How safe is the Netherlands at night?
So, if you're wondering about strolling around Amsterdam at night, the good news is that it's generally a safe city. Amsterdam has a reputation for being pretty chill, with low crime rates compared to other big cities.
Like any city, there's always a higher chance of crime at night, so bear that in mind. However, as Amsterdam is such a compact city, you might choose to walk or cycle everywhere anyway!
The Netherlands, ranked first on the BHTP's list of safest nations and twenty-first on the Global Peace Index (GPI), is a destination where you may travel without worrying. American tourists who were a part of the survey praised Amsterdam as one of the world's safest cities.
The train is one of the safest modes of transport in the Netherlands. Fortunately, thanks to a wide range of preventative measures, accidents among passengers and employees are rare. Accidents or incidents where safety was an issue are always carefully investigated.
Safety at night:Safe. Rotterdam is generally considered relatively safe at night. Public spaces are well lit and well populated even in later hours, but as in any city, it's always best to stick to main streets and avoid quieter, less lit areas.
The Dutch government's notoriously tolerant drug policies almost certainly help to keep crime rates down as well. Cannabis, for example, has been effectively decriminalised since the 1970s which means that convictions related to possession or use are exceptionally uncommon.
The so-called 'Red Light District' in the city center of Amsterdam has been a high crime area for decades. Among the crimes were high rates of street robbery, drug trafficking, drug use, human trafficking, illegal gambling and organized crime controlling real estate and businesses in the area.
Uber is great. It's affordable, price estimates are shown when you plan your journey with the app, payments are dealt with automatically by credit card or PayPal, and the app shows where your driver is before being picked up. I've used it a few times in Amsterdam and only have good things to say about the service here.
Safety at night:Safe. Amsterdam is generally a safe city for solo female travelers, even at night. The city is well lit and usually busy with people, which contributes to a sense of security. However, like any other city, it is always smart to remain vigilant, especially in less crowded or poorly lit areas.
In general, the Netherlands is known for its respectful and open-minded people. Street harassment is not commonly reported, and it is considered one of the safer countries for solo female travelers.
Where to avoid in Rotterdam?
The areas that are often described as more “dangerous” (for Dutch standards at least) are the south and the west. “South” being the region south of the Maas river (with some exceptions like Kop van Zuid and Noordereiland), and “West” being the area between Delfshaven and Schiedam, especially Marconiplein.
Areas to Avoid in Rotterdam
Be careful when walking around the outskirts of the city, especially in Zuid plein and surrounding areas. At night, Marconiplein and Spangen become less safe areas and parks, in general, are best to avoid. Women especially should try to avoid Claes de Vrieselaan, even during the day.
![How safe is the Netherlands at night? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1PDjw-GCNYQ/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLAWHntum0rSijbeBauESpq81a9J8A)
The Netherlands is a Schengen area country. Canadian citizens do not need a visa for travel to countries within the Schengen area. However, visa-free travel only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Although the official language is Dutch, almost 95% of the population speaks English. Therefore, not knowing Dutch isn't an issue! Learning Dutch is difficult because the Dutch people are eager to speak English. There isn't a language barrier, and this makes life more comfortable for those coming from another country.
Money. There is no limit on the amount of money you can take into the Netherlands. However, you may need to submit a customs declaration. This depends on how much money you are taking with you and the country you are travelling from.
Cyber Crimes
The Netherlands has emerged as one of the leading countries for cybercrime, which increased during the pandemic. In fact, the hacking of bank accounts and cyberattacks on businesses and institutions have surged dramatically in recent years.
As in the rest of the world, drugs are officially illegal in the Netherlands. Amsterdam's lenient drug policy allows for the sale and consumption of certain soft drugs, such as cannabis, in designated coffeeshops. However, the use and distribution of hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy remain strictly illegal.
noun. an area in which prostitution is officially tolerated.
There's the myth that there's a Blue light district in the Red light district in Amsterdam. But this apparently ended up. This blue light district is supposedly an area featuring only transgender sex workers, which could be identified by BLUE light (aka blacklight) in their windows instead of a red light.
Love is created everywhere in Amsterdam. Not the most romantic date tip, but if you are intrigued by the famous red-light district and have a leaning to spice up your relationship some of the women are open to couples if you go to them.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Amsterdam?
Yes, the tap water in Amsterdam is safe to drink according to international standards. According to many Dutch people it's among the best in Europe. The local water provider Waternet continuously monitors water quality to ensure it meets high safety standards.
English is very widely spoken in Amsterdam, and the Netherlands – it's a super English friendly city. In fact, a staggering 90% of the Dutch population speak English fluently as a second language, making it relatively simple for native English speakers to navigate Amsterdam.
This one is pretty simple to answer – the Dutch do not have a tipping culture as strongly-ingrained as much of the English-speaking world. In a bar, restaurant, or private boat tour in Amsterdam, provided the service was good, a tip of around 10% is appreciated but not automatically expected.
As in most European countries, the currency of the Netherlands is the Euro (symbolised as EUR or €). Other currencies are normally not accepted, so be sure to change dollars, etc. at one of the currency exchange offices located throughout the city.
Taxi price from Amsterdam Airport to the city centre
Prices for a transfer from the airport to the city center range from € 35 to approx. € 46.75. In contrast, a metered fare can be as high as € 75. Most people who visit Amsterdam have a visit to the city center on their wishlist.
References
- https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/netherlands
- https://www.quora.com/Would-you-recommend-Uber-in-Amsterdam
- https://www.expatrio.com/studying-germany/compare/germany-vs-netherlands
- https://www.smartertravel.com/tips-rotterdam-warnings-dangers-stay-safe/
- https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/criminal-justice-system-netherlands
- https://www.staxi.nl/en/airport-taxi/taxi-from-schiphol-to-amsterdam/
- https://www.schumachercargo.com/pros-cons-living-in-netherlands/
- https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-blue-light-area
- https://knoema.com/atlas/Netherlands/Kidnapping-rate
- https://www.government.nl/topics/holidays-and-travels/alcohol-drugs-in-netherlands
- https://www.quora.com/Are-Americans-welcome-in-Amsterdam
- https://visaguide.world/moving-to/netherlands/
- https://blog.hz.nl/en/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-netherlands
- https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/genocide.shtml
- https://starboardboats.nl/do-you-tip-in-amsterdam/
- https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/netherlands-average-salary
- https://gocity.com/en/amsterdam/blog/is-amsterdam-safe
- https://travelladies.app/safety/netherlands/rotterdam
- https://whatlauradidnext.com/do-they-speak-english-in-amsterdam/
- https://expatwell.com/netherlands/costofliving/
- https://www.shyftmoving.com/blog/moving-to-netherlands-from-the-usa
- https://www.government.nl/topics/sentences-and-non-punitive-orders/custodial-sentences
- https://www.quora.com/Is-it-safe-for-tourists-to-walk-around-at-night-alone-in-Amsterdam-airport-area-included
- https://www.upgradabroad.com/articles/cost-of-living-in-netherlands/
- https://www.quora.com/If-an-American-citizen-commits-a-crime-in-another-country-can-they-be-arrested-and-sent-back-to-the-United-States-or-another-country
- https://gfmag.com/data/most-peaceful-countries/
- https://www.dictionary.com/browse/green-light-district
- https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/rotterdam-overtakes-amsterdam-murder-capital-netherlands
- https://www.quora.com/Which-is-a-better-place-to-live-in-the-Netherlands-or-the-USA
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/593642/average-purchase-price-of-dwellings-in-the-netherlands/
- https://www.ns.nl/en/about-ns/ns-and-society/safety-at-the-station-and-on-the-train.html
- https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/travel-netherlands/taking-netherlands
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/netherlands-travel-advisory.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_Netherlands
- https://www.leap29.com/blog/6-reasons-why-the-netherlands-is-a-great-place-to-live
- https://www.mynta.nl/en/knowledge-base/moving-to-the-netherlands-with-a-prior-criminal-conviction
- https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/visitor-information/coffeeshops-and-cannabis-use
- https://traversewithtaylor.com/do-they-speak-english-in-amsterdam/
- https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/visitor-information/communication-and-money
- https://www.iamexpat.nl/housing/real-estate-news/netherlands-short-390000-homes-2023
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10611-015-9590-6
- https://nl.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/arrest-of-a-u-s-citizen/
- https://www.outlooktraveller.com/destinations/international/five-of-the-safest-countries-in-europe-for-travellers
- https://www.pickfords.co.uk/best-places-to-live-in-the-netherlands
- https://travelladies.app/ranking/safest-places-in-netherlands
- https://nltimes.nl/2023/04/25/cancer-heart-disease-beat-covid-leading-cause-death-2022
- https://www.iamexpat.nl/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/2023-netherlands-has-more-billionaires-ever
- https://www.learndutch.org/beginners/is-it-safe-to-go-to-the-netherlands/
- https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/netherlands
- https://www.introducingamsterdam.com/climate
- https://www.takensadmiraal.nl/en/expertise/strafrecht/mishandeling/
- https://www.government.nl/topics/immigration-to-the-netherlands/living-in-the-netherlands-on-a-residence-permit
- https://www.government.nl/topics/population-decline
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/amsterdam-travel-tourism-drugs-red-light-district-b09d1286
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaricum
- https://www.expatica.com/nl/living/gov-law-admin/crime-and-legal-system-in-the-netherlands-104004/
- https://www.carmichaellegal.com/extradition-to-the-us
- https://www.prison-insider.com/en/articles/pays-bas-why-are-there-so-few-prisoners
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_imprisonment_in_the_Netherlands
- https://aroundtheworldwithme.com/english-in-the-netherlands/
- https://travelladies.app/safety/netherlands/amsterdam
- https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/visitor-information/hard-drugs-and-street-dealers
- https://www.romantictouramsterdam.com/things-to-do-at-night-in-amsterdam/
- https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/study-in-netherlands-for-free-articlepage-108927
- https://www.quora.com/What-areas-should-I-avoid-in-Rotterdam-Netherlands-as-a-tourist
- https://ocindex.net/country/netherlands
- https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/visitor-information/sex-workers-and-red-light-district
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3253291/
- https://www.theparkingspot.com/travel-tips/destinations/us-cities-that-feel-like-european-destinations
- https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/number-millionaires-netherlands-rises-7th-year-row
- https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/netherlands/
- https://travelladies.app/safety/netherlands
- https://dubaisavvy.com/most-dangerous-places-in-netherlands/
- https://tappwater.co/en/tap-water-in-amsterdam-best-water-filter/
- https://www.expatriatehealthcare.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-moving-to-the-netherlands/
- https://theculturetrip.com/europe/the-netherlands/articles/why-crime-rate-in-the-netherlands-is-so-low