Amsterdam Bike Lanes: The Rules to Know Before You Step Off the Curb

Red bike paths belong to bikes

Amsterdam has roughly 400 kilometers of bicycle paths, and the first thing that surprises visitors is how much space they take. Many are paved in red-brown asphalt and run between the sidewalk and the car lanes, separated by a curb or a white line with bike symbols. To someone used to American streets, a smooth red strip next to the sidewalk looks like more sidewalk. Legally, it is a lane for bikes and mopeds.

Dutch traffic law is direct about this. Article 4 of the national traffic rules (RVV 1990) says pedestrians use the sidewalk or footpath. Only where there is no sidewalk or footpath may they walk on the bike path. So when there is a sidewalk, the red lane belongs to bikes and mopeds, and stepping onto it to take a photo, wait for a friend or roll a suitcase is a classic visitor mistake.

Before you step off the curb, look both ways on the bike path as well as the road. Cyclists come fast and quietly, and on two-way paths they come from both directions.

What the bell means

If you hear a bell behind you, you are probably standing where bikes ride. A short ring means someone is coming through. Step back onto the sidewalk and let them pass; stopping dead in the middle of the lane is the worst option.

When you are the one on the bike, use the bell the same way: one or two short rings to tell a pedestrian or a slower rider you are there. Then pass with room to spare.

The rules that come with fines

Many locals bend the rules, and the city's own visitor guide tells you not to copy them. Police do issue fines to cyclists. These are the 2026 amounts for the offenses visitors are most likely to commit:

Phones: hands off since 2019

Since 1 July 2019 the ban on holding a mobile device while driving has applied to cyclists too. The rule in article 61a of the RVV covers phones, tablets and media players. Hands-free use is allowed, and so is using the phone once you have stopped. If you need the map, pull over to the side, check it, and ride on. A phone mount on the handlebar keeps you legal.

Lights after dark

In the dark and in poor visibility you need a front light and a rear light switched on. The front light must be white or yellow, the rear light red, and neither may flash. Clip-on lights are allowed, and you may attach them to your bag or clothing on your back or chest, but not to your head, arms or legs. On a rental, check that both lights work before you ride off.

Hand signals

Signal before you turn by holding your hand out in the direction you are going: left arm out for a left turn, right arm out for a right turn. Do it early, then put the hand back on the bar before the turn itself. It tells the rider behind you why you are slowing down.

Riding with traffic: lanes, speed and trams

• Keep right on the bike path and let faster riders pass on your left.
• No more than two side by side, and drop to single file when someone wants to pass.
• Stay off footpaths, shopping streets and sidewalks on the bike. Walk it instead.
• Cross tram rails at a sharp angle. A tire that drops into the groove at a shallow angle will throw you off. Trams are long and heavy and cannot steer around you, so never stop on the tracks.
• Avoid rush hour if your schedule allows. Between 8:00 and 9:00 and between 17:00 and 18:00, thousands of commuters queue at junctions.

Where to rent a bike

Rental shops are spread across the city, with many around Centraal Station, Leidseplein and the big hotels. Some rent from three hours, and the average daily price is about €10. Before you leave the shop, check the brakes, the lights and the lock, and take a lap on a quiet street before you join a busy junction. If you are nervous in traffic, a guided ride on your first day is a sensible start.

Parking and theft

Park only in a designated rack, a marked bike parking area or an indoor bike garage (stalling). Bikes left elsewhere can be removed by the city and taken to the Fietsdepot. Getting one back costs €25, you need identification, and you must have the key to the lock. Some locations allow bikes for up to two weeks, others for up to six weeks.

Lock the frame to something fixed: a rack, a railing or a bike stand. A bike locked only through its own wheel can be carried off. Lock it every time, even for a five-minute stop.

Trams, metro and buses: paying with OVpay

When your legs are done, public transport takes contactless payment. With OVpay you tap a contactless debit or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, V PAY) or a phone with Apple Pay or Google Wallet on the reader when you board, and tap again when you get off. There is no separate ticket or app. On GVB trams, buses and metro in Amsterdam, OVpay caps your fare at €10 per day.

Two things trip visitors up. First, use the same card or phone to check in and out, and use one card per person. Second, always check out. On NS trains, forgetting to check out now costs a flat €33.30 instead of your actual fare.

From Schiphol Airport into Amsterdam

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has a railway station directly under the terminal, and for most visitors the train is the simplest way in. You can tap in with OVpay at the card readers in Schiphol Plaza or buy a ticket from the yellow machines.

The 397 leaves from stop B17, to the right as you exit Schiphol Plaza. On board you pay by card only; cash is not accepted. If you check in with a bank card on the bus, it covers one person per card, so groups should buy tickets.

Taxis at the official rank run on the meter, and the national government sets the maximum: for 2026 that is €4.31 to start, €3.17 per kilometer and €0.52 per minute for a car with up to four passengers. The city's visitor site puts a standard ride to the center at €35-55, and up to about €75 depending on distance and time of day. Take a taxi only from the official rank; drivers who approach you inside the terminal are not approved.

For a solo traveler or a couple with backpacks, the train at about €5.50 is hard to beat.

A booked car makes more sense if you land late at night, travel with small children, carry several large suitcases, or are a group of four or more. ShuttleHero transfers from Schiphol into the city start at €65 per vehicle for 1-3 passengers, a fixed price paid by card in advance, with vans for 4-8 people. The driver tracks your flight, waits in arrivals with a name sign, and you get 60 minutes of free waiting after actual landing. Cancel at least 24 hours before pickup for a full refund.