AllAmsterdam

tourist info

How safe is Amsterdam?

policeAmsterdam tends to have a double image. On one hand it is known as a beautiful, interesting and fun city. On the other hand, there is wide speculation about the city being dangerous for tourists and that crime is rampant. We here are at AllAmsterdam want our readers to be aware of the true situation and climate of real life in Amsterdam.


Amsterdam is a worldcity. Amsterdam's metropolitan area has around 1.5 million inhabitants (2006). Cities with such populations usually have a hard time preventing crime and keeping law and order. Amsterdam, however, is unique and internationally reknown for its lenient policies towards a large variety of lifestyles, considered taboo in much of the conservative world and even countries considered somehwhat liberal. Some of these policies include..

  • Soft drugs policy
  • Prostitution policy
  • Liberal crime policy
  • Terror threats

We will now look more in depth at some of these policies and try to make it apparent for our readers what the true situation of Amsterdam is.

Softdrugs policy

Amsterdam is known for allowing the limited use of soft drugs, such as Cannabis which is illegal in most other countries. Whether this policy has increased the crime rate is difficult to answer.

What is interesting to note is that in countries where consumption is illegal such as the UK the crime rate is actually higher than in the Netherlands and the consumption is lower!

In general as a tourist you are generally protected. By buying these items at coffee shops and from legal propietors you assure yourself of good quality and information about what you buy.

Besides, when you buy a limited amount you are not commiting a crime. People are generally advised to use soft drugs in designated places and not in public places. Be advised that there are mant drugs which are not allowed, such as cocaine, extascy and heroin etc. People offering you these drugs should be declinded politely and avoided there after.

Prostitution policy

Some say that there are certain underground rules one should use whilst visiting the Red light district. Crime odoes take place here from organised crime to pickpocketing in which precautions should be taken (see end of article).

Liberal crime policy

Compared to other countries such as the USA, the crime policies of Netherlands are extremely lenient. Where one may be shocked about the leniency towards criminals, the crime rate in the Netherlands is generally low, especially when compared to other European countries with tougher crime policies such as the UK. Indeed in the UK they have found that 60% of inmates in British jails had served a jail sentance previously. Even in the USA where there is a prevalent view that crime is rampant in Amsterdam, the rate of deaths caused by crime rate was 1.22% per 100,000, where as in the USA it is 8.22% (1996).

Terror threats

Amsterdam has also been the victim of terrorism, when in 2004 the popular Dutch film director, producer and actor Theo van Gogh who was also related to world famous artist Vincent Van Gogh, was assassinated by an extremist after the making of the controvesial 10 Minute film Submission. Although no public attacks have taken place, there are wide cases of individuals being threatened such as that of Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Geert Wilders, who have spoken out about topics considered sensitive to the minorities resident in Amsterdam, particularly those who are Muslim.

Amsterdam has a relatively large muslim population, of whom the large majority are peace loving inhabitants of the city, but there is a growing subculture of fundamentalists that take smaller acts of violence into account. Sadly enough there have been cases of gay couples being intimidated or actually attacked by annoying or slightly fundamentalistic groups of mostly teenagers. I don't think that is a part of terrorism, but it's an effect of the same origin, which is disrespect and intolerance.

Where is safe in Amsterdam?

There are no ghetto's such as in the USA, but there are a few neighborhoods in Amsterdam where you should be cautious whilst visiting. Although the majority of citizens are helpful and law abiding, there are minorities of mostly youngsters that are out there to entertain themselves by annoying and provoking others.

Generally one should be cautious whilst visiting one of these areas.

  • Downtown..
  • Areas south of Downtown
  • A few kilometers into the Western side. Especially the high rise projects.

If you do visit one of these areas, the chance is still minimal, but as with any larger city crime and distrubances tends to be more concentrated in particular neighborhoods .

What could happen?

The most occurent crimes and disturbances are usually frauds, pickpockets, armed robbery, verbal intimidation or physical violence. To avoid such situations it is usually best to take take a few precautions.

Precautions

When people intimidate you, try to ignore it. Don't get into arguments with people that are out to create trouble.

Watch your belongings carefully. Make sure your handbag is closed and secure, don't put your wallet into an easily accessible pocket. Try not to keep large amounts of cash in one area.

Don't let strangers arrange hotels, cars, drugs or anything for you. This sounds easy enough to abide by, but there are people selling you washing powder instead of cocaine! or setting you up with a horrible hotel, that is actually some creepy apartment. Always try to consult a local tourist office or guide for all your needs.

If you want your photo taken, try your best to keep your camera within your party or to employees of a local business such as waiters at a restaurant etc. Be wary of strangers as it is not impossible to have lent your camera to a their who will just run away with it!

If you are a stopped by a law enforcement officer and are fined, you should request and take note of his/her badge and numbers. There are scammers dressed up as police officers that often try to dupe tourists into paying for fines.

In the event of an armed robbery, it is always best to be cooperative. Understandably it is extremely annoying to lose property, but your safety should come first and a criminal with a weapon should be dealt with in a calm and cooperative manner to avoid catastrophes.

In case of problems

The emergency services in the Netherlands can be reached by dialing, 112 from your telephone. Locals are generally helpful and fluent in English and will be more than happy to direct you to a local police station in the event you need assistance.

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Comments (18)

Ben P., 27 January 2009, 21:50:26 Reply

good article.

drewski, 7 May 2009, 17:43:52 Reply

amsterdam is so cool u can smoke all the time at a bar

johan, 19 May 2009, 03:02:57 Reply

I think this is a great site I lived in Amsterdam for 2yrs.I want to go back so bad,you have much better form of "sheeple"control,as I lived in"De Pipe"I traveled around Europe both by train & plane (2006-7/1/08)I pretended to be Canadian ,on most of my travels I was never even asked "A" question NOT ONE!not even asked for my passport! I spoke to a man I became friends with who owened a coffee shop in Amsterdam I asked him a ? do the coffee shop people skim $'s from the shop as it is mostly
cash.His ans.was quick "we don't even think like that,THEY know what we sell we have our limits of what we can make".

BROODSEED, 30 August 2009, 18:23:11 Reply

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHERE I CAN SCORE MDMA OR WICKED UPPERS OR DOWNERS BLUE BOLTZ OR CRYSTALPILLS. IF NO ONE HAS ANSWER IM SURE I CAN PAY ONE OF MANY WHORES THERE TO SCORE FOR ME? SECOND TRY WOULD BE THE HIPPIES CROSSING MY FINGERS LOL. AND DO U THINK I CAN SMUGGLE 20 OR 30 PILLZ TO THE MIDDLEAST OUR PILLS ARE SHIT AND THE KIDS THERE ARE GETTING PARALYZED BY THE PILLZ

arnold, 8 February 2010, 17:17:59 Reply

GET TO DA CHOPPA!!! amsterdam ees guud they sell weeed... now get to de weed choppa naow!!!

big anti-dope, 19 February 2010, 10:34:50 Reply

fuck you all druggies

, 19 July 2010, 15:09:03 Reply

your seriously really stupid big anti-dope, I loved going to amsterdam that is the most wonderful place on earth and ganja should not be considered a drug. It is only a plant, Doesnt really have long term affects proven so i think all of you anti drug people need to go stop teens from taking crystal meth instead of bitching about a little ganja!!!!!!!

Cass420, 15 March 2010, 14:08:16 Reply

I think Amsterdam, is a wonderful place.. My husband and I will be going back next year.. Can't wait to socialize with the folks of Amsterdam..The States should legalize marjauna

Erik, 13 April 2010, 15:49:54 Reply

South of downtown is a 'bad neighbourhood'? Oud Zuid is probably the safest part of Amsterdam. Get your facts straight!

Mrs. Mom, 15 April 2010, 16:21:17 Reply

We are relocating with children and am looking at the south of downtown areas (close to Vondelpark)...which we were told a nice family neighborhood. Is it really one of the crime zones?

Dann, 2 May 2010, 11:48:47 Reply

your all idiots going on about bringing hard drugs o the damm. its all about getting the blaze on, bless the high!!!

Purplepunch, 23 May 2010, 01:05:16 Reply

Ummmmm yeah 30 pills to the middle east usually means Ur hands are getting chopped off moron!!why don't u stupid drug idiots stay in the crack house and stop killing kids with Ur "pills r okay" stance...you are the reason weed cant be legal in the u.s "hey man lets bring some mdma in"If kids are being "paralyzed" maybe u shouldn't take poison JACKASS!!!People like you have no place in this world and need to be shot.....The "dam" is for ism and blessed soldiers of cannabis.Just like Dan says "Bless the high",

Autumn, 28 May 2010, 18:03:25 Reply

maryjane. maryjane. today my teacher told me that amsterdam has the highest crime rate in europe and that maryjane causes cancer. i for one dont beleive that at all im 15 and have done pretty much every drug out there and i find it to be kinda dumb why do all that shit when you can just chill out and smoke a bowl of ganja? i mean for reals where not hurting any one!!! one love guys

USAlover, 6 June 2010, 21:19:28 Reply

YA go amstererdam and all the weed. hey big anti-dope go smoke a bowl then say that. BITCH!

joey boone, 10 June 2010, 20:19:43 Reply

antidope is a fag i hope he suffers the most horrible death he can imagine. I am taking my next student loan money and moving to amsterdam saying fuck college gimme high. I dig freedom and I hate the govt. fuck amercia don't ever come to the states if you do only go to vegas rent a ferrari for an hour get insurance and drop it into reverse while doing a buck 50. how much is a bottle of vodka in amsterdam?

Matt, 10 July 2010, 00:58:34 Reply

Lets get serious now and work on a bring back prohibition and legalize weed campaign. Because I have known far too many people who have injured/killed others or been injure/killed by drunk driving, and absolutely zero people do to the herb... go go gadget ganja.

Matt is a retard, 12 July 2010, 14:32:21 Reply

Matt you are a retard. If you are going to go on a rant make sure you use spell check and proper grammar. I am going to be in Amsterdam soon and hope to see you so I can kick the living shit out of you!!!

Squeakmouse1984, 18 July 2010, 19:06:30 Reply

I want to visit Amsterdam some day with my husband. We've never been there before. U.S. is getting better about weed, but we need to let medical patients in every state have the ability to use medical marijuana. We should follow along with Amsterdam and have designated places to buy and smoke legally!

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