Uber is the (notorious) taxi app, disrupting the taxi market in cities worldwide - also in Amsterdam.
Through the Uber app you can book a taxi, and rate it after the ride. Uber charges a commission per ride to the taxi driver.
The company has become controversial since the launch of the service UberPop. UberPop connects private drivers with clients for a taxi ride. The problem is that these private drivers do not need to obey the rules of regular taxis. Regular taxis consequently find UberPop unfair competition - because UberPop drivers don't follow the rules, they can be up to 50% cheaper.
UberPop has, in the meantime, been declared illegal by a Dutch court, but this hasn't stopped UberPop at all. Uber argues, in true 'sharing economy style', the Dutch laws are out of date, and hamper innovation. Uber has also said it will pay the fines that UberPop drivers have received (up to E 10,000).
In March 2015, the Inspectorate overlooking the taxi companies, raided the Uber head office, in order to find out how much money was made with UberPop. Administration has been seized from the Uber office at Vijzelstraat in the centre of Amsterdam.
This raid too, has not stopped UberPop from offering its services.
Update 20 November 2015: Uber has stopped its UberPop service in the Netherlands, and is no longer available.
The Uber services UberBlack and UberLux are not illegal.
Uber also active in Amsterdam
