What should I avoid in the Netherlands?

What Not to Do in Amsterdam on Your 1st Visit
  • Walking along the fietspaden (bike paths)
  • Thinking a coffeeshop is a café
  • Drinking alcohol and smoking in public.
  • Buying and eating any space cake or waffle.
  • Renting a bike but not knowing the local rules.
  • Thinking Amsterdam is just Damrak and De Wallen.
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What you should not do in the Netherlands?

Things Tourists Should Never Do in Amsterdam
  • Don't expect wild parties during weekdays.
  • Don't get on public transport without an OV-Chip card.
  • Don't take cash or credit cards for granted.
  • Don't hire a bike if you can't ride one.
  • Don't walk in cycle paths.
  • Don't buy a bike from an unofficial source.
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Do and don'ts of the Netherlands?

DO wear casual clothing for a day of sightseeing, as long as it is not business-related. Shorts are also fine for casual occasions when the weather is warm. DON'T wear sneakers, unless you are partaking in sports. Sneakers will make you look like a tourist, and tend to be a giveaway for pickpockets.
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What should I know before going to Netherlands?

12 Essential Netherlands Travel Tips
  • Carry Cash. Image Source. ...
  • Be An Expert In Time Management. Image Source. ...
  • Be Specific While asking For Water. ...
  • Public Urinals are free for man only. ...
  • Tipping Is Nice But Not Mandatory. ...
  • Try to Get the Museum Card. ...
  • Keep Yourself Ready with a Raincoat. ...
  • The Netherlands have a Short Tulip Season.
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What should I be careful of in Amsterdam?

Things to avoid in Amsterdam
  • Accommodation booking scams. ...
  • Taking a car into the center of Amsterdam. ...
  • Tram, bus or train riding without a valid ticket. ...
  • Avoid walking along the bicycle lanes. ...
  • Do not smoke in trains and train stations. ...
  • Avoid using cannabis in public. ...
  • No pictures of the Red Light District's windows.
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10 Things Not to Do in Netherlands



What is considered rude in the Netherlands?

It is rude to speak whilst chewing gum. Knock before entering a room if the door is shut. Standing with your hands in your pockets can be considered impolite. Compliments are usually given in private directly to the person that deserves them.
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Is Amsterdam dirty?

Amsterdam isn't dirty or dangerous. One of the safest cities in the world. I see no huge numbers of refugees, Amsterdam is a multicultural city and is in the spirit of all visitors welcome. They are a modern western city with great municipal staff to deal with rubbish etc.
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What is Netherlands famous food?

Delicious & Famous Dutch Food
  • Haring 'Hollandse Nieuwe' Haring or 'Hollandse Nieuwe' (Dutch new herring) is probably the most famous Dutch food. ...
  • Stroopwafel. ...
  • Kroket. ...
  • Patat. ...
  • Bitterballen. ...
  • Kaas. ...
  • Oliebollen. ...
  • Erwtensoep / snert.
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How is life in Netherlands?

Life in the Netherlands isn't exactly cheap, but it's possible to live here without breaking the bank. While the cost of living is about 6% higher than in the US, rents are 15% lower. The average net-adjusted disposable income per capital lies at €25,956, lower than the OECD average of €29,735.
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How safe is Netherlands?

The Netherlands is a very safe country

Crimes rates are very low compared to southern European countries, and the law is strictly enforced. It is ranked 16th of the world's safest countries. Pickpockets may sometimes be an issue in urban areas of cities or at crowded events.
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What does the 3 X's mean in Amsterdam?

The three crosses on Amsterdam's coats of arms are St. Andrew's crosses (or saltires). They appear horizontally on the flag, but they also appear vertically on seals and walls. St. Andrew was a fisherman and an apostle, who is said to have been martyred on a cross called a crux decussata (X-shaped cross).
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What is Dutch mentality?

The Dutch are known to be very direct and opinionated, generally happy, realistic, punctual, and greedy. Besides, the Dutch really like to split bills, have an early dinner, and they love to complain. Even though every person is unique, Dutch people seem to have common behavioral patterns that stand out.
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What is the purple light district?

Purple lights in the Red Light District.

For those that plan on visiting the Red Light District, it's important to know that purple lights in the window signifies that the lady is a transvestite!
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Why is it called double dutch?

The Dutch settlers brought the game to the Hudson River trading town of New Amsterdam (now New York City). When the English arrived and saw the children playing their game, they called it Double Dutch. The game has since grown over the years, particularly in urban areas.
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Is everyone in the Netherlands nice?

While there may at times be some amount of antipathy towards outsiders, most Dutch people are actually extremely humble, welcoming, and friendly towards outsiders. It's just that their way of being friendly is a little different from what most people are used to.
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Is it safe to walk in Amsterdam?

Most Amsterdam neighborhoods are safe for walking—even alone—with a few exceptions. One place to avoid come nightfall is the Red Light District. While it's filled with all types of people during the day, the area attracts seedier visitors and vagrants at night.
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Are Dutch people friendly?

The Dutch people are friendly

One of the best things to experience when you're in an unfamiliar environment is friendly people. Fortunately, the Dutch people are open, welcoming and don't hesitate to engage when they pass you on the street.
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Why you shouldn't move to the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is known for its notoriously high tax rates on basically everything. Income tax is especially high in comparison to other places in Europe, and it's also expensive to own a car.
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Is Netherlands better than USA?

Health systems differ, but results are more similar. The Netherlands has a life expectancy of about 81.6 years compared to the USA (ranked 27th) at 79.8 years. Self-reported health surveys however report in at 76.2 % as good or very good in the Netherlands. The USA contrasts at 88.1%, ranking #1.
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What is a typical Dutch dinner?

Dutch dinner

The Dutch eat relatively early starting from 5 to 7 p.m., families mostly eat together around the dinner table. A typical Dutch dinner meal consists of potatoes, meat and vegetables, served with gravy. Dinner is often followed by a dessert in the form of yogurt or coffee.
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What do they eat for breakfast in the Netherlands?

Breakfast usually consists of sliced bread with any of the following toppings: appelstroop, cheese, cold meats, jam, honey, hazelnut-chocolate spread or sweet sprinkles, known as hagelslag (the type you would normally put on your cake: in chocolate, aniseed or fruit flavors).
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Why are the Dutch so tall?

The Netherlands is officially the tallest country on planet Earth. For the most part, scientists believed this was due to wealth, a rich diet and quality health care. But a new study suggests that the overall height of Dutch people may actually be human evolution in action.
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Why Netherlands is so clean?

Initially the migration of entire peasant families to towns, the hiring of farmers' daughters as housemaids, and the exceptionally high consumption of dairy products continued to encourage the habit of regular cleaning in urban households.
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Is Amsterdam overrated?

But as much as tourists love to travel to Amsterdam, having explored much of the country myself, I can safely say Amsterdam is overrated compared to other places in the Netherlands. The historic streets and canals forming the crescent around the central station of Amsterdam are always packed with tourists.
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