Amsterdam, glittering with canals, and famous for its Red Light District, boasts some of the finest museums in the Dutch Netherlands. The Dutch capital attracts crowds of tourists each year. While violent crime is rare, petty theft has risen over the past decade, making Amsterdam one of the top ten of worst cities for pickpockets. However, an alert mind and travel-savvy tips can free tourists to explore the Venice of the North in safety.
Preparation is the first deterrent. Review the travel safety checklist.
Travel Safety Checklist
- Before travel abroad, copy passports and important documents like insurance cards or rail passes. Keep the originals on hand at all times. Store the copies in a secure compartment of luggage.
- When planning each day’s excursions, prepare money and valuables in private. Count out sufficient spending money for one day. This cash should go into the inner pocket of a coat or secure front pocket. If storing the money in a wallet, choose a slim model that will fit inside a front pocket. Do not place wallets in a back pocket, shoulder bag, or backpack.
- Next, place passport, travel tickets, credit cards, all important documents, and extra cash, in a money belt. Money belts really are a tourist's best friend. Wear what Rick Steves calls "the portable safe" under clothing as designed and don't plan on removing it until the end of the day.
Pickpocket Haunts in Amsterdam
Pickpockets frequent the most crowded Amsterdam attractions. Some favorite destinations are the Red Light District, ATMs near Dam Square, and busy train and metro stations.
When visiting these hot spots, be aware of the surroundings. Prevent petty theft by following six simple guidelines.
- Beware of strangers who approach with questions or stand too close. Pickpockets often work in teams. The decoys try to draw attention while the partners sidle up, steal something, and disappear in the crowd. Stay alert while waiting in queues, for example at the Anne Frank museum.
- Move with purpose. Thieves are looking for distracted targets. Plan out routes ahead of time. If the need arises to check directions, step into a restaurant or back up to a wall before opening the map.
- Take shoulder bags or backpacks with a sturdy strap. Here is an important tip: wear bags across the chest and in the front to prevent nimble thieves from slipping it off the shoulder in a jostling crowd. If the bag closes with a flap, keep that side turned towards the body. Consider investing in small zipper locks with a key.
- Choose ATMs carefully. Select a location that is well lit and clean. Scan the area for lingerers. Make sure no one stands close enough to snoop and cover the key pad when entering pin numbers. Avoid withdrawing large sums at one time. Quickly and quietly count money received, then return cash and cards immediately into the secure front pocket or neck wallet. Never put in a back pocket.
- Stay informed. A common street scam involves fake police. The thieves-in-Dutch-uniform stop tourists with requests to inspect belongings. Always ask police for ID before showing anything.
- When navigating public transportation, never leave belongings on the back of a seat or stashed under a chair. Rest an arm casually across the front pocket where the day’s cash is stored so no one can touch that pocket unnoticed.
Keep vigilant and pickpockets will choose an easier target!
Last Safety Tips for Travel Abroad in Amsterdam
Keep expensive electronics and cameras stowed in a plain bag when not using them. Stay off the bike paths in Amsterdam. Bikes don’t stop for pedestrians. On the other hand, renting a bike may be one of the best ways to enjoy the canals that inspired Rembrant and Van Gogh. Consider pedaling across the many bridges that connect the city in fine weather. By storing a limited amount of cash in a secure pocket, moving with purpose, and keeping alert in hot spots, tourists can revel in Amsterdam attractions at every season of the year.
Headed to other European destinations? Scan travel safety tips for Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Florence, or Prague.
Josanna Simpson - Josanna Simpson, who holds a BA in Literature, is an aspiring novelist in her late twenties with a passion for British literature and the ...
