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Car Hire

Ridderkerk is a popular small town in the southewestern Netherlands that is home to over 44,000 people. While it offers its own attractions, it is mainly used as a base for exploring nearby Rotterdam, one of the largest cities in the country. Those visitors with their own transportation may head farther north to Amsterdam, while Belgium and Germany are other close-by options.

Who to Book With
Sixt is the only car hire company currently operating in Ridderkerk and can be found just north of the town centre. Other options include AutoRent in nearby Zwijndrecht and Mobility Centre in Barendecht. In Rotterdam, there are far more choices, with companies such as Sixt and Hertz easy to locate.

Best Time to Go
April to June is considered the best time to visit Ridderkerk, as this is when the climate in the Netherlands as a whole is at its most pleasant. Unlike in other places, car hire and hotel rates don’t increase during this peak period in the Netherlands. From September to May, bear in mind that fans of teams opposing the Rotterdam-based football side Feyernoord may fill hotels in Ridderkerk.

Need to Know Essentials
Whenever collecting a car rental from a Dutch company, present the following documents:

- International Driving Permit or British driver’s licence
- Passport or other form of valid photo identification
- Same credit card the reservation was made with
- A print-out of the confirmed reservation

For more info read our FAQs.

Driving
Traffic in Ridderkerk is nowhere near as bad as in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Similar to those cities, however, Ridderkerk consists of cobbled streets and squares that are sometimes inaccessible to vehicles. Roads such as the E19, which links Rotterdam and Ridderkerk, may become congested during peak hours.

Our Guide to The Netherlands contains more detailed driving information.

Transport

Although Rotterdam is as well-connected as any other European city and boasts an abundance of public transport options, Ridderkerk has only limited transport choices in comparison, with plans to extend the metro or train systems to the town having been continuously suspended or put back. Current choices include the waterbus, normal buses and taxis.

Trains
No trains currently operate around Ridderkerk so visitors wishing to travel by this mode of transport first have to take a Thalys train to Rotterdam and then a bus to Ridderkerk.

Buses
Unlike many other cities, Ridderkerk boasts its own waterbus system which is operated by Aqualiner. Buses around Ridderkerk and to and from Rotterdam are provided by the likes of RET and average fares often cost less than £1 per person, per journey.

Taxis
Many of the taxi companies that operate in Rotterdam can also be found in Ridderkerk, including Coöperatieve Taxi Onderneming St Job UA and Rotterdamse Taxi Centrale. Fares are charged at around £1.50 per kilometre and rides can be booked online, via Smartphone apps or by telephone.

Exploring

Situated just 20 minutes’ drive from Rotterdam while also being close to other key Dutch cities and the borders with neighbouring countries, Ridderkerk is arguably one of Europe's most conveniently located tourist destinations. Those visitors with their own transportation can easily connect to a series of well-developed motorways that lead out of the Ridderkerk area.

Recommended Drives

Amsterdam – Heading north past Rotterdam and along the A4, the A2 and the A12 leads tourists to the heart of Amsterdam. Although sometimes visited more for its nightlife, this key destination is laden with cultural treats, with key attractions including the Van Gogh and Anne Frank museums.

Antwerp/Ghent/Brussels – Funnily enough, the journey to Antwerp in neighbouring Belgium is shorter that the drive to Amsterdam if tourists venture south along the A17 and then the A16. Those visitors with enough time on their hands can head slightly east to Ghent and then further on to Brussels.

Dusseldorf – Heading east along the A15 and then south on the E31 eventually leads drivers to the border with Germany and then to one of its finest cities – Dusseldorf. The whole journey takes just 2 hours to complete. Eindhoven can be fitted into this excursion by connecting to the E312. Dusseldorf is known for its Igedo fashion trade fair that is widely-regarded as one of the best in Europe.