Tipping in Netherlands: The Netherlands Tipping Guide
Tipping expectedHow much to tip in Netherlands
Notes by Service
Restaurant
Hotel / Housekeeping
In the Netherlands Don't Tip at hotels
Taxi / Rideshare
Round up the fare; 10% is generous.
Spa & Massage
At spas Don't Tip in The Netherlands
Bar
Round up per drink.
Hairdresser / Barber
A small tip is appreciated.
Tour Guide
Tip for good service.
Food Delivery
€1–2 is appreciated.
About Tipping in Netherlands
Overview
The Dutch tipping culture is understated and practical — rounding up rather than calculating a percentage is the standard approach. Service charges are not routinely added to Dutch restaurant bills, so a 5–10% tip for good service is a clear gesture of appreciation.
When to tip
Tip at sit-down restaurants (5–10%), with taxis (rounding up), hotel housekeeping, and hairdressers. Café and bar tipping is not strongly expected. Amsterdam's tourist-facing restaurants are familiar with international tipping norms, but Dutch locals tip more modestly.
How to tip
Tell the server a round total when paying, or select a percentage on the card terminal. Leaving cash on the table after you go is less common in the Netherlands — the personal handover or verbal acknowledgement is more in keeping with local style. For taxi rides, round up to the nearest euro or two.
Cultural context
The Netherlands has a cultural directness ("doe maar gewoon" — just be normal) that extends to tipping: excessive or showy gratuities don't land particularly well. Dutch service workers earn decent wages under strong labour protections. However, the rise of delivery apps and gig-economy couriers has created a new class of underpaid service workers where a small tip is genuinely impactful — more so than in a traditional sit-down restaurant.