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Is Amsterdam a safe city?

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a city with a pleasant atmosphere that will make you soon feel at home. Recently, it was ranked as one of the safest cities worldwide and the second safest city in Europe. However, incidents do occur so it is recommended to take normal safety precautions.

Amsterdam was listed as one of the top six safest cities worldwide in the Safe cities list of The Economist. In this index, Amsterdam scored highly for both infrastructure and personal safety. Students also indicate that they view Amsterdam as a safe place to live. In the pan-European 'International Student Barometer 2018', 96% of students polled were satisfied with safety. 

Precautions

As with any city, it is always helpful to take precautions. ‘Petty crime’, theft – especially of bicycles – and pickpocketing does occur in Amsterdam, particularly in the city centre, on trains, trams and near the tourist sites. Pickpockets are known to target major events (especially during the summer season).

Here are a few precautions you should take when visiting a big city:

  • Make sure you always watch your belongings, especially in crowded places, when waiting at a bus stop, travelling by public transport, shopping and so on. 
  • It is recommended to avoid walking alone in poorly lit and unpopulated areas after dark.
  • Do not use ATM’s at night in quiet areas.
  • Bike theft is common in Amsterdam. If you have a bicycle, make sure to always lock both wheel and frame properly, preferably by locking it to a bicycle rack.