Parking rates on the rise; Amsterdam most expensive

Parking rates in the Netherlands increased again this year, both on for parking on the street and in parking garages. Parking rates in the Netherlands have increased by 28 percent since 2010. This is according to the National Park Test 2015 done by Detailhandel Nederland. The Park Test shows that 40 percent of municipalities in the Netherlands increases street parking rates. These rates increased by an average of 6 percent. Haarlem had the highest increase of 20 percent. The average parking rate for parking garages this year is 2.77 euro per hour, an increase of 2 percent, compared to 5 percent in 2014. Nearly three quarters (73 percent) of the parking garages kept their rates the same. According to Detailhandel Nederland, this seems to indicate that local authorities and commercial operators have begun to realize what effect parking rates have on consumers who visit the city. The most expensive municipalities to park in a parking garage are Amsterdam (average of 5.01 euros for 60 minutes), The Hague (3.50 euros), Rotterdam (3.21 euros) and Utrecht (3.01 euros).