Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In

General warnings, Amsterdam

Search:
email to friend | help
Home » Travel Guides » Europe » Netherlands » Provincie Noord-Holland » Amsterdam » Warnings or Dangers » General warnings Reviews

Amsterdam Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Amsterdam Travel Guide


Sponsored Links for Amsterdam

Find Unique Travel Advice
Get Travel Advice from Other American Express® Cardmembers.

River Cruising in Europe
Sites on Rhine, Danube & Others! Sign up for Special E-mail Offers.

Amsterdam Vacation Deals
Save on Virgin™ Air/Hotel Packages! Luxury Travel, Affordable Prices.

300 Hotels in Amsterdam
Good availability and great rates. Book online now, pay at the hotel!

Holiday Inn Amsterdam
Downtown & beach locations. Official site. Book online today.

General warnings, Amsterdam
See all Amsterdam Warnings or Dangers
Amsterdam Warnings or Dangers: General warnings tips posted by real travelers and Amsterdam locals.
General warnings
• 30 Photos
• 71 Reviews
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
General warnings: DOG CRAP!!!
  • Tip Rating:
  • Watch your step, pal!!! - Amsterdam
    Watch your step, pal!!!
    by CoAir13
    Send Photo to a Friend
    This is really the only complaint I have about Amsterdam! You HAVE to watch where you are walking because NO ONE cleans up after their dogs! It is truly DISGUSTING!!! It would be nice to be able to look around at the beautiful architecture rather than piles of dog *** everywhere!! UGH!!

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful

    Visiting Amsterdam?

    Read reviews about Amsterdam Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    General warnings: Long Lines
  • Tip Rating:
  • Waiting, waiting, waiting to see Anne Frank - Amsterdam
    Waiting, waiting, waiting to
    see Anne Frank
    by pieter_jan_v
    Send Photo to a Friend
    The Anne Frank House is the most popular tourist attraction of Amsterdam.
    No wonder, that during the day long waiting lines grow at the entrance.

    So, get up early and be there at 9AM sharp (or visit in the early evening hours).

    BTW Anne Frank's real house before her family moved to the Achterhuis hideout is located at the Merwedeplein.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    General warnings: What a policeman looks like
  • Tip Rating:
  • While you never plan to have a problem.

    I have never experienced it, however some people have reported scams about people pretending to be policemen to con you out of your euros.

    I figure it never hurts to know what a real policeman/woman looks like. Their cars, vans and motorcycles are hard to miss…white with blue and orange. Trust me you can’t miss them!

    One other thing I found unique and very visitor friendly, is they have one police department. Unlike at home where you may have several different types, all looking different (local police, county police, state police, etc). No matter where you go in the country the all look the same here.

    Also I have found them to be very polite and helpful.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    General warnings: General Warnings
  • Tip Rating:
  • Street scene in Amsterdam - Amsterdam
    Street scene in Amsterdam
    by city_guy
    Send Photo to a Friend

    In Amsterdam by night is not really hard to meet some strange dealers, most of them are in groups of 3-4 persons.
    Remember, becareful of your money!

    Usually they are not aggressive, but pay attention when exiting from the "centruum" (the heart of the city). Beyond the red light district is full of dark streets, only pickpockets and pushers.

    Don't do any *** like singing/screaming, smashing bottles, urinating in the streets, etc... Dutch policemen are really strict and won't tolerate vandalism of any kind.

    Remember, Hollanders are cool people and if you show some respect then they will easily help you. Don't be rude and keep in mind the good manners so try to use words like "please"or "thank you", however, you know what we are talking about.

    Have your passport always with you. Keep it in a safe place, surely not in external pockets or in a bag.

    Don't try to visit everything the first day. Take it easy! Buy a map. Touristic guides are o.k., yes usualy they cost a lot, but you will have a good booklet, useful to quickly find out many interesting places, saving your time and money.

    Drink something when in a coffee shop and have a good time there. It's not just a smoking or trading place.

    To have a 'smoking-day' in Amsterdam can be very pleasant, but can turn into a nightmare if you abuse with too much smoke or spacecakes. At the coffeeshop 'Homegrown Fantasy' they have some skunk-based cakes that starts playing with your mind after an hour or even 2 hours depending on what have you eaten before. Beware, if the effect is too strong for you then is better to sit down somewhere and drink or eat something sweet.

    Beware at the passing bikes and trams(everything moves so fast and you are very very slow when stoned, so take care.)

    Remember, nothing is free and Amsterdam isn't a cheap place to stay. Is hard to be there without money so is better to carry a Credit Card for emergencies.

    Leave a Comment

  • Phone: Local police
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    General warnings: Don't Be a ***!
  • Tip Rating:
  • I am a 20 year old female, and I walked all over the centrum by myself at all times of the day and night -- and was never offered drugs, never asked to follow anyone and not harrassed by anyone even once! Just look like you know where you are going, don't draw attention to yourself and for christ's sake don't carry your life savings with you in an easily accessible pocket!

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful

    Visiting Amsterdam?

    Read reviews about Amsterdam Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    General warnings: Women travelling alone
  • Tip Rating:
  • Yeah, there were a couple of very persistant drug dealers selling their wares, but what about the guy who walked alongside me for about 10 minutes insisting that we get a beer together? Then a coffee. Then ____. No matter what I said, he wouldn't leave me alone. I began to ignore him, then after following a little while longer he trailed off on his own. These guys are probably harmless, but I didn't know what to expect. I don't think that I stood out as a vulnerable tourist- I had on a shoulder bag, there was no camera or map hanging out, I was just walking down the street.

    Just stay on busy streets or duck into a shop, or just ignore them, I guess.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    General warnings: Anticlerical attitudes i.e. "I hate the church"
  • Tip Rating:
  • Oude Kerk, and the "picture gallary"
    Oude Kerk was host to an exhibition of photographs by World Press Photographers. They were charging admission to see the pictures. I tested my ingenuity by saying I "came to see the 'church' not the pictures, do I still have to pay". The young woman (18-22), retorted, "This is not a church it is a gallary". I had not realized how deep some anticlerical feelings ran until I "pushed my luck (and it would seem hers)" by pointing to the legend on my map (with money in my hand) and said "But right here it says this is a church". Her "reserve" exploded in a torant of curses. as she screamed "%$#(*!^#* THIS IS NOT A &#(*@!&* CHURCH!!!" She turned absolutly purple in the face, the veins on her forehead and neck stood out pulsing with the rush of blood, as she beat her fists on the counter. She stopped pounding the counter top only long enough to snatch the money from my hand. As she threw the ticket at me, my change hit the floor all in one swipe of her "backhand" in my direction. The guard at the door looked frightened, not of me but for the "lady"(?). She could not compose herself enough to take care of the next couple in line, she just stood there shaking and sobbing. When she did finally turn to the people behind me they looked totally shocked at her outburst and remarked, "No I don't think so", they turned and walked out. The guard shrugged his shoulders, took half my ticket and I "looked for the pictures" so I could shoot around them and see "the church" for what it "had been".

    Oude Kerk
    It is true, a church is not a building, so in that sense sadly it is correct, Oude Kerk is not a church, for it has no congregation, yet with the pink windows in the neighborhood it is in, there may well be some folks who could use a bit of "ministering". Still one can not help marveling at what "once had been".

    Local attitudes and "customs" may be a bit beyond what you would expect in a country that is usually perceived as very accommodating, accepting and "placid"

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    General warnings: Construction season
  • Tip Rating:
  • Construction works at the East side of the station - Amsterdam
    Construction works at the East
    side of the station
    by pieter_jan_v
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Around the Central Train Station works are in progress.
    A new busstation will be build at the North side of the building with a pedestrian area at ground level and a motorway underneath.
    Furthermore new metro and (high speed) train tracks are under construction.
    The metro works needs digging and the train works need overpasses to be build.

    At times expect heavy construction works going on. It's is well planned, but may confilct with your plans at times.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    General warnings: Amsterdam
  • Tip Rating:
  • In Amsterdam by night is not really hard to meet some strange dealer, most of them are in groups of 3-4 persons.
    Remember: beware at your money!
    The risk of being raped is just minimum, don't be drunk, and everything will be ok.
    Usually they are not aggressive, but pay attention when exiting from the "centruum" (the heart of the city). Beyond the red light district is full of dark streets, only pickpockets and pushers. Brrr ;))
    Don't do any *** like singing/screaming, smashing bottles, urinating in the streets, etc...
    Holland policemans are really strict and they won't tolerate vandalism of any kind. Remember, Hollanders are cool persons and if you show some respect then they will easily help you. Don't be rude and keep in mind the good manners so try to use words like "please"or "thank you", however, you know what we are talking about.

    Have your passport always with you. Keep it in a safe place, surely not in external pockets or in a bag

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    General warnings: Amsterdam feels as a very safe place
  • Tip Rating:
  • Amsterdam feels as a very safe place. The system put the traditional criminals out of business as they legalise light drugs and prostitution.
    However, try to avoid drug dealer’s offers or someone that offered you to buy bike for 10 f. they are probably stolen and they need the money for drugs

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    More Amsterdam Tips
    Overview
     
    General Tips
    Tips: 1,326 - Photos: 1,118
    Restaurants
    Tips: 1,084 - Photos: 610
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 1,197 - Photos: 627
    Things To Do
    Tips: 3,622 - Photos: 3,053
    Nightlife
    Tips: 680 - Photos: 422
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 549 - Photos: 450
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 254 - Photos: 118
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 549 - Photos: 233
    Transportation
    Tips: 881 - Photos: 631
    Local Customs
    Tips: 476 - Photos: 350
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 133 - Photos: 63
    Shopping
    Tips: 338 - Photos: 270
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 81 - Photos: 68
    Flights
    Tips: 62 - Photos: 52

    More Sponsored Links for Amsterdam

    Apartment Amsterdam?
    Experience the real Amsterdam. Rent one of our nice apartments!

    Amsterdam Hotels
    16 hotels in Amsterdam from $ 89 In downtown and neighborhood.

    Accommodation Amsterdam
    Up to 80% discount on selected hotels on Holland's premium site!

    Search Hotels
    Find the best room rates
    All Amsterdam Hotels

    Check-In Date:


    Check-Out Date:


    Guests



    Hotels by OneTime.com




    Find:        Matching:  Advanced