Amsterdam information - What must I avoid in Amsterdam?
Taking your car into the city -centre
Parking is very difficult & expensive. Clamping is widespread and those
clampers are not only efficient but also enthusiastic about their work. If
clamped, you face a heavy fine or risk the danger of your car being towed
away, which is even more expensive.
Tram riding without a Strippenkaart (valid pass)
A strip of tickets for the trams is available from most newsagents and
is cheaper than getting a ticket from the conductor. Travelling without any
ticket at all will cost you a big fine if you get caught. Not to mention the
red face!
Beware the cyclists
Walking or standing on the bicycle lanes is a high risk activity.
In Amsterdam, the bike is king/queen and it drives the locals mad to
have pedestrians strolling onto the bike lanes. They travel fast and
furious, so when you hear the tring tring roing from a cyclist's bell, get
out of the way - quickly.
Avoid the following areas at night
Any area that are not well lit, or where you feel uncomfortable, is best
to be avoided. Trust your instincts, this way you cannot go wrong! On the
whole, however, Amsterdam is quite safe!
Discussion
Avoid getting into discussions with strangers who walk up to you with a
sob story, asking for a hand-out. Avoid political / religious discussions in
public areas, (actually, avoid both political & religious discussions at all
times!
Flashing
Yes! Flashing! Avoid waving large wads of money about in public. If you
do need to draw money out of a cash dispenser, do be aware of your
surroundings & place the money as quickly as possible in your wallet/purse.