Useful Tips for Visiting Amsterdam to Avoid a Disaster

Last Updated on Nov 19, 2024

Visiting Amsterdam is on many people’s bucket lists. While Amsterdam is a wonderful city, there are some rules that tourists need to follow. Knowing certain Amsterdam travel tips would also make your trip nicer, possibly cheaper and easier.

Living in Amsterdam and Leiden (another Dutch city) gave me a perspective on what is unique about the Netherlands. Here are my best tips for visiting Amsterdam.

1. Get Yourself an iAmsterdam Card

While you can buy a train ticket at the station, you cannot pay for the bus or train with cash anymore. If you’re planning on visiting many museums, consider getting an iAmsterdam Card. It gives you access to many museums for free and a ticket for transportation.

Alternatively, if you’re not the biggest museum fan, you could just get a public transportation card. 24-hour pass costs €7.50 and you can purchase it online, or at the counter at selected stations upon arrival.

There’s also Amsterdam Holland Pass that includes free public transportation within Amsterdam, access to top attractions in Amsterdam and other major cities.

2. Don’t Forget to Check Out When Getting Off the Train or Tram

IMPORTANT: Whether you’re using IAmsterdam Card, public transportation pass, or OV-Chipkaart, you’ll need to touch a reader once you get on the tram and do it again before getting off.

If you don’t do it, it will invalidate your card or charge you 20 Euros. 

And speaking of trains… if you sit in the quiet compartment you will be reprimanded even if you make a tiny noise. The Netherlands has rules for everything and rules apply to everyone with no exceptions.

3. When Crossing the Street Look in All Directions

Before crossing the road, triple-check all directions as people in Amsterdam pedal through the city at great speed. Never stand in the middle of a bike path, or you’ll be yelled at. 

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4. Follow The Rules When Riding A Bike

Should You Rent a Bike in Amsterdam is the most common question. Here are a few Amsterdam travel tips when it comes to biking:

• Avoid walking in the cycle lanes under any circumstances. You’ll be yelled at immediately and someone will drive into you – and it will be your fault.
• Never drive on the road. Bike paths are the only place to ride your bike in Amsterdam.
• Always signal with your arm which way you’re going to turn.
• You can’t take your bike on a tram or bus unless it’s foldable. If you’re planning on taking your bike on a train, unless it’s foldable, you need to purchase a separate bike ticket for it. You’ll be fined if you don’t.

You can’t park anywhere outside of designated spots, if you park in the wrong place the police will take your bike and you’ll have to buy it back for them for 30 Euros.

The Netherlands has VERY low crime, apart from bike thieves. Bikes getting stolen happen over here to everyone, so get a bad-looking bike. I had 5 bikes in 2 years. A common thing is to get a front wheel stolen (so always lock a front wheel), or a seat (you’ll notice some people bringing their bike seats into the office).

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5. Bring Cash, Your US Credit Cards Might Be Useless

As much as Americans like to pay for everything with a credit card, it doesn’t always work that way in Europe, Amsterdam included. Most machines will only take chip cards (so no AmEx) and many will only accept Dutch cards.

In grocery stores like Albert Heijn if you see PIN graag, it usually means that they may only accept cash or a Dutch debit card.

6. Book Your Accommodation in Advance

As Amsterdam isn’t as big as other European capitals, many hotels tend to fill up quite quickly. Remember to book your accommodation in advance, especially during major events like King’s Day.

Best Luxury Hotels in Amsterdam
Hotel De L’Europe • Okura Hotel

Best Boutique Hotels in Amsterdam
Hotel TwentySeven • Canal House

Best Cheap Accommodation in Amsterdam
Stay Okay Vondelpark  • The Flying Pig Hostel

8. Tipping Isn’t Expected At Restaurants

Dutch people don’t ever tip at restaurants or cafes. At nicer restaurants, you can tip 5-10% if the service is really good, but you’re not expected to do so.

Here are a few of my favorite restaurants in Amsterdam:

• Bijbels Museum Cafe (Spui) – Lunch spot.
• Greenwoods (Canalbelt) – Best eggs benedict.
• Café-Restaurant de Plantage (Plantage)
• De Pizzabakkers (West) – Great pizza.
• Bazar (De Pijp) – Arabic restaurant is housed inside of an enormous renovated church.

9. Don’t Expect Michelin Star Dining

Dutch food isn’t the best food in the world. Expect a lot of fried and mushed things. A very Dutch experience would be going for some kibbeling from a street stall or fresh and warm stroopwafels. 

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10. Don’t Take Photos in a Red Light District

It is illegal and disrespectful to photograph those working in the Red Light District. Plus, there are plenty of security guards around who might knock your camera down for breaking those rules.

If you’re curious about the Red Light District, but feel intimidated going alone, book a walking tour. Note that free tours are currently banned in this area and licensed guides can only take you there before 7 pm.

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11. If You Want to Smoke Weed, Be Discreet

Cannabis isn’t legal in the Netherlands, but it’s decriminalized for personal use so not surprisingly many tourists come to Holland to smoke. Don’t be obnoxious when smoking weed, especially for the first time. Many Dutch people will get angry at you if you ask about weed and ask that it’s just for tourists. I only had a few local Dutch friends who smoked, most did not.

That said, don’t go to Bulldog (Amsterdam’s most famous coffeeshop). For a gram of weed, you’ll pay about 15 euros there and the quality is questionable since it’s catered towards tourists. 

There are some better local coffee shops like Katsu in De Pijp or Green House near Central Station. Again, if you feel intimidated and want some directions you can always book a tour.

IMPORTANT: Never buy any drugs or weed on the street. Not only the cops are everywhere, but there were many incidents with faulty drugs being sold around the city. 

12. Prepare to Schedule Appointments With Your Local Friends

Be ready to make appointments for everything (this includes with your friends) and keep an agenda. People expect you to be exactly on time. If you say 9:30, it’s not 9:32.

It’s not normal to just call someone and say ‘hey, what are you doing today?’. Let alone show up uninvited.

13. People Dress Casually.

When Dutch people say ‘dress up for this event’, it might mean put on some jeans and a clean shirt. Going Dutch is also true. It’s normal to split the cost of a first date (down to the last cent’s worth of what you ate and drank), or for the host to collect money for dinner and drinks at the house party.

Dutchmen, in general, however hot, they’re not renowned for opening doors for Dutch women or taking their heavy bags. No one expects it.

Speaking of casual things, service in restaurants is often terrible with waiters not really caring for you. At least you don’t have to answer the question ‘How’s your food?’ with an awkward nod as soon as you stuff your mouth.

14. Prepare to Eat Bread For Lunch

Dutch lunch will lead many to disappointments. It’s always bread with cheese, bread with hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles), or some suspicious spread referred to as ‘salad’ and ‘fillet’. Dutch people love their bread spreads with plenty of mayo.

The most popular would be kipsalade (basically chicken with peanut sauce) or Filet Americain which is probably the worst thing I ever smelled (never dared to try actually) made of raw ground meat.

15. Don’t Expect to Shop Late

You’ll need to do many of your errands between 9-5 on weekdays and usually 11/12-3pm on Saturdays, with no exceptions even if you have a 9-5 job.

Regular shops close at 5 pm and if you need to go to the ban or any governmental institution, view an apartment, or anything, you’ll need to plan to go during the workday. Supermarkets are open until 9 pm, with an exception of Sundays.

Each city has a designated day of the week called koopavond (in Amsterdam it’s on Thursday) where all the shops are open until 9 pm.

16. Tulips only bloom for a short time

Did you know that tulips aren’t native to the country? They were imported from Turkey back in the 16th century. Tulips fields are a popular attraction, but you can only see them for a few weeks in April.

Remember that tulips aren’t actually in Amsterdam, it’s about 50 minutes away by train and bus (or bike)! That said, neither is Madurodam, so if you want to see those places save at least half a day for each attraction.

17. See More of the Country!

Don’t be that tourist who stays just visits Amsterdam. Many tourists just get stuck in the center and miss the surrounding neighborhoods and the country itself.

There are many spots that you can see on a day trip, or if you want to experience a more authentic spot than touristy Amsterdam and see how locals live you might want to spend a night in smaller towns like Haarlem, Leiden, Delft or Utrecht.