Tricks & Scams, Amsterdam

I've been to Amsterdam the past week and like every tourist I wanted to bring some tulip bulbs.
In Bloemenmarkt (on Singel between Muntplein and Koningsplein) I saw many shops selling big quantities of bulbs - bags of 50 and 100 bulbs.
Me and my friends bought 2 bags of (supposedly) 55 bulbs. When we divided the bulbs back in the hotel, we counted 45 bulbs in each bag!
I confess I felt a bit naive.
(August 2011)

Unique Suggestions: Ask to open the bag and count the bulbs! Don't get fooled.

Fun Alternatives: If they don't let you open the bags, I suggest you to buy the smallest bags, the ones where you can count the bulbs without having to open the bag.

many many warnings about men mainly of an african background in groups or alone approaching you to sell cocaine or "sniff" avoid at all costs make sure you are in a group avoid eye contact and if you want such drugs dont buy from them or at all cannabis is tlerated but any other drugs and you may get locked up.picture attached shows one of many approaches made to my brothers and son to buy cocaine. groups are intimidating be on your guard avoid eye contact and late nights on your own or you will get approached and ripped off or worst.

The I amsterdam card is a scam, the travel pass is okay, but the rest is a scam. When I tried to enter the Rijksmuseum, I was politely told that the I amsterdam card IS NOT A TICKET, BUT ALLOWS YOU FREE ENTRY INTO THE MUSEUM. So you still have to wait in the HOUR long line. I threw the thing in the trash right there an then. All I can say is DO NOT BUY THIS THING.

Unique Suggestions: All I can say is DO NOT BUY THIS THING.

Fun Alternatives: Simply purchase the tram/bus pass, and the actual tickets to the activities you would like to see in order to skip the lines. Do not buy this pass.

look we have all been there there the niave tourist, a cheap weeked away, why not, Amsterdam-
perfect, good nightlife chilled atmosphere. So you arrive, you leave the airport to be greeted by the chauffer driven taxis. So you think well this must be how amsterdam is. There are no normal beaten up black cabs to be seen in amsterdam. You get in the taxi and find your self on an industrial tour of amsterdam that isnt necassary!!!! Then you get to the centre of amsterdam to find a bill for the taxi that can excede 50 euros!!! This is discracefull i say to my patner. But we pay and go on our way. We will never be sucked into the amdam taxis again. The best way to get around amdam is to purchace a I AMsterdam card this will give you loads of travel while your there and get tou in to over 15 tourist attractions free if your into that sort of thing! Alternativly but i a 1 way train ticket aprox 1.5 euro to the central station. But trust me you do not need to take a taxi in amsterdam, everything is well within walkin distance. If you want to get out of the hussle and bussle then buy a book of tram tikets. This is the cheapest way to travel. Oh and dont forget Have fun !!!

Unique Suggestions: ok if you have to go to the redlight district, and anne franks house, The redlight district is fun for the first timer but honestly is just two streets with women in the windows strutting thre suposed stuff. Once youv'e seen it, youlle understand, But yes you cannot go to amdam without this experience. Anne franks house again once youv'e been there you dont have to go back the tour is around 1 hr (beware long queues) and takes you back to a time most of us dont really understand. I will say this though anne franks house is an eerie experience and one i will not forget but i will not go back.

If somebody in the street asks you " Do you speak English " If you say " yes " you are most likely to get some hard up story and " can you give me some change "

Unique Suggestions: I found the best way is to just ignore , don't even look, hey if you don't speak English how you going to know what they are saying

Dont think your in Kansas anymore. There are a significant no of people you would never think of broaching into conversation who accost you and they are mightily persistent .peeled eyes in this city

Unique Suggestions: Dont break your step

It has been on the news a lot lately that romanian and bulgarian criminals have been playing tricks on tourists. They tell you they exchange your money and then they steal it from you.... so never trust anybody and only exchange your money at GWK on the trainstations or in the centre. This happens mainly on Damrak, the street between Central Station and Damsquare. There are also some romanians and bulgarians who dress up as police officers and tell you lies to get your money or personal belongings. So BEWARE of these horrible people. Always watch your bags in the trams, busses and trains, there are pickpockets.

Unique Suggestions: Call the police immediately. Our emergency numer is 112 and if its not an emergency but still something happened and you need the police call 0900-8844.

Fun Alternatives: Exchange money at the banks, trainstation, airport or GWK

Beware of toothless crack fiends that try to offer you accomodations.

we were stalked all over the city by one of them, despite the fact we said we were not interested.

he was trying to sell us a room in a boarded up hotel.

My first time in Amsterdam I made the mistake of following some guy to the globe hostel, he wanted us to give him a tip for showing us the way, which he didnt get. On our way out the next day in search of a better priced room we saw the owner giving him a cut of our room price.

Amsterdam police is warning not to play a game called 'balletje balletje'. It is played on the streets in (mostly) the red light district and you will never win it.

Another tourist trap is buying drugs on the streets. Never do it: it can be dangerous and it's illegal. There are 100-odd legal coffeeshops in AMS to provide you with your softdrugs and smart shops were you can get mushrooms etcetera.