Tipping in the Netherlands

At a sit-down restaurant, tipping is optional: for good service, rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% is generous, well below the US norm. At a cafe, bar or for drinks, the Dutch typically leave just the small change or a euro or two.

Elsewhere: round up a taxi fare, leave 1 to 2 euros per bag for a hotel porter, and a euro or two a day for housekeeping if you like. For a private guide, a larger tip reflects a real service.

The Netherlands is strongly card-first, and unlike some countries the PIN card machine often has a tip option: after the amount comes up, it may ask if you want to add a fooi. Enter the tip there, or tell the server the total you want to pay before they enter it.

If you prefer cash, leaving coins or a small note on the table works too, though card is the everyday norm here.

Dutch tipping is consistently modest. There is no service charge added to restaurant bills, and the listed price is what you pay. Keep a few euro coins for rounding up, and remember that a fooi is a thank-you, not an obligation.

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