tipping in Amsterdam
Locals of Amsterdam rarely leave tips for any service, so for visitors it’s really up to their own discretion. The Dutch are famously cheap but not really when you consider they pay their staff decent enough wages so that tips are not needed. Amsterdam city pulls in thousands of tourists a year, including many stag and hen parties as well as traditional tour groups and those on a city break weekend. The beautiful canals, indulgent food and quality beer, as well as other substances which are legal here, are widely enjoyed by many visitors but as with any trip away there’s always the question of whether to leave a tip (or ‘fooi’ in Dutch) and how much to leave. Whether you take a barge to tour the extensive network of canals, have a guided tour of one of the interesting and unique museums, or hit up a huge tab in one of the traditional ‘brown café’ Dutch bars, you can be pretty sure that on none of these occasions you actually need to tip. You can still leave gratuities though and this guide will tell you everything you need to know.
tipping in hotels in Amsterdam
in Amsterdam Don't Tip at Hotels
Tips are not required in hotels. All of the service staff including porters and maids are well paid so tips are not expected or needed to supplement a low income. It may seem strange to visitors coming from overseas, especially from the United States where tipping is so rife. Unlike these few countries where such extravagant tipping has to make up for terribly pay, the Netherlands have a minimum wage that is ok.
tipping customs for restaurants in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam Tip 10% at a restaurants
Dutch law states that restaurants must include the service charge in the price of the meal. Therefore, tourists shouldn’t feel guilty for not leaving a tip but relieved that the job has already been done for them. Any kind of establishment works on the same rules, so if you eat in a proper restaurant or just grab some traditional Dutch fast food don’t feel obliged to leave a gratuity. For top-notch restaurants tipping is becoming more common, but you should only leave a 10% gratuity for excellent service.
should you tip tour guides in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam Don't Tip in tour guides
Many people fret about how much to tip a tour guide but in Amsterdam you needn’t worry as tour guides do not expect tips. Therefore, any amount they do receive will be appreciated, but again you should only reward outstanding service and never tip for someone who doesn’t give you a great experience. There are many different tours available when visiting Amsterdam.
should you tip your taxi driver
For taxi drivers Round up the fare
Taxis in Amsterdam, whether on a fixed fare or on a meter, do not expect tips. The most extra any local would leave is to round up the fare to the next Euro. You can either call a taxi to come and pick you up at a specific time and place, or else go to one of the many taxi ranks which are located all around Amsterdam. In the city of a million bikes, tourists should really just go about things like the locals and grab a rental bike to explore the city in an environmentally friendly as well as healthy way. It also leaves no question of tipping. However, with large suitcases or late night debaucheries, taxis are sometimes the easier or safer method of transport to opt for.
tipping practices for spas in Amsterdam
At a bar Don't Tip in Amsterdam
When buying drinks in a bar you’ll never see Dutch people tip. Even when visiting classier establishments tipping is very rare and only usually reserved for exceptional service or those wanting to boast that they have a lot of money. So make sure you fit into one of these categories before tipping. That said, there will often be a tipping jar behind the bar or somewhere else discreet and locals may leave some small loose change up to a Euro before they leave the bar. Otherwise, if you want to show your appreciation to your bar tender, the offer of a drink will almost will be accepted more readily than cash.
should you tip your hairdresser
in Amsterdam Give 2 Euros to your hairdresser
Again, the hair dressing industry in Amsterdam does not expect gratuities and therefore there is no tipping etiquette as such. The staff who work there receive a fair salary and you can sit back and enjoy being fussed over without having to stress about how much to tip and who to tip once your pampering session is over. Of course, if you feel that the service was exceptional and you want to leave something, a couple of Euros will always be most appreciated.