Pickpockets, fake police, theft at the table, requests for fare money and currency conversion on the card: the 5 Amsterdam tourist traps and how to spot them.
Find 25+ warnings for Amsterdam in the app
The 5 most common Amsterdam scams
A distraction at the station
How it worksOne person stops you and the other takes the bag. It often happens on the trains and trams between Schiphol airport and Central Station. Falling asleep on the train makes you an easy target.
WhereIn central Amsterdam, around Central Station, and on the trains and trams to and from the airport.
How to protect yourself
- Keep the bag in front of you, not on your back, when it gets crowded.
- Do not sleep on the train or tram.
- Keep sight of your luggage, including while you check into your accommodation.
The inspection that is not one
How it worksSomeone claims to be plain clothes police, flashes a badge and asks to check your cash or your card. The story is often that counterfeit notes or fake cards are in circulation. Afterwards some of the money is gone. Real officers will show you their police ID if you ask.
WhereOn the street and at stations, when strangers approach you as police.
How to protect yourself
- Do not hand over your wallet or cards.
- A badge on its own is not a police ID. Take time to read the name, the photo and the service number.
- If you are unsure, call the police on 0900 8844.
Theft at the table
How it worksSomeone comes into the restaurant to sell something or claims to be looking for a person. While you look up, the bag is gone. That is theft with a pretext, not an accident.
WhereIn restaurants in the centre.
How to protect yourself
- Do not hang a jacket or bag on the back of the chair.
- Put the bag between your feet or keep it on your lap.
- If someone steps up to the table, look at the bag before you answer.
- If the bag is on the floor, put a foot in front of it.
The ticket you are asked to pay for someone else
How it worksGermany’s Foreign Office reports cases in which people in Amsterdam ask tourists for money for a ticket, claiming they have just been robbed.
WhereIn the city, when someone on the street asks you for cash for a ride.
How to protect yourself
- Do not pay a fare or hand cash to a stranger.
- If someone is really in trouble, call 112.
The handy conversion into your currency
How it worksThe terminal or the cash machine offers to charge the amount in a currency other than euros. It looks clearer, but a poor rate or extra fees are often built in. Consumer advice treats this instant conversion as a cost trap.
WhereAt the till and at cash machines, when your card is not in euros.
How to protect yourself
- Choose euros and decline conversion into your home currency.
- Check the amount and the currency before you enter your PIN.
- Carry only the cash you need for the day.
Travel Amsterdam with fewer surprises
Which traps matter to you depends on how you travel: solo, with family, on a budget, or in peak season. TravelCheck on iPhone builds your personalized scam report for Amsterdam, usable offline, with Dutch phrases you can play aloud.
FAQ
Is Amsterdam safe?
Pickpocketing is common in the centre and around Central Station. One person often stops you while another takes the bag, including on the trains and trams to Schiphol airport. Keep valuables on you and do not sleep on the train.
How do I recognise fake police?
Real officers will show you their police ID if you ask. A badge on its own is not a police ID. Take time to read the name, photo and service number. If you are unsure, call the police on 0900 8844. Do not hand over cash or cards to be checked.
What is the request for fare money?
Germany’s Foreign Office reports cases in which people in Amsterdam ask tourists for money for a ticket, claiming they have just been robbed. Do not pay. If someone is really in trouble, call 112.
How do I keep my bag in a restaurant?
Theft in a restaurant often starts with a pretext: someone wants to sell something or claims to be looking for a person. Put the bag between your feet or keep it on your lap. Do not hang it on the chair, and look at it before you answer.
What if the terminal offers another currency?
Choose euros. Consumer advice warns that converting straight into your home currency often hides a poor rate or extra fees. Check the amount and the currency before you enter your PIN.
Can I buy drugs on the street in Amsterdam?
Outside coffeeshops, buying is not tolerated. Germany’s Foreign Office says the tolerated amount inside coffeeshops is at most 5 grams of cannabis. Smoking in public is illegal. Do not deal with people who approach you, and do not carry anything for someone else.
What is the emergency number in Amsterdam?
Call 112 in an emergency. To check whether someone is really police, call 0900 8844. That is the general number of the Netherlands police.
