10 MISTAKES Tourists Make in Amsterdam

Have you made this same mistakes that tourists make in Amsterdam? Don't worry, I've live here for almost 7 years and I'm here to help!
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💬 We're Sean and Jessica from the USA and are now expats living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 2014. We travel all around Europe to discover new places, good food, and memorable experiences. You'll also find a bunch of Amsterdam content because we love our new home city! Follow our European travel adventures for food and fun 😄
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[@abrahamcusters2987]

London is not the UK, New York is not the USA, Paris is not France.

[@Be-Es---___]

We start counting floors on zero. We call zero 'ground floor' or 'begane grond' .

[@marcduhamel-guitar1985]

Many quiet spots. Loved walking along the Amstel.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

That's a great idea!

[@lucasrem]

w try to live here, at the Amstel, too many tourists! local people, shops are all gone..... Try to find a shop for the locals in Amsterdam!

[@bornwithoutprivilege2050]

Amsterdam was always different from other Dutch cities. Being the center of commerce, many international visitors and business people have come here for centuries. You cannot be a rich and business city and also be a quiet quaint town as well. I’ve always thought of Amsterdam as an independent island and once you leave this island you are back in Europe. I guess Berlin and London might share some things with us. Their countries too are filled with smaller quieter towns and smaller cities. Amsterdam was never a quaint little town, well maybe back in the late Middle Ages. I like my city. If you don’t like crowds, just stay out of the center. I live in the Jordaan, within sight of the Prinsengracht and my street is quiet and free of tourists. I think it’s kind of a thing to complain about Amsterdam and the crowds but that’s only in the center. And it’s 2022, not the 1950s.

[@wisecat.]

I'm Dutch and I live in Utrecht. Fourth largest city of the Netherlands. I really don't like Amsterdam because it's way to crowded for me, the ambiance...it's just not for me. Now I live in the historic citycentre of Utrecht. The ambiance is fantastic, real easy way of life. The citycentre is like a little village within a city. Utrecht, absolutely spot on for me.

[@richardtalbot8769]

i holiday in Utrecht as it so much nicer than Amsterdam or The Hague, a quirky teapot and flying saucer, and i get to try my dutch out - ik spreek een beetje nederlands. :)

[@MSportsEngineering]

Thanks! Your NSDM video was great too. It made my visit there nice.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I'm so glad! Thank you for letting me know I really appreciate it 😊

[@johngilliam6323]

You're the best blogger ever 👍

[@aWanderlustForLife]

That's very kind, thank you!

[@johngilliam6323]

@@aWanderlustForLife ur welcome 👍

[@cvb6089]

🤔 Goed bezig! 👍

[@regritchin9888]

Thankyou for the wonderful insight. I to haven't smoked any stuff. Stay safe the two of you : )

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thanks so much, Reg!

[@richardtalbot8769]

i am English but speak Dutch - in Amsterdam and Den Haag the shops and restaurants automatically speak to everyone in English. its quieter around Concertgebouw or near pc hooftstraat, also under museumplien is an AH handy for sandwiches and juice but remember to pay by debit card or cash.

[@andidevrede822]

Yeah I enjoyed it but the list was a little tame. I would like to hear the full extent of mistakes tourists make. I do agree with your list.

[@scottman895]

I only had 24 hours to see Amsterdam when I had a long layover from Detroit to Vienna, so I only had time to visit the main part of the city. Fortunately I didn't feel it was that crowded (it was late September 2018 when I went). I'm glad I saw the warning about booking tickets ahead for the Anne Frank house because I think they weren't selling any at the door when I went. On a future trip to the Netherlands where I can spend at least a few days, I feel that I can have more time to not only explore the non-touristy parts of Amsterdam but also other areas in the Netherlands such as Haarlem or Rotterdam. I hope people watch this video before they visit Amsterdam whether for a first time or even for another visit as this is very helpful!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful! I completely understand when your time here is so short. I have high hopes for your next trip 😊

[@kirdot2011]

Im gonna have 1 day there as well!

[@seaofseeof]

Amsterdam is closer to Antwerp or Brussels than the Netherlands as a whole in terms of what it's like to be there. And similarly, those cities are more like Amsterdam than the rest of Belgium. They're in their own bubble that is semi-connected to the countries around them and that's part of what makes them so fun.

[@moretoknowshow1887]

Amsterdam is just a cool city that I want to visit and maybe live in, thank you for the tips ;)

[@aWanderlustForLife]

You're welcome and I hope you get here one day :)

[@yanseevlogs]

Hi! I have a 7-hour layover at Schiphol airport. Any tips what to visit at Amsterdam Centraal for about 2-3hours? Thank you so much!! 😊

[@aWanderlustForLife]

For that amount of time, I suggest just walking. From Centraal, walk Haarlemmerstraat, down Brouwersgracht a bit then walk Keizersgracht a bit. Get fries at Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx , and walk through de Wallen if you have time to get back to Central Station. Basically, it's a loop. Enjoy!

[@yanseevlogs]

@@aWanderlustForLife Great! Thank you so much!! 😊😊

[@elloimnotunderwater7813]

@@aWanderlustForLife yes thanks for Vleminckx not mannekens pis those are Belgium and a tourist trap

[@elloimnotunderwater7813]

It’s fun in the winter 1 not tooooooooo much tourists 2 just not too busy 3 the only problem is cold weather

[@Adam_Gray]

The last time I was in Amsterdam was back in 2019...and only got to see Amsterdam and The Hague. I will be back in Amsterdam at end of this mouth for 8 days this time and would love to see more of the "real" Amsterdam/Netherlands. I'm viewing your videos, plus blog in hopes to learn as much as I can, especially the areas off "the beaten path" not so touristy areas. Thanks for posting/making the videos and all the input/knowledge. If you have any added advise, please let me know! And again, thank you for your time. -Adam

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I'm glad you find them helpful! I think between the videos and blogs, you'll find the best tips 😊 Have a great trip!

[@Adam_Gray]

@@aWanderlustForLife Thank you!

[@EmperorStorky]

The absolute number 1 mistake is to even think about visiting 020. But when you are in 020 the best thing todo is getting to Centraal Station and take any train from there to leave the city.

[@jwenting]

yup. Did that every day for years when working in the city :)

[@nicolebrittain2677]

How busy are the museums in early March? Like the first two weeks of March.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I'm not sure exactly but it's low season so probably not too busy!

[@markz3708]

@@aWanderlustForLife Early march isn't low season anymore its easter so also another high season. just like christmas spring and more like this. There are almost no low seasons left.

[@Vince1648]

I feel like an alien/tourist when visiting Amsterdam, and I am Dutch! Always glad when back home in my own village nearby Nijmegen.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Nijmegen is so nice 😊 We didn't make a video there. Do you think we should?

[@Vince1648]

@@aWanderlustForLife Definitely! Try during the vierdaagse feesten!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Looking it up, now! Dank je wel!

[@mariadebake5483]

I feel the same. Amsterdam isn't dutch anymore. I hardly ever go there now and only if I have to. And I am always very happy to be back in Tilburg

[@Man-in-the-green]

@@mariadebake5483 Beloof ons dat je daar blijft Maria; het is tenslotte al druk genoeg met al die provincialen.

[@spawn666reaper]

Isn’t good hallen in west? Or is there another one somewhere?

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Hi Vincent! I'm not sure what I said in the video 😂, but De Hallen/Foodhallen is in the west, World of Food in Zuid-Oost, and Market 33 in Zuid.

[@chrislaarman7532]

1) Well, Amsterdam does incorporate influences from all over the Netherlands (and quite a bit of the rest of the world), but you won't recognize them before you are familiar with these other regions. (Just one example: some of the more impressive buildings in Amsterdam, like the Rijksmuseum and the Centraal Station, were built by the architect Pierre Cuypers from Roermond.) Likewise, Amsterdam-Noord may resemble some mix from other parts of Amsterdam, but you won't recognize them before you... (Sidebar: at least until like 1990, people from other parts would not want to live in "nothing to do" Noord or, likely still, in "dangerous" Zuidoost.) 2) Note to people coming from or going to Germany: here, bicycles are considered slow traffic, there, they are considered fast pedestrians. So, while Dutch people get irritated by cycling on the sidewalks (like they might do themselves...), it's often the correct behavior in Germany. 3) Don't forget to use Google Maps for directions (including bicycles and public transport) and for finding "anything public" (I mean: not the keys you just lost) with opening hours and associated website. I assume this includes food by region. I'd expect kosher food in the South of Amsterdam, say, in a circle around RAI railway station.

[@Dutchbelg3]

I was born in Amsterdam and I never did any drugs (I make up on alcohol and sex... oops I am not supposed to say this when Americans are around :-( ) Thinking people living in Amsterdam are pot-heads is like thinking all women are for sales. So no.. just no! And no don't walk in the bikelanes as you might not realize but bikes are for many Dutchies a way of getting from A to B and some go over 25 mph. And American health insurance will not cover :-p I hear you on touristy restaurants! There was for over 30 years a beautiful authentic Spanish restaurant Centra on the Lange Niezel dead in the heart of the Red Light District but now they are gone :-( The last time I checked there was a Spanish restaurant but it is touristy and very expensive.

[@lucasrem]

Hans Vuijst You have only 2 types of people in Amsterdam. Locals that are born here, and refugees. If your born here, you need to buy a house, or be ready to be transported to the Westbanks!

[@zzzowie]

One mistake is not respecting quarantine rules. Visitors from most countries have to stay in 10 day quarantine first after arriving in the Netherlands! The only exceptions at the moment are Ireland, Portugal and Finland. So if you are from another country, the first 10 days you have stay inside a place/room and have food delivered to you.

[@shrike6259]

Really ? thats such bs.

[@mdsign001]

@@shrike6259 you've heard about the GLOBAL PANDEMIC ... right?!

[@shrike6259]

@@mdsign001 Read the WHO website!

[@dartello]

I also think you should make a series of Dutch cities and the country side. So Americans will get a clearer picture of the Netherlands. If you don't know where to start, you can start with the cities you mentioned including Utrecht. Or you can make a special blog or vlog series of all the 12 provincial capitals with a small tour.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

We've done some travel around the Netherlands abd we definitely plan to do more! Here's our NL playlist (that isn't all about Amsterdam): kzbin.info/aero/PLrNbogOIGSGiBskb9Ty3jKObuMcGGtcN_

[@dartello]

@@aWanderlustForLife that’s great! You surely need to show more about the Netherlands than those in the list. I do like the way you present the places. I live in 's-Hertogenbosch a mysterious capital town well suited to visit from Indian summer till Halloween. I like to guide people around town and tell them how it is to live here. Here is an old video about my town that gives a good picture and is a good introduction when you plan to visit the place: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnmYoX6AnZZlo80, there are many other introduction movies of this town and many other towns. Look in to them and learn about there recommendations to visit (like shops, restaurants, museums, etc.) and events.

[@blindbrick]

I remember when the Phillips headquarters went from Eindhoven to Amsterdam. The staff did no like Amsterdam at all and would not stop complaining about it. Management solved the problem by giving the staf a gag order.

[@mariadebake5483]

You're really becoming a dutchie.... tulips in the vase!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Hehe! I love springtime!

[@nitinkimmatkar6807]

Can u tell us six day iteanrry for Netherlands

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Here's one for you! www.visitingthenetherlands.com/blog/the-perfect-one-week-netherlands-itinerary

[@jodiipodiigames]

Oh please walk on the bike paths all you want!! They'll learn their lesson when they get run over 😅 We never managed to visit ANY of the museums in Amsterdam so we definitely need to visit again. Hopefully soon 🤞

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I think the problem is they don't realize that a bike lane is essentially a road and that it would keep happening 🤣 And we haven't been to many museums either despite having the museum card for 2 years. Granted much of 1 of those years were in the pandemic.

[@jodiipodiigames]

@@aWanderlustForLife 🤣

[@fkaptijn7111]

We like more the smaller city's like Haarlem, Leiden Utrecht. But if you here fore the first time, you must go to Amsterdam.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Exactly! See Amsterdam and then expand the experience 😊

[@lucasrem]

F Kaptijn If you have projects here, jobs, it's okay. Don't go here if you don't have anything to do here!

[@Paul_C]

@@aWanderlustForLife Eh, my advise would be avoid Amsterdam at all costs. It is caricature of itself. Everything is rooted in a mystical past.

[@Man-in-the-green]

@@Paul_C Afgesproken! Wij zien je nooit meer in Amsterdam en je zeurt dan ook niet meer over Amsterdam. Zo wordt het leven een stuk prettiger. Zeurkousen genoeg.

[@jouetteapapa6668]

Like Atlanta is NOT a great representation of Georgia.

[@willemh3319]

say 1 hoog 2 hoog etc

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

Do NOT walk on the f..king bikelane ! lol.

[@vikingking.]

🤩

[@lucasrem]

Time to go BACK!

[@willemh3319]

365 days A'dam ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏

[@sanderjansen5187]

Remember in Amsterdam, walking on Red is a certain Dead.

[@irishman6124]

Red District is still open.

[@marcusljung]

@@irishman6124 Walking on red traffic light = dead by a tram or bicycle. Not red light district 😂

[@irishman6124]

@@marcusljung what?

[@irishman6124]

What?

[@irishman6124]

@@marcusljung their is no tram on that street. You haven't a clue. Il give you advice in the future make your you what your talking about

[@charlesvanderhoog7056]

The thing that most irritated me, and which perhaps should have been added to your excellent list of mistakes, is that American tourists walk and talk think like they own the place and everybody that lives here must be a lesser being that knows nothing and exists just to serve the superior race of Americans. It may amuse you that I know of no native Dutch person who thinks Americans are smart or superior. I think videos like yours are tremendously important. (I think you once said that there were many languages in Amsterdam. Well, the number is 192. I know that from the international call-center for Holiday Inn (near Sloterdijk Station). )

[@willemh3319]

we have american restaurants,Burgerking macdonalds🤣

[@mdsign001]

How's your Dutch after 7 years?

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Waarom?

[@davidvilchez2209]

The hotel stairs are no joke, they are more like ladders lol. When looking on booking for a hotel, they will usually tell you if they have an elevator or not, but just assume most of the old buildings in the Centrum lack elevators. Ive been to The NL several times, not just Amsterdam. I've also been to Volendam, Zaandam, Zandvoort, Haarlem, Utrecht, and Delft. Still have lots of places on my list like Leiden, Eindhoven, Gouda, Muidesloot, among others. Use the trams. They are very efficient in getting around Amsterdam, but so is by bicycle. The NL is a small country and you can be in most other cities within an hour by train. Public transportation is very efficient, Also, don't take a taxi to Schipol, they will charge you almost 100 eu for a 20 min ride, when you can pay a few euros and take a train from centraal, or a bus from whatever area you're staying. Also, dont pull money from atms, lots of fees. Eating out is expensive, most meals will cost you 15-20 euros

[@aWanderlustForLife]

For the atms, use a Rabobank, ABN Amro, or ING since those are banks instead of travelex. This is all great advice, thanks for sharing!

[@davidvilchez2209]

@@aWanderlustForLife Thanks my last couple of trips I've just exchanged dollars to euros at my bank at home and brought cash with me. They offer a flight rate no fees to do so

[@zamzamkasule9890]

Goodmrng mamma

[@petefluffy7420]

Bad tourists, are they the ones who don't spend enough?

[@lindaraterink6451]

red means dead remember that tourist, :)

[@sharanlibra6167]

Get your facts right Amestardem is not the capital of Netherlands it's Den hague.

[@MrVictorBaarn]

Luister eerst naar Jules Deelder.

[@matthewburden9403]

You do not take photos in den Wallen so to protect the customers - not the prostitutes.