New rules requiring taxis in the big cities and around Schiphol airport to become members of a taxi organisation will come into effect by July 2011 at the latest, the Telegraaf reports on Monday.

The new rules aim to end the chaos surrounding taxi services since the sector was liberalised in 2000.
Since taxi licences were abandoned, there have been numerous problems, particularly in Amsterdam. Taxi drivers have been accused of refusing to take short trips, ripping off tourists and aggressive behaviour.
‘The main problem at the moment is that drivers can operate anonymously and passengers have no where to take complaints,’ said Jan Zaaier of the taxi drivers group KNV Taxi in the Telegraaf.
But the introduction of associations means passengers will have direct access to a complaints system and drivers can be suspended if they break the rules, Zaaier said.