What's the biggest scam to avoid in Amsterdam?

Coffee-shop tourist-strip pricing — touristy Damrak/Leidseplein shops sell €30-60 'space cakes' that are €15-25 in real coffee-shops a few blocks away. Counterfeit / over-priced 'Bulldog' merchandise. Restaurant pricing on Damrak (avoid; walk to Spui or Jordaan). Bicycle rental damage charges — photograph the bike at pickup.

Common Tourist Scams in Amsterdam (and How to Avoid Them)

By The Kakapo Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-05-21 · Part of the Amsterdam safety guide

Scams and money

Damrak tourist trap: the strip from Centraal to Dam Square is wall-to-wall overpriced restaurants and currency-exchange storefronts with terrible rates. Walk into the Jordaan or De Pijp for honest prices.
"GeldWisselkantoor" / "GWK" currency exchanges — overpriced; ATMs at ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank give better rates.
Pickpocketing at Centraal Station and on tram 2 (the airport-tourist line) — keep phone in front pocket.
Cards: the Netherlands is overwhelmingly card-friendly, but Dutch businesses often only accept Maestro/V Pay (Dutch domestic cards) — Visa/Mastercard works in most tourist-facing places but supermarkets (Albert Heijn, Jumbo) sometimes don't accept foreign Visa. Bring some euro cash.

FAQ

What's the biggest scam to avoid in Amsterdam?: Coffee-shop tourist-strip pricing — touristy Damrak/Leidseplein shops sell €30-60 'space cakes' that are €15-25 in real coffee-shops a few blocks away. Counterfeit / over-priced 'Bulldog' merchandise. Restaurant pricing on Damrak (avoid; walk to Spui or Jordaan). Bicycle rental damage charges — photograph the bike at pickup.

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Sources

Scores are the Kakapo Safety Index — compiled from government travel advisories and public crime, health and transit data. All data sources.