Tipping & Etiquette in Amsterdam

Tipping in Amsterdam is refreshingly low-pressure. Service is included in prices by law and hospitality staff are paid proper wages, so tips are a genuine bonus for good service rather than something you owe. Nobody expects American-style 15–20%. Here's what's normal, situation by situation.

Restaurants and cafés

For a good meal, locals typically leave around 5–10%, or simply round up to a comfortable number — a €47 bill becomes €50, an €18.50 lunch becomes €20. In casual spots, rounding up is plenty; somewhere smarter, closer to 10% is a nice gesture. Check the receipt for 'inclusief servicekosten' (service included). One practical note: some card terminals offer a tip option and some don't, so it helps to carry a little cash or to tell your server before they tap the amount.

Bars and cafés

At a café over coffee, rounding up the bill is the norm — if two coffees come to €7.50, paying €8.50 is a friendly touch. In bars, you don't tip per drink; if you have table service, tip a little at the end of the evening, and if you order at the bar, look for a tip jar.

Taxis and rideshare

Tipping a taxi or Uber isn't required. Most people round up to the nearest euro, or add €1–2 if the driver helps with luggage; for a longer ride, around 10% is generous. With local street taxis, agree the fare or make sure the meter is running before you set off.

Hotels

Tipping in hotels is optional but appreciated: roughly €1–2 per night for housekeeping, and a couple of euros for porters or a concierge who genuinely helps you out.

Tours and guides

A good guide makes the trip, so around 10% is a fair tip for a paid tour. For the city's popular 'free' walking tours, the guides work for tips, so do leave something if you enjoyed it.

Where you don't need to tip

There's no tipping on public transport, in supermarkets, at fast-food or self-service counters, or at hairdressers and spas — the listed price is simply the price. In short: round up, keep it small, and treat a tip as a thank-you rather than an obligation.