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Geek Culture / Amsterdam

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 23rd Jul 2010 20:41
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I'm basically after peoples reviews on Amsterdam, as I want to take a trip there this summer, probably within the next 2 weeks.

My dad has told me that Amsterdam has "slum areas" that are basically populated with drug dealers and scum, but I'm pretty sure it can't be like that, which is why need to hear first hand from others.

The area I plan to visit is the city centre, near the canals and not to far from the red light district

So is it a safe and clean city to visit?

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DJ Almix
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Posted: 23rd Jul 2010 21:29
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Well I went there to pretty much every part including the red light district and there are not many "dirty" parts except the alleyways were the only thing that looked untrustworthy. And this is from Amsterdam's point of view. First of all drugs are 100% legal there and can be done in plain view so there tends to be a smell sometimes, there is a limit though if you choose to do drugs (I don't do drugs) it's small stuff like marijuana and mushrooms. They sell these in private though so you shouldn't have to worry if you choose to avoid that scene, there are coffee shops and other store's. There is nudity, put it's nothing that you wouldn't need to go to the building to see the full stuff (unless your in the red light district, then there's like a sex playground), and prostitution. It's really safe, the people are friendly and the crime rate is pretty low, the only thing you need to be careful about is pick pocketing keep your stuff close. Good food around there to and everything is written literally usually not in titles (i.e STEAK RESTRAINT, MEXICAN RESTAURANT.) The concerts are amazing and there is a really good electronic scene there if you are into that (Search Q-Dance). Transportation very streamline, it's incredibly bike friendly and there is also a small trolley/train for getting around (if your going around the Netherlands try and take the bus a lot. It's really clean, in a lot of American cities there is trash in the nooks and cranes, but in Amsterdam it's old, but very clean. So the whole thing is that the city is not ghetto, but open minded. Everything such as drugs, sex and crime are all heavily regulated, there legal (not crime of coarse), but there are a lot of rules. If your not a stingy person or easily offended then I highly recommend going there.

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 23rd Jul 2010 21:34
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Thanks for the review Almix, makes it sound a lot more inviting from what my dad made it out to be, who last went about 25 years ago XD.

One question though, do you have to pay to ride the bus and trams? Or is it free transport?

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DJ Almix
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Posted: 23rd Jul 2010 21:40
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Quote: "One question though, do you have to pay to ride the bus and trams? Or is it free transport?"


Pay, take/rent a bike though there are bike paths literally EVERYWHERE, they have there own lane next to the highway (if you that dedicated). But it's the best way to get around the city.

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The Wilderbeast
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 01:10
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I went there a couple of summers back, they have whole car parks... for bicycles :o

I was only there for one day so I'm afraid I didn't get to sample the nightlife, but in the daytime it's a beautiful place.


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Shaun Of The Dead
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 01:25
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I'd like to say, from what ive heard there are drug dealers everywhere. Watch out for the food because they occasionally put 'special toppings' on them (drugs!) so i suggest you ask about the food before buying.

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The Wilderbeast
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 01:26
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Oh yes, and there was randomly a giant rubber duck just floating in the sea haha.


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Zotoaster
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 04:25
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I found it a bit creepy. The buildings are all arranged ad hoc and kinda lean over you, and I got offered coke many times by dodgy looking gangers. Though that's to be expected. Mostly it's a nice place though.

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 11:57
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damn i wanna go there

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 13:08
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You can get offered drugs in many places...at least I've walked down the street and have had it happen more than once.

It seems like a normal city, it has its dodgy areas of drug dealers and other criminals, but it has its good areas too, so I wouldn't be put off by the fact there's drug dealers, because I can guarantee you can find them wherever you go, Amsterdam isn't special, except of course, pot is legal and so is prostitution. I imagine you might find more dodgy tourists than dodgy locals, but they'd only be drunken louts, like in any city at night.

I've known people to go to Amsterdam and have a great time without a word of trouble.

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 13:20
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Guess you're right, you get dealers in any country, any city, but in specific areas where they feel safe and out of sight from the police.

I doubt they come up to you in the main street and offer you drugs in front of everyone else where the police and CCTV cameras are and if they do they must be dumb or undercover police XD.

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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 13:48
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And if they do, you can refuse them. I've been offered drugs outside of a supermarket before in broad daylight, all it takes is a 'no thanks, I don't do drugs'. They know it's not worth the trouble, essentially, they're looking for somebody willing to purchase drugs, not to steal their money or attack them. Think of it like a homeless person begging on the street, it's technically illegal for them to that, but they'll do it because they want the money and are very rarely dangerous.

The clubbing areas in cities are often policed, because crime does happen, but a lot of the time, it's to deal with the drunk and disorderly. I don't know what policing is like in Amsterdam, but I imagine there are officers about at night.

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Metal Devil123
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 15:01
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Quote: "You can get offered drugs in many places...at least I've walked down the street and have had it happen more than once. "

That's why it is good to live in Kittilä. No drug dealers or anything.

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 17:20
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Well my balance for the trip was around £420, but I bought a Nokia 5230 for the GPS feature and that cost £88, so down to £332. Some of the holidays I've been looking at cost around £180-£250 for 2 nights bed and breakfast, but that is not counting inner city travel costs and costs for an evening meal.

Lets say a meal costs me £8, thats £16 so far.
Then the airport transfer costs me £40 return for a shuttle bus (I can drop this being I don't mind walking into the city)
Going on the most expensive holiday, £250, then I am left with:

£26

Does anyone else feel that is a bit expensive for 2 nights and a return flight, or is this the normal price these days?

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lazerus
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 17:35 Edited at: 24th Jul 2010 17:37
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Drugs.
Ale.
Hookers.

Amsterdam\



Edit; nope, i did not read the whole thread lol.


http://lazerus-reborn.deviantart.com/
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The Master Dinasty
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 20:55 Edited at: 24th Jul 2010 20:57
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Well I am sure if i went there to Amsterdam that is, I would try drugs but from a cafe or other spots where its legal.
Its just like alchol, you cant say no to it if you havent tried it. And what better chance then amsterdam to do it?

What I am trying to say is that if you are wondering if you are going to try it, do it in Amsterdam where its legal and not in your homecountry where it illeagal, dont regret not doing something when you could have done it!

I cant wait till im 18 then I am taking a vacation right down to Amsterdam.

Quote: "Drugs.
Ale.
Hookers.

Amsterdam"


I agree!

-Massap2

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DJ Almix
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 21:02
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Quote: "The clubbing areas in cities are often policed, because crime does happen, but a lot of the time, it's to deal with the drunk and disorderly. I don't know what policing is like in Amsterdam, but I imagine there are officers about at night."


That's really only what the police are there for, there just there to get those being annoying out. You can do anything that's legal and ask about it to them, like are these drugs safe or laced?

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mgarand
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 21:30 Edited at: 24th Jul 2010 21:31
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Amsterdam is a great city, sometimes you see some weird people, but hey, its amsterdam . And what shaun of the dead said about drugs in food, well it nearly never happends, lol, only if you go and buy yourself some spacecake\

its also nice that there are loads of cultures in Amsterdam



Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.
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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 24th Jul 2010 21:40
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It would be nice if people could refrain from talking about the drugs etc, I was after reviews and advice, not peoples dreams of going to get drugs when they are old enough :\

Could anyone answer my last question about prices?

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Isocadia
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Posted: 11th Aug 2010 14:42
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Well, apparently you are not allowed to buy drugs if you are not dutch. Just something I picked up in a conversation. Of course they will sell it to you but still watch out and don't let a cop see you buy it. And yeah, amsterdam is a nice dutch city, and yeah you can get the idea that the buildings are hanging over you, they were build on wooden poles and wood tends to rot xD. But good luck and I hope you have fun.

And about the prices, I don't exactly know what the value of the pound is atm. but that bed and breakfast could be cheaper if you would get a little bit further from the center, and you can easily walk most of the distances.

Zeus, it's over. I DIVIDE YOU BY...uhh. damn what was the number again?
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Zotoaster
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Posted: 11th Aug 2010 15:32
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Quote: "and yeah you can get the idea that the buildings are hanging over you, they were build on wooden poles and wood tends to rot xD"


Actually, it's so they could lift furniture in through the windows! If you look carefully, you'll see hooks on the tops of the buildings where they would hang them from!

But yeah in all seriousness, Amsterdam is a really nice city if you convince yourself not to be intimidated by all the idiots that go there.

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 11th Aug 2010 15:54
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Going in October instead, as I can go for a week for £150, so I'll book that soon.

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Dazzag
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Posted: 12th Aug 2010 09:53
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I thought it was great when our company paid for us to have a weekend away (was about 30 of us or so). I love old beautiful cities and Amsterdam doesn't fail at all. The red light district is a bit of an eye opener for someone who comes from the sticks, but let's not kid ourselves, unless you have been under a rock for years then you can see a lot worse from a quick Google...

What was most interesting was the way the red light district blended in with the rest of the city. So for example there is one area where this is this nice old building, possibly a museum or church, and opposite you have Burger king or McDonalds. No worries. Then next to it is an adult video shop with the front window showing un-censored scenes. Weird. And then walking through a normal market (away from red light district) you see what most people would consider fairly hardcore images on postcards (the one I remember is female genitalia dressed up as a Mexican, including, ahem, a ciggie...). Gotta love it...

And as long as you don't mind hookers coming up to you in the street and people wanting you to watch their sex shows or sleep with their hooker etc (normally in red light area) then you will probably love it. It's your typical lovely old European city if you don't count the much larger than normal red light district. And the other main difference is the red light district is not considered that seedy compared to other cities. You can walk around and feel perfectly normal going to a bar there or whatever compared to feeling like a massive perv criminal type anywhere else (heh, not that I've been to any others, but when in Amsterdam you have to check it out to tell people what it's like).

Come to think of it I think most of Europe is a lot more relaxed about sex and the like than us. When in Germany I was in a standard blockbusters type video shop that had the English films upstairs. Right next to the hardcore sex area. With adverts on the walls outside (ie. in the English bit) showing uncensored hardcore images. And the condomi shops were fun. And in Spain they had all sorts of stuff for sale in normal shops. Then again Blackpool can get a bit racey... ish...

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
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_Pauli_
AGK Developer
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Posted: 12th Aug 2010 13:44
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I Amsterdam!

A wonderful open minded city. I went there for the second time 3 weeks ago and it's awesome. There is also lots of art and crazy museums, like the sex-museum, the cannabis-museum, the torture-museum, etc. plus all the Van Gogh and Rembrandt stuff. And the night life is great too, lots of concerts going on and some nice clubs. It feels like this city basically is Europe.
Good luck on your trip!

Now the plot thickens, the fps decreases, and the awesomeness goes through the roof.
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