Every Tourist in Amsterdam Makes These Same 12 Mistakes
Amsterdam is notoriously known for its liberal laws and laid back lifestyle, but the city offers so much more than just a place to party. Whether you're there to cruise the canals or explore one of the many museums, don't fall victim to the errors made by most visitors.
These are the mistakes every tourist makes when visiting Amsterdam:
1. Confusing a cafe and a coffeeshop.
If the only type of pot you want is a pot of coffee, visit a cafe. If you’d like some cannabis with your cappuccino, head to one of Amsterdam’s many coffeeshops. The shops are licensed establishments that legally sell cannabis, but are not permitted to sell alcohol or any other drugs. Light up the grass all you want, but just don't try smoking tobacco in these joints (pun intended).
2. Walking in bike lanes.
Fun fact: There are more bicycles than there are people in Amsterdam. Stay out of the bike lanes and pay attention to where you’re walking. The last thing you want to do on your vacation is end up in a hospital room.
3. Waiting in line for the Anne Frank House.
Unless you want to wait in a two-hour long line, purchase tickets for the Anne Frank house in advance on the internet. Anne Frank’s hideaway is a top tourist attraction with a line that wraps around the corner. A limited amount of online tickets are released two months in advance, so snatch them up as soon as you see them available.
4. Only eating indoors.
After taking a tour of the Heineken Brewery, take a three-minute stroll over to the open air Albert Cuyp Market. Try some of Amsterdam’s most famous street food, like poffertjes (tiny pancakes covered in Nutella and powdered sugar) or freshly made stroopwaffles (way better than the packaged ones offered on United flights).
5. Drinking Heineken the whole time.
There's no shame in drinking one or two Heineken on your trip to the Netherlands, but don't be afraid to try another Dutch beer. Venture out, drink something new and save the Heineken for when you want to reminisce about your trip once you're back home.
6. Going full-on paparazzi in the Red Light District.
Walk down De Wallen street and you’ll find half-clothed women standing behind glass windows, surrounded by that notorious red light. What you decide to do in the Red Light District is up to you, but the one thing you absolutely should not do is take photos or videos of the women behind the windows. Follow the rules or you may find yourself in a bit of trouble with security.
7. Not indulging in copious amounts of cheese.
Want to have a Gouda time in Amsterdam? Make sure to visit one (or five) of the cheese shops that are scattered throughout the city. The shops offer a large selection of free samples of local cheeses like Gouda, made in its namesake town just an hour away. The unique cheese flavors, like truffle, garlic, lavender and pesto, are sampled alongside a variety of mustards (sounds like a weird combo, but it’s actually delicious). Stop by the Cheese Museum (which is really more of a shop disguised as a museum) to learn about the history of cheese making while you snack on the exhibits.
8. Taking a taxi.
To get from the airport to the city center, take an Uber rather than a regular taxi, which could cost twice as much. Once you’re in the main area, there’s no need to hop in a car. The city is very compact, so walk, bike, or take a tram instead. Many hotels offer complimentary bicycles or will rent them out for a small fee.
9. Eating like a tourist.
Please don’t fly all the way to Amsterdam to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe. There are so many delicious options that this city has to offer. Did you know that one of the must-try cuisines in Amsterdam is actually Indonesian? Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands for hundreds of years before gaining its independence in 1949, so there's a substantial influence in town. Try a Rijsttafel, which literally translates to "rice table", for a big feast containing a spread of more than a dozen small dishes.
10. Skipping the I amsterdam card.
If you plan on visiting some of Amsterdam's museums, purchase the I amsterdam City Card and receive free entry to more than 60 museums and attractions. The card gives you unlimited access to Amsterdam’s public transportation system and includes a free one-hour canal cruise, which definitely should be on your Amsterdam bucket list.
11. Only visiting the big museums.
There are a handful of inexpensive museums that the I amsterdam card does not cover, but are worth a visit. Most of them can be toured in an hour and are a good place to pop in when you have some time to kill. Check out the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum, the Museum of Prostitution, or the Sex Museum. When in Rome... err, Amsterdam.
12. Packing giant luggage.
Packing a large suitcase won’t be a problem at most hotels. However, if you plan to stay at an AirBnB or small boutique hotel be prepared to lug your luggage up multiple flights of steep and narrow stairs. The staircases inside these tall, skinny homes are very tight, which makes carrying a large suitcase a real struggle.
Photo by Javier Melgar via Unsplash
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.