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Amsterdam Rules: That’s Just Fine

Amsterdam Rules: Well, that's just fine then…

Even though Amsterdam is renowned as a tolerant and liberal city full of open-minded, weed smoking squatters on bicycles; the fact of the matter is…well it isn’t always.

Laws and rules of conduct have gone through an evolution in quite a short amount of time. Direction: zero tolerance. The main factor is that a policeman is required to write out a certain number of fines per year to reach a type of target. The result: even us ‘Amsterdamians’ need to be cautious about the consequences of our actions.

Example: Yesterday I was in the metro with my friend. We were babbling on as we usually do, when all of a sudden at the Waterlooplein stop, two policemen come running to the door opening. They pointed at my friend and told her to take her bags and step out of the metro. We looked at one another in disbelief. We were quickly brought back to reality by the severity of their expressions as well as the severity of the florescent yellow jackets they were wearing.

We both stepped out of the metro quite terrified to say the least. One of the officers announced that the reason we were removed from the metro was because my friend was resting her feet on the seat in front of her – apparently that is against the law and she was to receive a fine! At this point we could not define whether the shock was still from what just happened or the fact that this happened because of her JUST having her feet on the seat in front of her. Don’t get me wrong; one’s feet should stay on the floor and not where others sit. However, the exaggerated manner of how this was dealt with was absurd! Finally, the icing on the cake, they asked for my friend’s I.D and of course she always has it with her…except for this day! All in all, our adventure cost my friend EUR 70! And she was lucky; not having I.D with you can already conclude in a EUR 60 fine, or even worse, being escorted to the police station for further identification.

Here is a top 7 of fines just waiting to be given!

7. Do your part for the environment; leave the car at home…or make sure you pay for your parking space!

A parking ticket is EUR 49.60 plus the parking rate for one hour. Additionally, back by popular demand: The wheel clamp! To have this beautiful piece of yellow metal removed from your wheel will cost you about EUR 103.60. And this is a whole journey: first you have to go to local office to pay the fine (which is not always that close to where you are parked). Then you have to wait for someone to physically remove the clamp from your wheel, which can also take some time. Should you wish to extend your trip, just leave you car clamped for 24 hours, this will ensure that it gets towed away!

6. Okay, so you left your car at home, doing your part for the environment and using public transport to get around Amsterdam…Buy a ticket!

Joyriding around the city in any form of public transport can result in a fine of EUR 60.00, no matter how short the distance is!

5. When Freddy Mercury said that he wanted to ride his bicycle where he liked, he most probably didn’t mean the center of Amsterdam!

Take good notice of the traffic signs. Certain roads are only for pedestrians and cyclists must get off their bike and walk. If you are caught cycling you will get a fine of EUR 40.00. Also when it is dark, be sure to have both front and back lights on, otherwise you can say ‘doei’ to EUR 20.00!

4. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!

It is prohibited to smoke in trains, the stations and even platforms. A special smoking pole has been implemented on some platforms. You can recognize these by the blue smoke surrounding the 100 people huddled up together, trying to stay in the permitted radius. Should you be smoking outside of this area, you will be fined EUR 25.00 and if you extinguish your cigarette butt anywhere else but the provided (though always full to the brim) ashtray, you loose EUR 40.00.

3.

Don’t drink & walk

Drinking alcohol whilst doing a bit of sightseeing is not recommended. This can cost you EUR 70.00. And don’t think that you can get away with hiding the beverage in the famous brown paper bag; the police in Amsterdam have X-ray vision!

3. Don’t drink (anymore) if you can’t walk (anymore)

Even though the street performers here in Amsterdam sometimes seem like they are ‘away with the fairies’, there is no need to copy! Be careful with having one too many because being drunk in public also has its price. Not only will a headache & embarrassment awake you the next morning, but so will the vague memory of a EUR 108.00 fine! Cheers!

1. Urine deep trouble when caught in the act!

Yes, the number 1 of all fines which in Dutch is known as ‘wild-peeing’. You are strongly advised to do your business in a toilet as apposed to on the streets or in the canals. Try the world's first toilet store in the Kalverstraat for example! For all you men out there, you have the luxury of being able to make use of the public urinals scattered around the city which boast exotic ranges of aromas!

Posted Jun 20, 2011 by Priscilla Nasi
Half Italian, half Indonesian and born in L.A. Though when asked where she is from, her answer is always “Amsterdam, ouwe!” Biggest two passions in life are food & music.