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Netherlands
25 scams
The Netherlands boasts a wealth of cultural heritage and you can also find picturesque windmills, colourful tulips, famous painters, canals and more!
Although the country is generally safe, there are some unsavoury characters like junkies, petty crime as well as tourist targeted scams to watch out for.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency numbers
- Police, ambulance, fire: 112
- Police (non-emergency): 0900 8844
- Tourist Medical Service (ATAS): 020 592 3355
Travel resources
Taxi scams in Netherlands
6 0How it works: Version 1: “forgetting” to turn on the meter then charging an inflated fare at the end. A tourist was charged EUR 980 for a trip from Schiphol…
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Junkies in Netherlands
6 0How it works: Junkies: touts who hang around red light districts selling drugs and stolen items (e.g. bikes). Legal problem: you can get caught in the fake police scam or…
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Street pickpockets in Netherlands
6 1How it works: Version 1: they work in a gang – one onlooker, one blocks, pushes, distracts, or engages you, one grabs and the final hides the loot under a…
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Public transport pickpockets in Netherlands
6 0How it works: Version 1: one blocks you at the door (ties shoelaces/drops something), another steals from behind and slips to a third who escapes, and one blocks others from…
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“Museum” marketing trick in Netherlands
5 0How it works: Situation: not technically a scam, but a borderline one due to the intention to mislead. Opening: you may encounter small shops with the word “museum” in their…
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Tulip stands false claims in Netherlands
4 0How it works: Version 1: tulip bulbs can only be grown in the Autumn, but some vendors falsely claim that these can grow anytime of the year. Version 2: mislabeling…
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Unlicensed taxis in Netherlands
4 0How it works: Situation: In 2018, the Human Environment and Transport inspectorate estimated that in Amsterdam alone, there were over 20 illegal taxi companies with each having 20-100 taxis. Version…
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Fake apartment listings in Netherlands
2 0How it works: Situation: there are both fake listings on legitimate sites as well as fake sites. Note that listings on Craigslist, Marktplaats and FaceBook ads are not the most…
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Fake police in Netherlands
2 0How it works: Scammers posing as fake cops accuse you of possessing drugs or counterfeit currency. You are then asked to pay a fine on the spot with no receipt….
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Product swap shopping scam in Netherlands
2 0How it works: After you pay for an item, it is brought out of sight under the guise of wrapping it up. What really happens is that it may be…
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Street money changer scams in Netherlands
2 0How it works: Version 1: street touts offer you a very attractive exchange rate. Should you hand money over, they will simply run away with it. Version 2: a scammer…
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Prostitute scam in Netherlands
1 0How it works: Version 1: victims generally fall for the many hidden charges that are thrown in to inflate the fare from 50 to 200 Euros for instance. Version 2:…
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Unofficial luggage porters in Netherlands
2 0How it works: A stranger grabs your luggage, carries it over a short distance and then asks for a fee. Places to beware: Amsterdam: Centraal station What to do: Decline…
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Bird poo scam in Netherlands
2 0How it works: Opening: a scammer spills liquid that look like puke/mustard/bird poo on you without you realizing. Set-up: next, strangers spring into action to notify you and help you…
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Used transport tickets in Netherlands
1 0How it works: There are scammers who pick up thrown used tickets (tram/bus/train) or simply ask commuters for them. They then try to sell these off to tourists at a…
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