Safety and Secrets
Over the past couple weeks, I can’t seem to recall a single time where I really felt unsafe (except for biking on some roads with cars speeding past me). In general, the Netherlands is an extremely safe country with low crime rates and there’s not much to be expected in terms of a lack of safety. That being said, there have been a couple incidents that have either occurred or could have easily occurred. Most of these revolve around petty theft; pickpocketing, etc.
One of my friends dropped a Euro note on the ground, and somebody immediately picked it up and left. These crimes seem to be more common in the busier/more tourist-centric areas such as Amsterdam. They even have a sign at the IAmsterdam sign which warns people about the potential for pickpockets. I would never warn somebody against coming here for the sake of safety, though, as it is one of the most calm countries I’ve ever been in.
As for travel secrets, most small bits that I’ve picked up have been from talking to locals. What type of beer is especially good at which breweries, the best local places to eat, etc. Most of all, what I’ve learned is that you should always be willing to try new things, especially when you’re in a situation that you may never find yourself in again. If you get a chance to try a local fish that is served raw and is simply skinned and eaten, then give it a go (I may not have enjoyed the fish but that’s secondary to the experience). If you get a chance to go indoor snowboarding, then it may not be powder conditions but it is definitely a good place to go and have a couple laughs with friends. Even if it’s something as small as trying a new route to get from point A to point B, you may find yourself seeing a canal you’ve been looking at for weeks from a completely different point of view, and it can change the way you think about it. All I can recommend to anybody traveling, and even those who aren’t, is to try new things, open yourself up to them, and go into them with a willingness to change your point of view.
