Safety

[iMelancholic]

I've just been talking to my cousin who went to Amsterdam recently. He told me that it's a seedy place, and at night tourists get mugged quite often. I'm quite worried about smoking and going back to my hotel at night (We wanna go back to our room at about 7/7:30pm) - are there any places that I should avoid? Has anyone here had any bad experiences with gangs or other criminals?

[Boner]

Your cousin is full of shit.

[iMelancholic]

Your cousin is full of shit.

I was thinking that, I'm stoned so I think he was trying to make me paranoid... which worked until I read that. If I'm walking back through Amsterdam during the evening do you think there's a good chance of me being targeted?

[liquidSwords]

Like any country in Europe, there are seedy places and elements to the city... but none so more than say London or Edinburgh. I wouldnt worry about gangs, the one thing to be careful of is the "cocain" dealers that wonder round the Red Light D|istrict, they will try and sell you coke, but if you ignore them they wont be a problem.

Look forward to your trip, Amsterdam is a beautiful city with lots to enjoy

[iMelancholic]

Like any country in Europe, there are seedy places and elements to the city... but none so more than say London or Edinburgh. I wouldnt worry about gangs, the one thing to be careful of is the "cocain" dealers that wonder round the Red Light D|istrict, they will try and sell you coke, but if you ignore them they wont be a problem.

Look forward to your trip, Amsterdam is a beautiful city with lots to enjoy

I'm gonna avoid the Red Light District / surrounding areas because of the dealers, I have a feeling that someone will ask me to buy some coke and I'll be paranoid for the rest of the trip Are these dealers everywhere in Amsterdam?

[liquidSwords]

Like any country in Europe, there are seedy places and elements to the city... but none so more than say London or Edinburgh. I wouldnt worry about gangs, the one thing to be careful of is the "cocain" dealers that wonder round the Red Light D|istrict, they will try and sell you coke, but if you ignore them they wont be a problem.

Look forward to your trip, Amsterdam is a beautiful city with lots to enjoy

I'm gonna avoid the Red Light District / surrounding areas because of the dealers, I have a feeling that someone will ask me to buy some coke and I'll be paranoid for the rest of the trip Are these dealers everywhere in Amsterdam?

Nah, dont avoid the Red Light District.... just dont reply to the dealers. Enjoy your trip.... its a great place, even the Red Light District. These dealers are not all over the place.

[iMelancholic]

I guess it's not as bad as people might think... maybe I worry too much, I've been mugged before which really scared me - I'm just hoping that I'll be able to get baked and go back to my hotel without being harassed in any way

[Boner]

You'll be fine just ignore any dealers, if one targets you just go into the nearest shop,bar, coffeeshop or tell them fuck off in a very loud voice, just remember that Amsterdam is quite a small city (especially the centrum area) and for the most part it's very busy so the chances of being mugged are very small, to be honest I dont think I know of anyone thats been mugged in Amsterdam, there's a lady on channels.nl who is in her 60's and goes every year by herself and has always said she feels very safe, dont worry about it and enjoy your trip.

[gixxer]

like boner said m8, your cousin is full of shit
i feel safer wandering around the RLD half pissed and stoned than i do at home or any city in the uk
if a dealer trys to sell you something just tell them to fuck off or ignore them
enjoy your trip and dont be too paranoid

[weedhog]

You just know the OP is gonna get really stoned and paranoid at some point in his/her trip....just running around the centrum freaking out thinking someone is following them...lol

[minus orange]

How old are you OP? You don't want to be going back to your room that early.
I've always felt safe in Amsterdam. Just ignore the dealers and they'll walk on to the next person.
You need to act confident in yourself though. If you walk around looking like a paranoid wreck and staring at everyone, thats when you're most likely to attract attention. Even then I doubt it'll be to mug you.
I feel 100 times safer in the Dam than in your average UK city on a Fri or Sat night, you really don't need to worry too much. Just a bit of common sense and you'll be fine.

[spidergawd]

O'melancholic, I'm sure you will be fine, just take note of all the above; and read a few threads in "Travel Plans Before/After, you wont be able to wait to get there.
Get active on the ACD and you will make a few, perhaps more experienced contacts. Check "Who's in Town" when you go, there is always someone about particularly the Amsterdam Residents who will see you right.
I think the only time I got hassled in the 'Dam was in 1971, and I've been back many times since then. Have fun and pace yourself a bit. Dont buy a gram in 15 different coffeeshops and then realise you've only got like 12 hours to blast it. I've been there

[joeuk]

there was no dealers in the rld in december its been rate cleaned up go and av a good un mate and go where you want

[Cisco]

I have had no problems in Amsterdam some looks when there were loadsa us all hanging about drinking etc but i think thats normal with big groups of lads (prob in any City) ?

Had reservations about going solo but loved it and go solo alot now , i feel very safe in Dam prob safer than walking about my own area

You will be fine dude

[Colina]

Amsterdam is secure! If you're there you will notice some cams they are watshed by the police and criminals know that! There are 192 police-operated surveillance cameras in the city!

I never had any fear in amsterdam. London, Paris and Rome might have dangerous districts but def not Amsterdam. If you stay in the center, the north or the south you're safe. Some people say the Bijmeer area and the west are not that safe but I can't confirm.