ROTTERDAM, 6 August 2026 – Bolt has launched a new Van ride category in Rotterdam, providing space for groups of up to eight passengers in a single vehicle. The service is also available for journeys to and from Rotterdam The Hague Airport and can be reserved in advance through the Bolt app.
Van becomes the largest passenger category offered by Bolt in the Netherlands. The company’s existing XL option accommodates up to six people, which meant larger groups previously needed to divide themselves between multiple cars. Bolt says the new category is now being introduced in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague.
Larger vehicles for group journeys
The new service is intended for journeys such as nights out, festivals, airport transfers and other occasions when several people travel together. A Van can carry a maximum of eight passengers, although travellers with substantial luggage should check whether the available boot space will also meet their needs.
Bolt says larger groups were already using its platform, but the six-seat limit of its XL category often made more than one booking necessary. “Many people in the Netherlands already travel in larger groups than we could previously accommodate,” said Noud Ottens, General Manager of Bolt Netherlands. “With Van, we offer a vehicle designed for larger groups instead of limiting them to six seats.”
Rotterdam demand peaks at weekends
According to Bolt’s internal mobility data, between 70% and 72% of all group journeys in Rotterdam and The Hague take place between Friday and Sunday. The strongest demand is concentrated late in the evening and at night, with between 15% and 22% of group rides in the three launch cities occurring between 23:00 and 01:00.
Major events also produce noticeable peaks. Bolt recorded almost twice the usual proportion of group bookings on King’s Day, while New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Amsterdam Dance Event produced some of the busiest hours. These are company figures based on journeys made through Bolt, rather than statistics covering Rotterdam’s taxi market as a whole.
Airport and leisure journeys differ
Group travel in Rotterdam appears to be more closely connected to local leisure activities than to flying. Bolt says airport journeys account for approximately 11% to 12% of group bookings in Rotterdam and The Hague, compared with 32% in Amsterdam.
Van is nevertheless available at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, where passengers can use the app to find the current designated pickup point. Travellers should compare the number of passengers and the amount of luggage before selecting a category, particularly when several large suitcases are involved.
Booking a Bolt Van
To request a Van, users enter their pickup point and destination in the Bolt app and select the category from the available ride options. The app displays the estimated price before the booking is confirmed. Prices can vary according to the journey, current demand, traffic and vehicle availability.
The category can also be booked using Bolt’s Scheduled Rides feature. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance, which may be useful when arranging transport to a flight, concert, festival or other event where finding a sufficiently large vehicle at the last moment could prove difficult.
Availability may vary
The Van category has officially launched, but the number of suitable vehicles available at any moment will depend on participating drivers nearby. It may therefore take longer to find an eight-passenger vehicle than a standard car, particularly during busy weekend nights and major events.
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