News of: Wednesday, December 06 2006,

Amsterdam announces new taxi certification: Amsterdamtaxi

Amsterdam has announced that, starting June 2007, a new type of certified taxi will operate in Amsterdam.

The new type of taxi, called Amsterdamtaxi, will have at least the following qualities:
- clear pricing
- very good knowledge of Amsterdam streets
- no refusal of short rides
- driver must be dressed properly
- the car will have a specific colour (colour not yet determined)
- the car must be clean for the environment

The taxi stand at Central Station will be exclusively accessible for Amsterdamtaxis, and on other taxi stands places will be reserved.

The certificate will not be obligatory for all taxis in Amsterdam.

The background of the introduction of the Amsterdamtaxi are the persisting complaints about the current taxis, particularly about low knowledge about Amsterdam and about refusal of short rides.

If the proposal is accepted the first Amsterdamtaxis will be in Amsterdam in June 2007.