Taxi or train in the Netherlands?
Dutch trains are fast and frequent, so for a single traveller going from one city centre to another they are hard to beat. The picture changes as soon as you add suitcases, early departures, children or a second and third passenger.
The honest answer is that neither option always wins. Below you will find the situations where each one comes out ahead, so you can decide in a minute rather than guessing.
When the train wins
- You travel alone with hand luggage only.
- Both your start and end point are within walking distance of a station.
- You travel during the day on a busy corridor such as Amsterdam–Rotterdam.
- You want to work or read on the way.
- You are flexible about the exact arrival time.
When a taxi wins
- You travel with two or more people; the taxi price is per car, not per person.
- You have large suitcases, a buggy, sports gear or a musical instrument.
- Your departure or arrival falls outside the hours local buses run.
- Your address is not near a station, so you would need two transfers.
- You need to be somewhere at a fixed time, such as check-in for a flight.
- You travel with small children or with reduced mobility.
Comparing cost realistically
Compare the total journey, not just the ticket. A train trip often includes a bus or tram at each end, a transfer with luggage, and sometimes a taxi for the last kilometres anyway. Split between three or four passengers, a fixed-price taxi frequently lands close to the combined cost of separate tickets — while getting everyone door to door in one go.
Because our price is agreed in advance, you can put the two options side by side before you commit: check your taxi price, then compare it with the tickets you would need.