Amsterdam scams and safety: the traps to avoid

Pickpockets: Central Station, Dam Square and trams

Pickpocketing is concentrated where crowds are dense: outside Amsterdam Centraal station, along the Damrak, around Dam Square, on packed trams, on the quays of the Red Light District in the evening and in cafés and bars. Thieves often work in teams: one bumps into you, touches your arm or asks for directions, while another helps himself to your bag or pocket.

• Keep your phone in a front or zipped pocket, never lying on a terrace table.
• Keep your bag closed and in front of you on trams and in crowds.
• Carry only a little cash: almost everything can be paid by card in Amsterdam.
• Leave your passport in the hotel safe or a locker and carry a copy.
• Watch out for distraction tactics: jostling, a map unfolded under your nose, a hand on your shoulder.

If you are robbed, block your bank card immediately, then report the theft to the police, online or by appointment at a police station.

Drugs: fake street dealers

Cannabis is tolerated in coffeeshops, which are for over-18s only, but all drugs remain illegal in the Netherlands, and selling in the street is drug dealing. The dealers who approach tourists in the Red Light District, on Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein often sell fake or cut products, and some intimidate or rob their customers. In 2014, white heroin sold as cocaine by street dealers caused serious poisonings, several of them fatal, among young tourists; the city and prevention services still warn against these sellers.

• Turn down any offer of drugs in the street, however insistent.
• Dutch cannabis is often stronger than elsewhere: start with a small dose, and be careful with space cakes, whose effect kicks in late.
• If you feel unwell, call 112: emergency services treat you without telling the police about your drug use.

Bikes: the main danger for pedestrians

Bikes are everywhere in Amsterdam, and cycle lanes, often red, run along most streets. The classic trap: walking or stopping on the cycle lane to take a photo. Cyclists ride fast, rarely ring their bell and do not expect to find a pedestrian in their lane.

• Look both ways before crossing a cycle lane, just as you would a road.
• Never stop on a cycle lane: step onto the pavement.
• Also watch out for e-bikes, which are faster, and cargo bikes, which are wider.

If you rent a bike, ride on the right, stick out your arm before turning, switch your lights on at night and do not use your phone while riding: it is forbidden. Bike theft is very common: always lock the bike by its frame to a fixed object, preferably with two locks, and do not leave it outside overnight if your accommodation has a bike storage room. To get around without a bike, see our guide to public transport in Amsterdam.

Taxis: Schiphol, Central Station and rogue drivers

At the airport as at Central Station, unlicensed drivers approach travellers in the hall or at the exit to offer a ride. Say no: these vehicles are not insured to carry passengers and the price is not regulated.

• Only take a taxi from an official taxi rank: at Schiphol, in front of the arrivals hall (Schiphol Plaza); in town, at Central Station, on Dam Square, Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, Nieuwmarkt or Museumplein.
• An official taxi has a blue number plate and a "Taxi" sign on the roof.
• The meter must be running: in 2026, the legal maximum fare for a 4-seat car is €4.31 pick-up charge, plus €3.17 per kilometre and €0.52 per minute.
• Ask for a receipt at the end of the ride: you will need it if you want to complain.

The Uber and Bolt apps work in Amsterdam and show the price before the ride. To reach the centre from the airport, the train is still faster and cheaper: all the details are in our article Schiphol Airport to central Amsterdam.

Accommodation: booking scams

Accommodation is expensive and scarce in Amsterdam, which attracts fake listings: photos copied from other sites, very low prices, an owner "abroad" who asks for a bank transfer or deposit outside the platform.

• Always pay through the booking platform, never by direct bank transfer, money order or gift card.
• Be wary of a host who asks you to leave the platform's messaging system.
• A legal holiday rental in Amsterdam must show a city registration number in its listing.
• Check the exact address before paying.

To choose a neighbourhood and a type of accommodation, see our guide on where to stay in Amsterdam.

Local rules: alcohol, cannabis and fines

The city has tightened its rules to curb nuisance in the centre, and both city enforcement officers and the police apply them.

• Cannabis: since 25 May 2023, smoking cannabis in the street has been banned throughout the Red Light District (De Wallen), on Dam Square, the Damrak and Nieuwmarkt. After a first warning, the fine is €100. Coffeeshop terraces are not covered.
• Alcohol: drinking alcohol in public is banned in the Red Light District and in other parts of the centre, and you risk a fine.
• Red Light District: photographing or filming sex workers is forbidden, and at weekends bars in the core of the district close at 2am. See our page on the Red Light District.
• Urinating in the street and dropping litter are also punished.

In March 2023, the city launched the online "Stay Away" campaign, aimed first at young British men aged 18 to 35 looking for a weekend of excess: its videos warn that a night of heavy drinking can end in arrest, a criminal record or a trip to hospital. The message applies to every visitor: Amsterdam is happy to welcome people who want to party, not nuisance.

Another real risk at night: the canals. Their quays often have no railings, the walls are high and the water is cold; visitors fall in regularly, often after drinking. Stay away from the edge at night, and if you fall in, shout to attract attention and hold on to whatever you can.

Emergencies, police and night: the right reflexes

The European emergency number, 112, reaches the police, fire brigade and ambulance; operators speak English. For a non-emergency, such as reporting a theft or making an appointment at a police station, call the police on 0900-8844, or +31 343 578 844 from a foreign phone. A theft report can also be filed online on the Dutch police website. If your passport is lost or stolen, first report it to the police, then contact your embassy.

At night, GVB night buses leave Central Station for the different neighbourhoods. The night bus ticket costs €5.70 and lets you travel for 1.5 hours on all night buses; you can also check in directly with your contactless bank card. For a taxi, go to an official rank or book through an app rather than accepting a driver who approaches you. Travel home in a group, keep your phone charged and note the address of your accommodation.

Summary table

Prices and fines checked in October 2026.

Further reading

To pay without cash and avoid bank fees, read our guide to money, card payments and tipping in Amsterdam. To plan your journeys with peace of mind, by day and by night, also see our guide to public transport in Amsterdam.