Travel tips · Amsterdam · Netherlands
Amsterdam travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Amsterdammers are famously direct, informal and practical. People speak their minds, English is spoken almost universally, and cycling sets the rhythm of the streets. The city is tolerant, but residents increasingly push back against nuisance tourism, and rules on alcohol, cannabis and behaviour in the Red Light District are enforced.
Key facts
- Language
- Dutch
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is excellent and safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Never walk in the red-paved bike lanes; cyclists have priority and will not stop.
- Do not photograph sex workers in the Red Light District windows; it is forbidden and strongly resented.
- Smoking cannabis on the street in the Red Light District has been banned since 2023; licensed coffeeshops are where it is sold.
- Keep noise down on canal streets at night, where residents live above the water.
- Directness is normal; a clear question or request is not considered rude.
- Book Rijksmuseum ahead: Timed tickets are sold online; book a day or more ahead in high season.
- Book Van Gogh Museum ahead: Tickets are sold online for timed slots and sell out in high season.
- Book Anne Frank House ahead: Entry is only by online ticket for a set time slot, and tickets sell out quickly.
- Amsterdam's tourist tax is charged as a percentage of the room rate and is among the highest in Europe; check that quoted prices include it.
Tipping
Service is included in prices. Rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good table service is appreciated but not expected, and nobody tips for drinks at the bar.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Goedemorgen | Good morning |
| Dank je wel | Thank you |
| Alsjeblieft | Please / here you are |
| Proost | Cheers |
| Lekker | Tasty / nice |
| Pardon | Excuse me |
What to wear
Practical and casual: a waterproof jacket, layers and flat shoes for cobbles and cycling suit every season.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is excellent and safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- EU roaming applies to European SIMs; free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, and eSIMs work well for other visitors.
- Time zone
- Europe/Amsterdam
Amsterdam is generally safe, but pickpockets work around Centraal Station, on trams and in the Red Light District, and bike theft is common. Street dealers sell fake drugs, and most canal edges have no railings, so take care walking home at night.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Netherlands's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Amsterdam?
Service is included in prices. Rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good table service is appreciated but not expected, and nobody tips for drinks at the bar.
+Can you drink the tap water in Amsterdam?
Tap water is excellent and safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Amsterdam?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Amsterdam?
Dutch.