Travelling to Amsterdam during 2020? However, you may notice that a few of the windows are bathed in blue light. As you might imagine, residents and business people also do not look kindly on various drinking tours, hen- and stack parties, and other types of group activities that cause nuisance. Amsterdam’s easily ranks among the best cities in the world for young people and has plenty to offer anyone in their twenties. Some people have lost more than money. Image Source: Unsplash.com. #4 Illegitimate Drugs. Don’t be that guy. I must have been warm from the walking, because I had taken … You can find them at Kloveniersburgwal 26 (photo opposite), Singel 7 and Oude Hoogstraat 22. Are you ready for our list? For those of you who, like me, have not done so – let me explain. Be adventurous. Your GetYourGuide Ticket Advantage: Authorized Ticket Seller Printed or Mobile Voucher Accepted Instant Confirmation. For one thing, you’d help perpetuate an age-old problem. Besides the RLD, Amsterdam is also known for their choice to legalize soft drugs such as mushrooms, coffee shops and marijuana. The city council has been trying to ban the bikes from most of the center of town, but thus far the tour operators have succeeded in their legal challenges against such measures. Yes, do enjoy yourself but not at the expense of the city, the locals, or your own health. There are some things that are best to be avoided, although being perfectly legal in the city. Here are 10 top things you can do in Amsterdam but not in the US. Ensuring that you stay on the right side of the law as a tourist is imperative. You can count on the fact that people are watching you, and that they are just waiting for you to do something stupid — like entering an area where you can easily be robbed. And do we need to say this? Apparently it is just as effective at getting tourists to part with their money as the overpriced cheese sold in the luxury cheese shops that plague Amsterdam. Plague? Seventeen others were hospitalized. Special smoking areas have been created. While residents usually avoid this area, thousands of people actually live in Amsterdam’s centre and don’t appreciate being sidelined by large groups of tourists walking slowly through thoroughfares like Damstraat, Leidsestraat or Damrak. When you arrive at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, runners for unlicensed taxis will accost you. That shirt was a cream coloured thing with a floral pattern. And all of that within 50 meters, that is how you could describe the park. Woodman remains belligerent and his Wikipedia entry is carefully sculpted to exclude details about the ruse, but the National Geographic Channel has agreed to put its admission in writing, and has promised to not re-broadcast the episode. These urban trains go faster than you can run, and they usually have — and take — the right of way. But that’s not what draws the tourist hordes. #Amsterdam #cityguide - Duration: 6:17. We’ll help you with what to mind, so you can enjoy your stay in our lovely city. For instance, be aware of cute young kids who charm you into posing with them for a photo. Pedestrians, cyclists, metros, taxis, buses; they all share the narrow lanes. You do not want to spend your vacation money on fines, right? Parking is sparse and expensive. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Tripadvisor: See 1,852,238 traveler reviews and photos of Amsterdam tourist attractions. #3 What not to do as a tourist in Amsterdam: take photos of people working in the windows in the Red-Light District. Thousands of artists registered themselves with their illuminating lights artworks to … Unbelievable! In other words, the trams always win. December 14, 2016 by Peter Simon View All On 1 Page. So we’ve made a counter list of things NOT to do in Amsterdam. One of the best things to do in Amsterdam’s city center is visit the public library. Source: https://cdn.civitatis.com. You’ll also want to avoid other pedestrians-only areas, such as the Leidsestraat. Our original content is protected by ©. 14 of the Oddest Rules That Exist in Switzerland. It’s no big shocker that De Wallen is known as the Red Light District, as the kamer sex cabins are literally illuminated with red lights. Do: Visit the Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution. Attending this 2 months event this year is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam in December 2020. You can save a lot of money by heeding our recommendation on where to change your money. This article was first published on November 28, 2005. I am sure you will be amazed. The park is not that different from any other park, besides that it is in the city centre. It is not a good idea to reply to their whispered “hash? In Amsterdam locals and tourists alike can legally buy and use soft drugs, but the best place to do so is in licensed coffeeshops (yes, that’s what we call them…). DutchAmsterdam is an independent travel guide made by locals - the Amsterdam Experts. When you come to Amsterdam, don’t stage crimes — and if you do so anyway, don’t lie about it. They’re after one thing only: your money. Dive in. 1. One of Amsterdam’s must-do activities which, though a cliché, is still the best way to explore the city. For it is not the only one in Amsterdam to be given this status. The old inner city is just not well-suited for vehicles carrying a dozen drinking and shouting revellers. When the CHA-CHING of a bike bell sounds, get out of the way! Therefore we recommend to be cautious! After using them, she committed suicide by jumping off a building onto a freeway. The obvious things are listed below so that it will be easy for you to avoid these things in your next Amsterdam tours. This guide is different, here’s what to avoid in Amsterdam. There is so much to see and do in The Netherlands and, thanks to a wonderful transit system, navigating the country is … Image Source. You can walk past and look, that’s fine. Amsterdam is known for its cannabis culture and the Red Light District. Drugs We can say what not to do here, but the best advice would be what you can do. 6:17. Amsterdam is not a free-for-all, so don’t go about town possessing, buying, and using pills, heroin, cocaine, and meth — you will face legal action if caught. We have reviews of the best places to see in Amsterdam. Not only are the historic bridges not designed to carry the extra weight, but the locks damage the ironwork of the bridges. Amsterdam is on the top of many people’s bucket lists, and for good reason. Although Amsterdam is a small city, its inner city is congested. Enter your email address to subscribe to DutchAmsterdam and receive notifications of new posts by email. The unofficial slogan for the city used to be ‘Come for the weed, stay for the hookers’. you’re trying to ‘fly’ out of an open window). Some things that Amsterdam is best known for are not exactly the places that you’d go to with the whole family. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 50 Things Not To Do In Amsterdam Source: https://cdn.civitatis.com With its 17th century canals, miles of multi-colored tulips that create the most intricate floral blanket, bikes, bikes and more bikes, and well… the weed, Amsterdam is a mishmash of laidback living that also has a huge number of exciting things to do … 81.000 people live in the center of town, while 87.000/day travel to the inner city for work. We will try and provide you with tips that save you money while still having an amazing experience. That is strictly prohibited around here. Don’t be that … Crazy locals with an old transistor radio, a little girl on skates and a homeless man playing guitar. Do not be drawn into a conversation with a junkie. And you really don’t want to go where they want you to go. At around the same time, Google — honoring an official request from the City — removed the term ‘Love Lock Bridge’ from Google Maps. It is a lot stronger than what you may be used to. On a recent Friday, cities workers removed 500 kilo worth of locks from the guy-wires of popular bridge in downtown Amsterdam — only six weeks after after removing a similar amount of steel. You don’t want to run the risk of someone driving off with your stuff still on board. In many buildings, you will not find lifts so pack light and save yourself the agony of dragging your belongings up flights of stairs. Naive tourists have been known to pay premium prices for sheep dung, parsley, aspirin, or talcum powder. With its picturesque canal network, rich history and thrumming cultural scene, the capital of the Netherlands is one of the world’s most vibrant cities. Similar scenarios happen in bars, coffeeshops, discos and other ventures where it seems natural for some friendly people to offer you a round of drinks. That shirt was a cream coloured thing with a floral pattern. Not all trams have a conductor, but in that case there are ticket machines. Too, you may end up in one of several illegal, overcrowded hotels. Start the day right with a fresh coffee and a big breakfast – you’re going to need it. Visit top-rated & … How unfair! This may seem like a romantic idea to some, but the reality is that all those padlocks damage Amsterdam’s iconic bridges. than anywhere else in the world! The Red Light District is perfectly safe, but keep the following tips in mind. Love locks are regularly removed from bridges and other objects throughout the city. So all we can do is ask you kindly: please help stop the Disneyfication3 of Amsterdam by not renting beer bikes. Save yourself a lot of stress, and don’t rent a bike inside Amsterdam. What NOT to wear in Amsterdam. The annual light festival is the highlight of the winters in Amsterdam. Duration: 1 hour The locals don’t even smoke it as much as you think they might. Several shops in Amsterdam are cleverly disguised as ‘museums.’ Think ‘Cheese Museum,’ ‘Tulip Museum, or ‘Erotic Museum.’. Another thing most of them share: an inexplicable desire to replace antique store fronts and interiors with ugly, visually ‘loud’ modern designs. Want to show the world that your love each other? What not to do in Amsterdam! Also: the kind of people who tend to use hotel runners in the first place often are the same types who come to Amsterdam primarily to sample the coffeeshops. It’s no big shocker that De Wallen is known as the Red Light District, as the kamer sex cabins are literally illuminated with red lights. Amsterdam is a city of free morals, but this does not mean that anything goes. It’s all about the canals here, so skip the bus tour, and cruise the canals instead. Things to do for adults. The Sensi Seeds Bank has several locations in the center of Amsterdam. Bonus tip: Do not pay your taxi driver until you’ve got all your luggage out of the car. It’s hard to know what not to do in Amsterdam with so many guides giving contrasting information. Some of the ladies (or those pretending to be) will douse you and your camera with a bucket full of ammonia- or bleach-laced water. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Even though it is free and features some truly fascinating items, including a police report given by Anne Frank concerning her stolen bicycle and the document that banished Baruch Spinoza from Amsterdam’s Jewish community, this exhibition rarely gets busy. Enjoy the View from the Public Library. However here is a list of what not to do in Amsterdam as a tourist to not land you in trouble. To many foreign tourists, Amsterdam means three things: legal prostitution, legal weed and the Anne Frank House. We’ll help you with what to mind, so you can enjoy your stay in our lovely city. Original content is © Copyright DutchAmsterdam. The BEST things to do in Amsterdam handpicked by the locals. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Although the way people move about seems random, there is an order to it that locals understand… and tourists disturb this order. However, be very cautious about taking these from … All Rights Reserved. Going to Amsterdam? Don’t take pictures of girls in the windows of the red light district. In the process many iconic, picturesque views are destroyed by the grotesque bunches of locks. Ranking of the top 25 things to do in Amsterdam. Do listen to — and follow — the advice of the staff in the coffeeshops. Some just want to gawk at the salacious spectacle of it all. You can take pictures of, say, the area’s architectural treasures, but if you aim your camera at one of the scantily-clad ladies in the windows you may find yourself getting closely acquainted with the nearest canal – via one or more bouncer types. Do: Visit the Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution. As always, when visiting a foreign country check and see what the locals are doing. Bottom line: some rules are simply there to protect you or your friends from doing something stupid. They live in a park (well, in a house situated in a park) in green and hip Amsterdam-North, and they wish you lots of gezelligheid on your next visit to this wonderful city. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Not only will you be blocking someone’s business opportunity, but you will make the workers and the people requiring their services feel uncomfortable – something that the RLD strongly stands against. Reply What not to do as a tourist in Amsterdam (Part II) – DutchReview September 15, 2018 At 13:55 Photo: Museum of Prostitution – Red Light Secrets/Facebook. When the young lads are busy pleading to the almighty to make them age faster to reach 21, which is actually the legal drinking age in America, the party has already begun in Amsterdam. Also, keep in mind that Dutch marijuana is known for its potency. Discover 57 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Amsterdam, Netherlands from Electric Ladyland: The Museum of Fluorescent Art to Singel 7. Getting too stoned. And you get to annoy the locals to such an extend that the City Council has stepped in. Tours, Skip the Line Tickets, Museums, Excursions and Activities, Where (and where not) to change your money, Public Transport to and from Schiphol Airport, Pick Your Own Tulips in Amsterdam on National Tulip Day …, Amsterdam Coronavirus (COVID-19) Measures, The shop at this location, Singel 387, is currently called ‘420 Coffeeshop’. 15 Things NOT to Do in Amsterdam. It’s like talking to a politician: you won’t get anything out it, and in the end you’ll discover he is only after your money. Withlocals 598,883 views. Again, if you have to buy drugs buy them in one of the many licensed coffeeshops in the area. This list is a bit different. 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