality's own announcement describes an increase of €10 to €15 a month for a first permit from 1 January 2027, with the visitor discount cut to 40%.

This guide starts from that report and checks the official prices in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht. It explains how permits, waiting lists and visitor parking work, adds the other costs of owning a car (road tax, insurance, fuel, APK, depreciation), walks through registering a car you bring from abroad, and compares the numbers with car sharing.

Main sources for this guide

• NL Times, "Amsterdam parking permit fees to rise by up to €20.20 a month in 2027" (27 October 2026)
• Gemeente Amsterdam, "Parkeervergunningen worden duurder in 2027" (October 2026)
• Gemeente Den Haag, "Parkeervergunning voor bewoners aanvragen of verlengen" (updated 24 September 2026)
• Gemeente Rotterdam and Gemeente Utrecht permit and tariff pages (checked 29 October 2026)
• RDW, "Verhuizen naar Nederland en uw voertuig meenemen", and CBS, "Rijbewijs- en autobezit stijgt" (13 February 2026)

1. What Amsterdam is proposing for 2027

Amsterdam wants to raise resident permit prices from 1 January 2027, with the biggest increases where street space is scarcest. The city says it wants room for greenery, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. NL Times adds that budget pressure from inflation, higher interest rates and large investments plays a role.

Transport alderman Elise Moeskops told the paper that scarce space in the centre must be managed "carefully". A municipal spokesperson said there are enough alternatives to owning a car for many people, especially in the centre, but that the city does not expect people to give up their cars on a large scale.

Increase by area

The table combines the city's announcement and IamExpat's summary. All figures are the monthly increase for a first resident permit.

The pattern is clear: the closer to the centre, the bigger the increase, while areas where paid parking arrived recently stay almost flat.

When it is decided and when you pay

IamExpat reported on 28 October 2026 that the council will vote in December. Amsterdam permits run for six months, so current holders would pay the new price when they renew on 1 March, 1 April or 1 May 2027, depending on their area. Your renewal month is on your permit notice and in Mijn Amsterdam.

If you are moving within the city, recalculate with the rate for the new address. A move from Zuidoost to the canal belt can multiply the permit cost several times over.

How the reports differ

The numbers differ slightly between outlets. NL Times says permits in Kolenkitbuurt and Slotervaart go from €9.85 to €20.20 a month, "more than double". That is an increase of €10.35, against the city's €10, probably because indexation is included.

Local broadcaster AT5 reports that a first permit in the centre goes from €677 to €857 a year, roughly €56 to €71 a month, which matches the city's +€15. For Noord, Zuidoost and parts of Nieuw-West, NL Times gives about 3.5%, from €6.67 to €6.91 a month, which matches the city's 2026 rate of €40.02 per six months.

The direction and scale agree. For the exact amount on your street, check the city's tariff list after the December vote.

Why an economist calls permits too cheap

NL Times quotes Jos van Ommeren, professor of urban economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Residents pay "just 2.5 percent" of what a visitor pays for street parking, he says, a gap he calls extreme. If permits were too expensive, he argues, there would not be so many people waiting for one.

He estimates that a 10% rise in the cost of owning a car cuts demand by about 5%, but much less where there are waiting lists. In other words, central residents will mostly just pay more, and waiting lists are unlikely to shrink.

2. How resident permits work

In much of urban Netherlands, street parking is paid (betaald parkeren). Residents of a paid zone who own a car can apply to the city for a permit that lets them park in their own zone without paying the hourly rate. Each city sets its own prices, zones and rules by bylaw.

The permit gives you a right to look for a space in your zone, not a reserved space. Where demand exceeds the number of permits the city is willing to issue, a waiting list (wachtlijst) forms.

Typical conditions

The details vary, but the structure is similar. These are the main conditions from The Hague's and Rotterdam's official pages.

The lesson is that your home decides whether you can get a permit at all. New apartment blocks and buildings with an underground garage often do not qualify for street permits. If you need a car, check before you sign.

The Hague: own property rule since April 2026

According to The Hague International Centre, The Hague's parking strategy for 2021 to 2030 means that from April 2026, residents who can park on their own property are no longer eligible. The city has an address checker on its website. Residents of Palaceplein, Binckhorst, Energiekwartier and CS-Oost/Grotiusplaats are also excluded.

There is an ambiguity about the third car. The city's permit page says up to three permits per address, while the council's 2026 tariff document says that since the 2025 system no permits are issued for a third car per household. The difference is probably address versus household, but ask the city if you plan on three cars.

How waiting lists work

Rotterdam's official page explains that some sectors have a waiting list because the number of permits is capped. First-permit applicants get priority over second-permit applicants, who may wait a long time or never be reached. Positions are updated at the start of each month, and no typical waiting time is given.

Amsterdam also has waiting lists in many areas. While you wait, you may be able to get an overflow permit (overloopvergunning) for a neighbouring zone, at the same price as a normal permit for your zone. Waiting times vary widely by area, so ask the city before you move.

3. Official prices in four cities

Cities bill on different cycles: The Hague per year, Rotterdam per month or year, Utrecht per quarter and Amsterdam per six months. The table converts everything to an annual figure. The central Amsterdam figure is AT5's reported number, because the city's tariff list could not be checked directly.

The gap between the cheapest and dearest Amsterdam zones is more than eightfold, larger than the gap between cities. Where you live within a city matters more than which city you choose.

The Hague: €99.20, up 2.22% in 2026

The Hague charges per year: €99.20 for a first permit, €346.65 for a second and €693.25 for a third, plus €17.70 for a new application. The council's tariff document shows a 2.22% indexation for 2026, taking the first permit from €97.05 in 2025.

Permit years differ by zone; in the centre the year runs from 1 March to the end of February. If you apply less than two months before renewal, you also pay for the following year. Online applications paid with iDEAL can start immediately; direct debit or invoice takes at least 10 working days.

Rotterdam: €9.50 a month

Rotterdam charges €9.50 a month (€114 a year) for a first permit and €25.70 a month (€308.40 a year) for each additional one. The limit is two per address; in areas where paid parking is new, a third may be possible during the first two years.

You can link up to three number plates to one permit, but only one car may use it at a time. Older diesel cars may not meet the emission class requirement, so check the class before buying a used car for a Rotterdam address.

Utrecht: quarterly billing and a fourfold spread

Utrecht charges per quarter: €164.34 in zone A1 (the centre), €97.11 in A2 and €42.27 in BC. Second permits cost €242.76 in A2 and €105.72 in BC; no A1 second-permit price is listed. At €657 a year, central Utrecht is close to central Amsterdam.

Utrecht is also extending paid parking. The city has announced paid parking in parts of Lunetten and Zuilen from 1 November 2026, so streets that are free today may need a permit soon.

What is known about 2027

Only Amsterdam has published 2027 proposals. When checked on 29 October 2026, no 2027 resident permit tariffs were found for the other three cities. The Hague's 2026 rates were set out in a council document in October 2025, as part of the autumn budget cycle.

A reasonable assumption is that the other cities will add indexation, but that is not confirmed. When budgeting, add a few percent to the 2026 price.

4. Visitor parking (bezoekersparkeren)

A resident permit is for your own car. When friends or family drive over, you use a visitor permit (bezoekersvergunning). You register your guest's number plate in an app or on the city website, and they park at a reduced rate for that period.

You often do not need to own a car to get a visitor permit; The Hague says so explicitly. It is also useful when relatives rent a car during a visit.

Visitor schemes in four cities

The schemes fall into two types: an annual budget of hours, or a discounted hourly rate.

Rotterdam works out at about €0.78 an hour but stops at 500 hours. The Hague is generous in the centre and Scheveningen and tighter elsewhere, at 138 hours a year. If you have frequent visitors, the area's allowance matters.

Amsterdam: discount from 65% to 40%

Amsterdam's visitor permit is free, but visitors pay a discounted rate. AT5 reports that the 2027 proposal cuts the discount for visitor and scratch-card permits from 65% to 40% across the city. With central street parking at around €8 an hour, guests will pay noticeably more.

NL Times adds that the discount could fall further in future. For regular weekend visitors, a nearby P+R or garage may become the cheaper choice.

Registering visitors

In The Hague, residents "aan- en afmelden" (start and stop) each visit, using a code and PIN found in MijnDenHaag. If you forget, your guest falls under the normal street rate and risks a fine.

Both The Hague and Rotterdam say visitor permits do not apply in shopping streets during shopping hours in some zones. Selling your hours is prohibited, and The Hague can revoke the permit if you do.

5. The full cost of owning a car

The permit increase makes headlines, but it is a small share of the total. This section goes through road tax (MRB), insurance, fuel, APK and depreciation.

Road tax (MRB): weight, fuel and province

Motor vehicle tax (motorrijtuigenbelasting, MRB) depends on the car's weight, fuel type and your province, and is billed every quarter. Each province adds its own surcharge (opcenten), published by CBS. The Belastingdienst calculator gives the exact amount.

IamExpat gives €560 to €680 a year for a petrol VW Golf. Diesel is much higher, and DutchReview notes a particulate surcharge of about 15% for diesel cars built from 1980. According to Rijksoverheid, zero-emission cars get a 30% discount from 2026 to 2028 and 25% in 2029, with no discount from 2030. Plug-in hybrids pay the full rate from 2026.

Insurance: WA is compulsory

Third-party liability (WA) is the legal minimum. WA+ (beperkt casco) adds theft, storm and window damage; all-risk adds damage to your own car. Expatica gives an average of about €75 a month; IamExpat gives €30 to €60 for WA, €50 to €90 for WA+ and €80 to €150 for all-risk.

Your no-claims history from abroad may or may not count. DutchReview notes that some insurers accept a claims-free statement in English or another accepted language, while others start you at year one. Ask your current insurer for a written statement before you leave.

Fuel: Euro95 at €2.313 on 26 October 2026

CBS daily data show national averages on 26 October 2026 of €2.313 per litre for Euro95 petrol, €2.469 for diesel and €0.997 for LPG. Expatica's June 2025 guide still says about €2.01, a reminder that older articles go stale quickly.

At 10,000 km a year and 6 litres per 100 km, that is 600 litres, about €1,388 a year or €116 a month. Expatica puts home charging for an EV at around €0.20 to €0.30 per kWh, though contracts and public chargers vary widely.

APK: first test at four years for petrol cars

The APK (algemene periodieke keuring) is the periodic roadworthiness test. According to the RDW, petrol and electric cars are first tested at four years old, then twice at two-year intervals, and every year from eight years. Diesel and LPG cars are first tested at three years and then every year.

Prices are set by garages: Expatica and DutchReview give €20 to €75, IamExpat €20 to €70. Repairs after a failed test are extra, which IamExpat puts at €200 to €2,000. The Hague International Centre summarises the rule as "annually for vehicles more than three years old", which is accurate for diesels but not for petrol cars.

Adding it up

The table builds a monthly estimate for a used petrol compact driven 10,000 km a year. Insurance uses the average, and depreciation uses IamExpat's example of an €18,000 car sold after 18 months. Treat it as a rough guide.

The total lands around €400 to €550 a month. Even in central Amsterdam, the permit is only 10 to 20% of the bill. Which car you buy, and for how much, matters more than the permit increase.

Street parking and fines

Without a permit you pay the street rate. A study reported by DutchNews in October 2025 put central Amsterdam at €7.76 an hour and almost €140 for 24 hours. The Hague's 2026 street rates are €2.75 and €7.15 an hour, and since April 2026, 22 streets in the old centre and Scheveningen use a rising tariff the longer you stay.

Fines (naheffingsaanslag) are set by each city. Expatica gives €66.50 plus the parking time; NL Times reports €79 plus the hourly rate in Amsterdam in 2026. Since September 2026, Amsterdam clamps unpaid cars from France, Poland, Hungary and Luxembourg straight away, with €166 just to remove the clamp.

6. Bringing a car from abroad: registration and BPM

If you move to the Netherlands with a car, you will generally need to register it on Dutch plates. Driving on foreign plates as a resident is costly in tax and makes permits harder to get.

Driving on foreign plates as a resident

Xpat.nl explains that Dutch residents driving a foreign-registered car owe MRB and BPM. The only exception is use for less than two weeks, and even then you must apply to the Belastingdienst for an exemption. The RDW says foreign plates may be used "for a short time" only and refers to Nederland Wereldwijd for details.

An older IamExpat guide says an EU-registered car can stay up to six months without local registration. That conflicts with the tax rules for residents, so this guide does not rely on it. Once you are registered as a resident, start the process.

The Hague will issue resident permits for foreign-plated cars, but asks for extra proof of ownership.

BPM and the removal goods exemption

BPM is a one-off tax charged when a car is first registered in the Netherlands, based on CO2 emissions for passenger cars. IamExpat gives about €400 for low-emission petrol and diesel cars and €5,000 to €15,000 for higher-emission models. For used imports, the amount is reduced according to age.

A car brought as part of a household move (verhuisboedel) can be exempt. The main conditions from Dutch Customs and the Belastingdienst are:

The 12-month deadline and the 12-month resale restriction are the two most often missed. If you plan to replace the car soon, or your assignment is short, the exemption may be worth less than it seems.

Steps from outside the EU

The RDW sets a fixed order for movers from outside the EU: customs import declaration (usually through your removal company), BPM exemption from the Belastingdienst, RDW inspection, a paper BPM return, then plates and insurance. Movers from inside the EU skip the customs step and can have a valid foreign APK recognised.

You must attend the inspection yourself and be registered in the BRP. Bring the original foreign registration document, ID and, if moving from outside the EU, the Belastingdienst's removal goods declaration (verhuisgoedverklaring). These are the RDW fees listed on its page.

BPM, MRB and the plates themselves come on top. For cars from outside the EU, the RDW checks safety, noise, environmental and lighting requirements, so modifications can add cost. Compare the full bill, and the car's resale value, with buying locally.

7. Your driving licence, briefly

Check your licence before you buy. According to Rijksoverheid, EU, EEA and Swiss licences stay valid for up to 5 or 15 years depending on the case. Licences from other countries are valid for 185 days after you register as a resident.

Exchanges go through your gemeente; the RDW sends a letter within 15 working days and the licence is ready 5 working days later. Non-EU licences need a CBR health declaration, and licences in non-Latin script need a sworn translation. The RDW exchange page lists the countries and documents; your original licence is not returned.

8. Living without a car

As Amsterdam's spokesperson suggested, most city residents do not own a car. CBS reports that on 1 January 2026, the share of adults owning a car was 26.2% in Amsterdam, 33.7% in Utrecht, 35.0% in The Hague and 35.9% in Rotterdam. The highest in the country was Noord-Beveland at 60.9%.

Car sharing and shared bikes

Car-sharing prices depend on the membership level. The table uses Greenwheels' October 2026 price list. Fuel and charging are included, day rates start at €27, and the company has announced new rates from 18 November 2026.

Four trips a month of four hours and 40 km each on the Soms plan come to €61.60 in time plus €67.20 in mileage, about €129. That is far below the €400 to €550 of owning. A daily commute by car tips the balance the other way.

MyWheels, which rents both private and company cars by the hour, runs about 3,000 electric cars, according to NL Times. The NS OV-fiets bike at stations costs €4.80 per 24 hours in 2026, according to the NS price list.

How to decide

The deciding factors are school runs, commuting outside the city and weekend trips. If you live centrally and commute by train and bike, car sharing plus the occasional rental usually covers it. If you live in the suburbs and the children's activities are only reachable by car, owning makes sense.

9. Where people get caught out

These are the most common problems for newcomers. Each can be avoided with a check in advance.

New builds and waiting lists are the hardest to fix after you move. If you depend on a car, check before you commit to a home.

10. What to do next

Work through these steps before you decide whether to keep or buy a car.

1. Check whether your address qualifies on the city website: The Hague's address checker, or the waiting list pages in Rotterdam and Amsterdam
2. Look up your zone's price and renewal month; in Amsterdam, wait for the December vote
3. Apply for a visitor permit, which many cities issue even if you have no car
4. Get two or three insurance quotes and bring a written no-claims statement from your previous insurer
5. Calculate MRB with the Belastingdienst calculator for your car and province
6. If importing, ask your mover to handle the customs declaration and BPM exemption, and book the RDW inspection within 12 months of moving
7. Exchange a non-EU licence at your gemeente soon after registering
8. Unsure? Try three months of car sharing before buying

11. Example situations (fictional)

These three cases are fictional and show how the answer changes with circumstances.

Case A: a single professional in central Amsterdam who leaves the city a few weekends a year. Under the 2027 proposal the permit is about €857 a year, and the total cost exceeds €500 a month. Car sharing and occasional rentals are likely enough.

Case B: a family in a suburb of The Hague using a car for school runs and shopping. The permit is €99.20 a year and the visitor allowance helps when grandparents visit. Owning one car makes sense; watch the second-permit price (€346.65) and the own-property rule.

Case C: a three-year assignee from outside the EU who wants to bring their own car. The BPM exemption may apply, but modification costs and the question of what to do with the car at the end remain. Buying used locally or leasing may be simpler.

The same question has different answers depending on where you live and how long you stay. Think in terms of your weekly routine, not just the tariff table.

12. Telling visitors how parking works

When friends or relatives drive over, a few instructions save them a fine. Rijksoverheid says visitors with a non-EU licence may drive for holidays or work, and should check with the RDW whether they need an international driving permit.

The plate message is the most important. Until you register it, your guest is on the normal street rate. For longer visits, send them a map with the nearest garage or P+R.

13. Checklist

• Checked that my address qualifies for a resident permit
• Checked for a waiting list and arranged parking while waiting
• Looked up my zone's price and renewal month (Amsterdam: after the December vote)
• Applied for a visitor permit and explained registration to regular guests
• Compared insurance quotes and brought a no-claims statement
• Calculated MRB with the Belastingdienst tool
• If importing: planned the BPM exemption and RDW inspection within 12 months
• Exchanged or planned to exchange a non-EU licence within 185 days
• Compared owning with car sharing and OV-fiets

14. Summary

• Amsterdam proposes raising first resident permits by €10 to €15 a month from January 2027; the council decides in December
• Most holders would pay the new rate at renewal in March to May 2027; Noord, Zuidoost and parts of Nieuw-West see only indexation
• In 2026 a first permit costs €99.20 a year in The Hague, €114 in Rotterdam, €169 to €657 in Utrecht and €80 to about €677 in Amsterdam
• Visitor parking works by registering your guest's plate; Amsterdam plans to cut the discount from 65% to 40%
• A used compact costs roughly €400 to €550 a month, mostly depreciation, fuel and insurance
• Imported cars can be BPM-exempt, but the 12-month deadline and resale restriction apply, and MRB is due every year
• New builds and buildings with their own parking often cannot get street permits, so check before you choose a home

Sources

Starting article and international media

• Amsterdam parking permit fees to rise by up to €20.20 a month in 2027 — NL Times: increases by area, visitor discount, Professor van Ommeren (27 October 2026)
• Amsterdam to immediately clamp some foreign cars that didn't pay the parking meter — NL Times: clamping, €79 fine, €166 clamp removal
• MyWheels adds Tesla full self-driving software to shared fleet — NL Times: about 3,000 shared electric cars
• Dutch traffic jams hit 1.100km as Amsterdam plans parking fee hikes — IamExpat: December vote, renewal months (28 October 2026)
• The hidden costs of car ownership in the Netherlands — IamExpat: BPM, MRB, insurance, depreciation examples (10 February 2026, sponsored)
• The Hague abolishes 50-euro parking fee — IamExpat: rising tariff and ANWB survey (27 March 2026)
• Importing a car to the Netherlands — IamExpat: removal goods exemption and steps
• 6 things to know before owning a car in the Netherlands in 2026 — DutchReview: APK, MRB, insurance, licences (11 June 2026)
• Shared mobility in the Netherlands — DutchReview: car and bike sharing options (updated August 2023)
• Driving in the Netherlands — Expatica: fines, fuel, insurance average (updated 12 June 2025)
• Amsterdam city centre most expensive place to park — DutchNews: 24-hour city rates (17 October 2025)
• Driving and parking — ACCESS: payment, P+R, car sharing
• Driving a car in the Netherlands — Xpat.nl: foreign plates, MRB and BPM for residents
• Parking — The Hague International Centre: own property rule from April 2026, diplomatic plates
• Car documents and taxes in the Netherlands — The Hague International Centre: BPM, MRB, insurance types
• Parkeervergunning in Centrum gaat meer dan 850 euro kosten — AT5: centre €677 to €857, visitor discount 65% to 40%, second permit 2.5 times

Official sources

• Parkeervergunningen worden duurder in 2027 — Gemeente Amsterdam: 2027 increases by area
• Uitbreiding betaald parkeren in Nieuw-West — Gemeente Amsterdam: €40.02 / €100.06 per six months
• Overloopvergunning parkeren aanvragen — Gemeente Amsterdam: overflow permits while on a waiting list
• Parkeervergunning voor bewoners aanvragen of verlengen — Gemeente Den Haag: €99.20 / €346.65 / €693.25, conditions, fee
• Parkeervergunning voor bezoekers aanvragen — Gemeente Den Haag: €34.10 a year, hours by area
• Council proposal on 2026 parking tariffs — Gemeente Den Haag: 2.22% indexation, 2025 price €97.05, street rates
• Parkeervergunning bewoner aanvragen — Gemeente Rotterdam: €9.50 / €25.70 a month, conditions
• Wachtlijst parkeervergunning — Gemeente Rotterdam: waiting list priority
• Parkeervergunning voor bezoekers aanvragen — Gemeente Rotterdam: €0.13 per 10 minutes, 500 hours
• Kosten parkeren — Gemeente Utrecht: quarterly permit prices and visitor rates
• Paid parking in Zuilen from 1 November — Gemeente Utrecht: expansion of paid parking
• Pompprijzen motorbrandstoffen per dag — CBS: fuel prices on 26 October 2026
• Rijbewijs- en autobezit stijgt — CBS: car ownership by municipality (1 January 2026)
• Provincial MRB surcharges — CBS: opcenten by province
• Motorrijtuigenbelasting berekenen — Belastingdienst: MRB calculator
• Exemption for short-term use — Belastingdienst: BPM and MRB for under two weeks
• Moving within the EU: exemption from BPM — Belastingdienst: exemption conditions for EU movers
• Tax benefits for clean cars — Rijksoverheid: EV road tax discount by year
• Moving goods from a non-EU country — Douane: removal goods conditions
• Moving to the Netherlands with your vehicle — RDW: steps and €254.10 in fees
• When and how often APK — RDW: APK intervals by fuel
• Exchanging a foreign driving licence — RDW: documents, translation, timing
• Driving in the Netherlands with a foreign licence — Rijksoverheid: 185 days, visitors
• Tarieven — Greenwheels: car-sharing plans and prices
• Prices OV-fiets 2026 — NS: €4.80 per 24 hours

All sources were checked on 29 October 2026. Amsterdam's rates may change at the December council vote, and the other cities will publish their 2027 rates later. Check the city, the Belastingdienst and the RDW before you apply or buy.

Original article

Amsterdam parking permit fees to rise by up to €20.20 a month in 2027 — NL Times