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Amsterdam calls for action on taxisThursday 16 April 2009 Amsterdam city council has called on officials to take urgent action to stop abuses by taxi drivers based at the central station taxi rank, the Parool reports on Wednesday. An investigation by the paper showed that taxi drivers are continuing to refuse to drive short journeys, even though they are required to accept every potential customer. Drivers were also caught overcharging passengers and refusing to put on their meters. Since the beginning of last year, all taxis using central station have to have the TX quality mark, which means they meet certain standards. The quality mark was introduced in an effort to stop complaints about poor service. Liberalisation TCA, the capital's biggest taxi firm, said last month it was pulling out of the TX scheme because it did not work. Hans Gerson, the city council executive in charge of transport, said he will ensure the station's taxi rank has better supervision. In addition, he said he is working on plans to increase self regulation in the taxi sector. The Dutch taxi market was liberalised in 2000, when the permit system was abandoned and anyone was able to set up a taxi service. © DutchNews.nl
The taxi rates are the worst in the world, 7.30 just to enter, and the meter runs quite fast while stopped. Regardless, unless you are a cripple, you shouldnt take a taxi for anything that is less than 2km away. By anon | April 16, 2009 10:57 AM Schiphol to my home is around 28 euros but visiting friends and family rarely see a meter (concealed beneath a flap in the car's control console) and are often asked to pay 40 euros when they arrive. To my mind the worst of the worst are Taxi Central Amsterdam (TCA) – make sure you check the fare before you get in the car. Luckily Amsterdam has excellent public transport! By jim | April 16, 2009 2:16 PM As always Amsterdam is always involved with the wrong issues....There have to be payoffs to city officials to have such a poor taxi system. You want visitors to have a better visit experience, then you don't care if they get robbed as they step out of Central Station. Is there another reason? By alanposting | April 16, 2009 8:02 PM Seven taxis before I found one who would admit to knowing where Looiersgracht was and who was prepared to take me there - disgraceful - a terrible initial advertisment for the city to those arriving at CS from Schiphol By Swin | April 16, 2009 9:01 PM The situation that "Deep Throat" describes is the same in Nieuwmarkt. They ask for 15-20 euros for short distance and refuse to turn on the meter. They act like mafias when you question them. By fotto | April 17, 2009 1:17 PM The taxi situation at Amsterdam CS ist clearly disastrous. I have been shouted at and threatend only because my ride was not far (and expensive) enough.The comparison with the mafia seems to be right although I never encountered such behaviour in Itlay or countries further south. By John Miller | April 17, 2009 3:54 PM Apart from this bad situation, I have to say, who in their right mind would take a taxi for a distance of only one kilometer? Buy a bicycle, or else a moped/scooter! Will be a lot easier, and will save a lot of hassle/annoyance. By Keith Beker | April 18, 2009 8:50 AM It may only be a kilometer or 2 but if you have a suitcase and don't want to walk, a taxi from Central Station is the only option for a visitor. Next time I'll make sure I stay nearer the station to avoid these bandits. By Elizabeth Grant | May 9, 2009 7:26 PM if you're a woman and you're alone at night, you might want to take a taxi instead of walking for 3 kilometres! By Seelvia | July 6, 2009 1:32 PM
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Officials may also wish to investigate abuses by taxi drivers at the Leidseplien, Amsterdam. The drivers there insist on a minimum fare of 20 euro's. I find it impossible to get a taxi to my home about 1 kiolometre away, unless that is, I pay the ridiculous fare that these thieves are demanding. When I have challenged drivers about this in the past, they get very aggressive and suddenly their friends (other taxi drivers) turn up and intimidate you. This has been going on for a long time now and I am convinced that the authorities have known about this illegal practice. So it begs the question, why has nothing been done?
By Deep Throat | April 16, 2009 9:18 AM