Tipping in the Netherlands
Round up or leave 5–10% for good service — that's all tipping in the Netherlands (Holland) involves. Prices already include service and 9–21% VAT, staff earn at least the Dutch minimum wage, and nobody will chase you for leaving nothing. A tip (fooi in Dutch) is simply a thank-you, and many Dutch people give less than visitors from the US, Canada or the UK would expect.
Usual: 5–10%
Short answer
Tipping in the Netherlands is optional: round up or leave 5–10% in restaurants for good service (e.g. €3–5 on a €45 bill), round up taxi fares, and leave small change at cafés and bars. Service and VAT are already included in Dutch prices.
Open the tip calculator for this countryRestaurants
Dutch restaurants rarely add a service charge, so the bill shows what you owe. For a pleasant meal, round up to a convenient figure or leave 5–10%; 10% is generous, and you'd only go beyond that for exceptional service. Many locals tip nothing for average service, especially at lunch. The Netherlands is very much a card country (pinnen) — some places don't take cash at all — and the card terminal may ask whether you want to add a tip; you can also tell the server the total you want to pay. If you prefer cash, coins left on the table are fine. Splitting the bill ("Dutch") is completely normal.
Hotels
Hotel tipping is not expected in the Netherlands. If a porter carries heavy bags, €1–2 per bag is a kind gesture. For housekeeping, €1–2 per night left at the end of a longer stay is appreciated but unusual. Concierge staff and reception don't expect tips, though €5–10 for organising something tricky is a nice thank-you.
Taxis & Transport
Taxi drivers in the Netherlands don't expect a tip; fares are metered and regulated, and in Amsterdam they're among the highest in Europe. Round up to the next euro or few euros (e.g. €27.40 → €30) if the driver was helpful or carried luggage. With Uber and Bolt, tipping in the app is possible but uncommon. Most visitors get around by train, tram and bike anyway — no tipping there.
Tours, spas, cafés & more
Cafés and bars (including Amsterdam's brown cafés): no tip is needed for a coffee or a beer at the bar; leave the change or round up when a server brings drinks to your table. Food delivery (Thuisbezorgd, Uber Eats): €1–2 is a kind gesture, more in bad weather. Hairdressers: round up or a few euros. Free walking tours run on tips — €10–15 per person is fair. Canal-boat guides and tour guides on paid tours: optional, €2–5 if they were great. Toilet attendants in stations or clubs often charge a fixed €0.50–1.
Common practice
Rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service is common but never required. Not tipping is perfectly acceptable, and Dutch people rarely tip more than 10%.
Typical examples
A €45 dinner for two: leave €3–5 or round to €50 (about $52 or £38 — exchange rates fluctuate, so treat this as approximate). Lunch for €18: round to €20. Two beers at €12.50: round to €13 or leave nothing at the bar. A €27 taxi ride: pay €30.
Helpful note
Many places in the Netherlands are card-only. If you want to tip, add it on the card terminal or tell the server the total — don't count on paying cash.
Frequently asked questions
Do you tip in the Netherlands?
Yes, but modestly and only if you want to. Rounding up or 5–10% in restaurants is common; tipping is never compulsory because service is included in prices.
How much do you tip in Amsterdam restaurants?
Around 5–10% for good service, or round the bill up to a convenient figure. Tourist-heavy places may hint at more, but 10% is already generous by Dutch standards.
Is service included in Dutch restaurant bills?
Yes. Menu prices include service and VAT, and separate service charges are rare, so any tip is extra.
Can I tip by card in the Netherlands?
Usually yes — many card terminals let you add a tip, or you can tell the server the total you want to pay before they enter the amount.