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Threat assessment · Netherlands
Amsterdam
Our rating, plus the advisories, health notices, emergency numbers and crime data behind it, from official sources checked Oct 20, 2026.
Nepsis threat assessment
Amsterdam
Reviewed Oct 20, 2026. Scored with our published method; never below the State Department level.
Crime and scams sets the level.
Top actions
- Keep bags zipped and in front of you in central Amsterdam and around Amsterdam Central Station.
- Stay awake and keep luggage within reach on trains, where thieves often work in groups.
- Keep bags off chair backs in restaurants, and watch for strangers who walk in selling something.
Know before you go
Dial 112 in the Netherlands for ambulance, fire or police.
Official advisories
What governments say right now.
Checked Oct 20, 2026. We link every source so you can read it yourself.
| U.S. State Department | Level 2: Exercise increased caution (updated Aug 17, 2026) Read it → |
|---|---|
| UK Foreign Office (FCDO) | Last updated Aug 11, 2026. Latest change: Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page). Read it → |
| CDC health notices | No active CDC travel health notice for this country. CDC travel notices → |
| Emergency numbers | Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police) |
| Main airport | AMS |
Crime and scams
What the UK Foreign Office advises.
Excerpt from UK FCDO travel advice, lightly trimmed for travelers outside the UK. This advice covers all of Netherlands, not only Amsterdam. Full FCDO safety advice →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Protecting your belongings
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common, particularly in central Amsterdam and around Amsterdam Central Station. Thieves often operate in gangs on the trains and trams to and from Schiphol airport and Central Station. One thief distracts you while another steals your bag. Sleeping on trains can make you an easy target.
Thieves enter restaurants on the pretext of selling something or looking for someone. They steal bags while people are distracted.
You should
- keep sight of your luggage and belongings – especially when checking into hotels
- keep valuables securely on your person
- avoid hanging bags or jackets on the back of a chair in restaurants
- avoid falling asleep in public or on public transport
Fake police scams
Amsterdam police have warned of criminals using false police identities to trick tourists into handing over cash and credit cards. They will usually say that it is part of an investigation into counterfeit money or false credit cards. Be very cautious about any approaches.
Genuine plain-clothes police will rarely carry out this type of inspection. Dutch police do not have shiny badges, which the fake police sometimes present as ID.
Call 0900 8844 to contact the nearest police station if you are unsure whether a police person is genuine.
Drug sellers
Avoid confrontation with anyone offering you drugs. Stay away from quiet or dark alleys, particularly late at night.
Drink spiking
There is a risk of drink spiking, particularly for young women and solo travellers. Do not leave your drink unattended. If you are in a group, make sure you stay together.
If you think your drink has been spiked, seek immediate medical help and contact the police.
Organised crime
There are regular incidents of violent crime among organised crime gangs involved in drug trafficking, particularly in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and other large cities. Confrontations between rival gangs have led to violent incidents including shootings, stabbings, and use of homemade explosives.
The risk mostly affects those involved in drug crime, but there is always the risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Remain vi
What this page is
Built on official data.
Our rating above is built on the official government and police data on this page, checked Oct 20, 2026. It does not replace your government's advisory. Planning a trip here? A Nepsis kit turns it into an arrival plan you can carry. See the kits.