Why i'm watching this ? I live in the Netherlands 😁😂

As an amsterdamian i approve this vid. Except for the first shock. After 17 years living here i have never been chased by a beggar, but thats maybe because i look local and not like a tourist. I‘m big fan btw good vidz

I went to amsterdam and didn't see a single beggar, everyone was really chill.

the dutch get sarcasm and dry humour more than most Americans in fact and the humour is interesting itself

The biggest mistake you can ever do is buying weed from a dealer when you can get it legally in coffeeshops

I was in Amsterdam for 4 days in 2016 and had NO ONE , ask me for money . My wife and I walked everywhere around the city and had no one beg for cash . I definitely will go back , loved the city

A big shock in Amsterdam is trying to leave the Central Station on Queen's Day.

The central problem in Amsterdam is not just tourism, it's the kind of tourism: bottom-of-the-barrel, binge-drinking, weed-smoking Ozzie backpackers and English stag parties. The sort of people that pee against our churches after going on a beer bike ride. Our office is just a street away from the Red Light District and it can be sheer hell. What you end up is a vicious cycle in which the reputation for pot, hookers and cheap beer attracts people looking for just and only that, which reinforces an already dubious reputation, etc. The rest of the city is a lot more civilized even if Amsterdammers are very good at endlessly milking the same old stereotypes. So no, no one walks in wooden shoes anymore.

I visited Amsterdam a few years ago, I went on a trip through Europe with my brother. We were in a small hotel with really small rooms. We checked into the largest room available, which shockingly had 2 full beds and a bathroom in the room, it was expensive, but the tight quarters with my brother was a little uncomfortable. While we were there a group of American tourists came in looking accommodations. They were a group of high school graduates who were taking the school sponsored European tour before going off to college. The group consisted of about 3 teachers, a tour guide, 25 students and 10 or mothers. They were arguing with the hotel about everyone being on the same floor and some needing a personal bathroom. After listening to this for about 10 minutes, my brother and I offered to change rooms to end the conflict. We ended up in a tiny room (which was an additional flight of very steep stairs up) with a one bed and no bathroom for the remaining two nights. I was really frustrated because the group didn't even thank us. When we checked out the hotel owners (a young couple) informed us there would be no charge. I asked if they were sure, the wife told us that they charged the group so much, that it covered our stay. Just goes to show... being nice is usually the way to go.

Your second point, the english speaking.. i’m dutch and found out alot of people that work in stores don’t even speak dutch lol!

Awesome video. Great tips and insights as always. Hope you visit again some day.

Quality as always Mark, keep it coming! Always great to relive some of my traveling experiences and get excited for trips to come!

Aggressive beggars? Why u didn't make a video of them? I live in Amsterdam for more than 7 years and I never encounter them.

I took the family to Amsterdam last year and it was amazing. It's funny though, I never had problems with beggars. I didn't notice any. Brussels had far more beggars when I was there. You are right about the bikes (and mopeds). They are far more dangerous than cars or trams. We skipped the red light district and the pot cafes altogether, so I can't comment on those. I'm an innocent guy, so I don't even know what pot smells like. My wife was a high school teacher, so she knows exactly what it smells like. The Rijksmuseum had a great electronic children's tour that led them through some highlights and kept boredom away for the younger ones. There were many other great museums too, and the kids had a great time at Nemo - the science centre. EVERYONE should see the Anne Frank house. The line was long but it was completely worth it We did pretty well for accommodation and stayed at a hostel/hotel hybrid right next to the Sloterdijk train station. It was a quick tram or bus ride to the downtown. We had a huge room that slept six for a reasonable price. I expected it to be noisy but it was very quiet. Thanks for the great video.

2 places often overlooked in Amsterdam are the Vondelpark and Westerpark. Both amazing city parks, like NYC’s Central Park, but a bit smaller ofcourse

I am so grateful for your information!! We will be traveling there this Spring - thank you!!

Haarlem isnt just a small town next to Amsterdam, its a beautiful, culture-rich city with amazing architechture and history

"That smells like the medicine they gave me as a child" haha

love watching your helpful videos, we will be there in two weeks and can't wait to explore and eat! :)

Mark, thank you very much for another great video. Your videos are just amazing. Every time I watch one, it reminds me of my own travels and it makes me wanna travel again! It is just super exciting! It is really a privilege being able to have such high-quality info packed with so much excitement and joy! It is a pity I did not know of your channel back when you were in Brazil! Thanks again!

There is a very obvious reason for our amazing English: The Dutch don't overdub movie's and tv-shows.

Many years ago I was a tour director travelling all over Europe for English speaking tourists, mainly Australians and Americans. Our last destination was Amsterdam and after that to Calais for the end of the tour. The UK police would DISSECT our coach when they asked our final destination and that Amsterdam was the answer. I REALLY had to stress to my group, do whatever you want in Amsterdam but please, DON'T BRING ANY "SPECIAL SOUVENIRS" WITH YOU. :D

Great video Mark! I'll go to Amsterdam next january, and that actually helped a lot! Cheers from Brazil!

I am so very pleased to see you succeeding with your channel Mark!!You constantly put out fantastic information -- thus your success!Well done brother!! Keep on keeping on!!

I laughed my ass off when you talked about the trams and the bikelane of death. Everyday i meet tourists on their way into the city or to their hotel and because of that i would like to add some stuff as an comment ; * Amsterdam is expensive like you said; stay at Zaandam in an airbnb, cheap and clean and usually good for families. Zaandam is just 10 minutes away from amsterdam via train or bus and if you dare about 20 mins per bike. * Read about the netherlands before you enter it. Understand public transport (Check in-Check out, time is money get in OR get out dont stay in the doorsteps), understand where you are going and DONT FREAKING PANIC there is ALWAYS a transport medium that will bring you to where you want to be. * Do NOT follow the advice of strangers, follow the advice of people that are in any kind of uniform * Get a smartfone with a simcard that gives you internet access in netherlands. We have a lot of free wifi overhere, but for google maps it is easier to have a internet connection via the simcard this way you will now your way. * Use the website www.9292.nl it is the public transport site for the netherlands, you can change the language to english. * Try the smaller museums for the real fun, like the tulip museum, house of bols (House of booze hahah), houseboat museum and if you like cats, go to the pussy boat (No pun..) * Kids with ya? there are a lot of nice places for kids too in amsterdam, p.a. Nemo museum, Ballorig (Activitys), waterbikes, beaches when it is hot (two days a year..) and so on. Check them out ! kids happy too, i see too many kids unhappy because of boringggg museums and mums and dads who forgot their youth... * Public transport is CHEAP, buy a travelpass for your stay, but make wise decisions; only amsterdam travel ticket or amsterdam and area (Haarlem/zaandam/edam/volendam/marken/SCHIPHOL AIRPORT) the difference in price is 3 euros a day. Buy it at the trainticketwindow OR at the VVV (Tourist information) * DO NOT RENT A BIKE if you want to use it in the center of the city, YOU WILL FALL, YOU WILL MEET A TRAM, YOU WILL GET HURT and your INSURANCE will NOT cover it. Biking in Amsterdam is even for locals DANGEROUS. And it is so true what you say about drugs; if you are gonna use it, dont do it alone, keep 1 person sober. Keep some sugars with you or some sweet drinks with SUGAR, DO NOT use magic mushrooms they can really f you up. Do not go with strangers for "better weed" they will rob you. The emergency number is 112 , always say what and where you smoked something it is not illegal, you just did something stupid like we all do sometime. Write down the adress of your hotel, the name of the hotel and an emergency number for your family and put it on a card in your jacket, wallet and shoe. Enjoy Amsterdam.

Dear mr. Wolters, I've said it before and will keep on doing so....Amsterdam is not the best/prettiest city in the Netherlands. You should really visit some other places. Maastricht, Den Bosch, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Zutphen, Rotterdam, Groningen and the list goes on....

Wolter your advice for germany cologne and Paris was accurate and spot on. I returned here for Amsterdam advice. Thanks for the videos 😎

Very informative. Thank you very much.

Hey Mark great video!!👍☺️I was in The Netherlands two weeks ago and I think Leeuwarden and Harligen are a must see too!!! VERY BEAUTIFUL CITIES!!😍😍😍❤️

1. Begging is actually forbidden in Amsterdam and a lot of other municipalities. On trains too (where they will try to sell you tissues). Do not give them money. Ignore them. These are eastern European gangs and they all work together. And if they are being annoying alert police or the city watch (the latter are basically a police-light without guns). 8. Building lean over because back in the day that was the best method to prevent stone erosion from rain ;) Also, there is much more to Amsterdam than just the city centre, and more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam. Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Alkmaar, Delft, Haarlem and Leiden are beautiful 17th century cities as well, and all close to each other.

Your video's about the Netherlands are so nice. Thank you man 😄. Greetings from the netherlands 👋. Groeten vanuit nederland 👋

Thanks for the video !:)

My biggest shock about Amsterdam is the hatred that many Dutch people have for their own capital. It's always a juxtaposition of 'this is better than that' and vice versa. Why can't you just leave things be and accept that Amsterdam simply is the most interesting place for tourists to go to? Why the envy? Yes, some parts (only Damrak/Warmoe-area) are what Chersonissos is to Crete, but if you base your whole opinion on a very small part of the city it's not really saying anything. If you think you know Amsterdam, you don't. To me, as a resident, it's such a small town with many urban areas with their own style and culture. I have lived everywhere in the Netherlands and I don't understand all this negativity. Be happy with this diversity! Enjoy your country and discover some more of Amsterdam than what you are being told and sold. Really, it's worth it. Maybe learn a thing or two from Mark Wolters? He has more nuance about the city than most my fellow countrymen here. Pitty.

"Don't fart backwards on stairs" got it.

Stayed in Amsterdam for 4 days last august and I have had few encounters with beggars, and when i did, they were usually just sitting or kneeling in the corner but definitely not aggressive at all.

Love your video's. I hope you will visit Rotterdam in the future! Keep up the great work

Actually, today the mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan, gets buried after losing his battle against cancer last week :(. I'm not very fond of Amsterdam myself for the obvious reasons, but I'm proud of the city being the Dutch capital, and of its people, its unique culture, and of what their mayor has achieved there during his time in office. So tourists: enjoy Amsterdam, enjoy the 'shocks', but don't forget: Amsterdam is more than just that! ;)

Hi Wolter! As a dutchie I would strongly advise you to visit Rotterdam and The Hague. Amsterdam is great but it sometimes is a little bit to much of a theme park. Rotterdam and The Hague are fantastic cities so if you are close send a message and I would be happy to show you around!

Amsterdam is awesome. And I agree with the costs of accommodation. I recommend Cities like Leiden. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Leiden für a fraction of the costs that Hotels in AMS charged. The train ride was between 30-50 minutes and costs about 10 Euros. That was reasonable and we had a great time.

Thank you for this video my husband and I will be traveling to Amsterdam very soon! :)

Mark!! I watched all of your Berlin videos last October as I was getting ready to visit Germany - now I'm bingeing all your Netherlands/France videos in anticipation of my summer trip. Love your energy and all the advice! I also have a really bad flying fear and you videos help me look forward to travel instead of dreading it. Cheers from Toronto!

I was born in Amsterdam in 1956, I live in Amsterdam, I work in Amsterdam ( red light district) And I hope I die in Amsterdam Amsterdam is the best place to be

Very helpful!!! Nice channel.

I have been watching your recordings' for a while , this is my first comment . I like the honesty of the recordings, as good as Rick is ,he sugar coats things. You basically tell it the way things are.

for the man who did not want to talk about the red light district, you sure mentioned it a lot LOL

Im just shocked your name isn't Walter...

Very interesting and hilarious, thank you for the tips!

perfect timing, was planning a trip there in january. greetings from bamberg:)

1 thing tourists need to know, DONT WALK ON THE FUCKING BIKE LANE!!!!!

My "shocks" in Amsterdam: 1. You can't drive into the city with a car (won't find an affordable parking lot) 2. People smoking pot on the streets and the amounts of pot in one place, that would bring you to jail immediately in germany, even if smoking pot in germany is accepted 3. The rivers everywhere, it is so beautiful 4. The windows of the houses are so big! You can look into everyone's living room, but nobody does. 5. Alcohol is most of the time taboo in coffee shops 6. So much yummy and colourful streetfood!

Great video. So true.

Great Video!

8:41 "if you *fart* backwards"

Pleaaasee only rent a bike if you can actually ride it. I've seen (and had) sooo many accident with people who rented a bike, but actually didn't know how to.

On my way to Amsterdam rn (well to Dublin airport and then to Amsterdam) thanks for the heads up love your vids Wolt

I highly recommend the ibis hotel right beside the Central Station. Convenient location with tram terminus and canal tour boats right in front. Also it has elevators so no worry from falling down stairs. Walkable distance to major attractions too.

Your pronunciation of “Rijksmuseum” is hilarious 😂

I’m actually going to Amsterdam tuesday.

Great VLOG about Amsterdam!!!! Super!!!

This is soo much Fun too watch when your a local too😊taking a boot Tour is so Nice to do 🛥 Vondelpark is definetly a beautiful place too walk trough when your in Amsterdam

I didn't realise till like 2 days after I got home that I accidentally brought pot back. ooops

Rijksmuseum -- pronounced with a long 'i': Rikes You can get cannabis and deriviatives as medical treatment in a lot of US states.

Great advice again generously given.

I have to say, I am Dutch and I have been to Amsterdam more times than I can count, but I’ve never had encounters with beggars.

Hi, Mark. It's the Rijksmuseum. Just think Rijks = bikes. You pronounced it as the Reeksmuseum.

Why you dutch people are not proud of Amsterdam. Literally the best city i travelled to.

Nice video bro. Now i wanna visit Amsterdam 🌷🌷🌷🌷

Many​ thanks, again.

Be firm. Look straight at them. Never look away. Say No. By. Have a nice day. It's the tone that makes the music.

That siren was the police, not an ambulance. Two tones: police and fire department. Three tones (mid-high-mid-low-etc): ambulance.

I went to amsterdam for the first time in august just gone I loved it really enjoyed the sights the culture the whole vibe of the place

I’m totally addicted to your videos....and the way u smile

You really saw aggressive beggers? I've lived here for a while and I've been asked for change 3 times...literally... Also no one needs it here, just seemed quit bizarre that you experienced that!

There are way too much tourist in Amsterdam, Amsterdammers also say there are too much.

Leuke video man 😊

Je laatste grap van ik deed dit al toen ik zo groot was, was echt een goeie! Leuke video

Amsterdam shouldn't be the place people want to visit. Most Dutchmen see it as an attraction instead of our capital city.

Watch out for the pick pockets too. Lots of them.

I went to Ann Franks house in the early morning.. I ended up getting there an hour before it opened and there was already people in line. I stayed in the lineup but had no idea till opening time how crazy it really was. I am Canadian but so glad I went to see her house and learn more about her.

Thing that shocked me was the amount of roadworks taking place in Amsterdam this summer! Even the canals are being redone Bernie in sydney

The beggers are Not even dutch, they are Most of the time from romania etc. So don’t blame the dutch people.

Walk in to amsterdam and yell IK NEUK JULLIE ALLEMAAL DE MOEDER it means i love you all

Excellent video

Nice video!

Lost 20 iq points when he said Rijksmuseum..

Except for the English proficiency thing, Amsterdam is still quite shocking, even to us Dutchies XD I guess you could compare it to living on the Strip in Vegas for most Americans?

Lol your sweet mother. Love the vids, Mark! Top man

I like your videos

The reason after the houses being slightly tilted is not because the ground is uneven! If you look at the top of the building you see a crane. The house is tilted so the stuff being lifted up won't hit the house.

#1 its not allowed but yeah big problem #2 In Amsterdam there are hardly dutch people left, its mainly invaded by expats and tourists. I Live in Rotterdam where the smell is much less. #3 There is more than Pot but the smell is very annoying #4 good that you mention this. Red Light district is to much overrated. #7 people need to know a bit how to bike but get out of the city center for a better experience. #8 good thing yeah #9 Go to Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague, Utrecht or Rotterdam. (it is cheaper and also better quality) #10 yeah better avoid these groups.

Now I really wanna go.. It's not the way I could live, but it would be an amazing experience of a life time.

I stayed in my tent at Camp Zeeburg, it was November, so only 7 euros a night, ultra cheap, and they have everything there, so yeah, if you are a bum like me, camping there is brilliant, Camp Zeeburg is a great place to chill, they have Eco cabins too, but the best thing about the camping is you can just pitch your tent there if you arrive in the early hours, and sort out payments next day, and they have free wi-fi too, cheapest way to sleep in the Dam,,,,period

Terrible breakfast food; no wonder they're thin.

Visit Rotterdam instead. Less tourists, more affordable hotels. Very modern and trendy.

Great vid,,,I'm planning to visit Amsterdam,,,though at 50 more to see the sites as the red light and dope stuff doesn't have the appeal to me as it would in my 20s,30s,,,,watched some great programs on Holland,,,visit's Holland regularly and loves it,,,,,,,

"We do not advocate the use of mayo on fries." LOL! Love your sense of humor.

Don't go to Amsterdam. The Hague, Delft, Leiden, Breda, Dordrecht, Nijmegen, Maastricht and others are all so much prettier. If you go to Amsterdam, you have to go through the bad parts to get to the good parts, and they're not worth it to me. As much as I like to propagate the "All Dutch people speak English" fact, there's a minor caveat: Dutch people learn English from an early age. We hear it on TV. We read it online. We write it online. But not many Dutch people actually regularly speak it conversationally (except maybe shopkeepers in city centers). So prepare yourself for mangled words and sentences.

No no no, you definitely look like a red light district guy...

Keep it up dope content Greetings from Greece !

THE VEGAS GUY...WOW,HAVNT SEEN U IN TWO YEARS WHEN I WANTED TO SEE ABOUT THE BALLY'S HOTEL AND CASINO..THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT VEGAS INFO..WE GOT MARRIED AND I FEEL LIKE YOU KINDA HELPED US...APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR CHANNEL.... I SUBSCRIBED