I will be traveling to the city in a few months. I just wanted to know, preferably from someone local if it is possible to carry weapons for self defense. Im not talking about firearms. I mean knives, mace, batons. I understand I will have to purchase them there. Please do not scorn me for this question. After seeing some of lifes darker sides, I want to be prepared.
Have you ever been mugged by a junkie on a bicycle with a knife? Happened to us, in the dark, alone, with no one around. How can you outrun someone with a bike? It was very scary. At that point I wished that I had had something like mace, but anything else I wouldn't carry. I ran off to the other side of the road yelling, hoping to catch anyone coming, hoping he wouldn't stab my fiance over the 5 euro or so we had. Luckily down the street the bridge had just come down and some people came our way on bicycles. Finally he rode off. Very scary.
That's forbidden in holland.. You can't carry knives or mace around with you, not even for self defense..
yeah it is a very safe city,always plenty of people about at all times and in all conditions but if it makes you feel better carry a knife,pinch one from your hotel breakfast bar,its better then nothing,although the question is if the insane junkie on a bike pull one on you are you prepared to use it....... oops moral dilemma time. i always used to carry a swiss army knife in adam and the uk before 9/11 but now its impossible to travel with one,a non starter, i even got searched a t schipol on my way back to the uk,the security guy told me to take the knife out of my pocket he then unfurled the blade put it back and gave it to me and told me to carry on..... happy days. the worst violence i have not seen but heard was when i was having a whitey in my hotel room and some local dealer who had crossed the wrong people got assasinated outside a hotel by the singel canal.the sound of the hitmans scooter and the gunshots were really scary in my condition but i got over it and can genuinly say when i was there for queensday i never felt safer in adam.
Thanks for the info guys. I guess Im just gonna have to play it by ear, and see if I want to take chances protecting myself. I heard that The Old Man has some self defense weapons inside. Has anyone ever been there?
I have found Amsterdam, if anything, much safer than many British cities I have visited such as London, Birmingham and Liverpool. Carrying any sort of self defence weapon is not advisable, your best bet is to run. Always. If you take out a weapon you risk injuring your attacker (I guess thats the idea..) but then you will have the hassle of a court case and proving your actions were self defence. Also when using a weapon such as a baton it is very easy for the attacker to take the wepon from you and use it against you...
The Old Man is a cool shop to go to. The question is: why do you think you'll need a weapon? Protect yourself from the guys selling "coca"? It's a pretty safe town, I'd say safer than here in NYC- man, 13 years ago, Amsterdam was way safer than here, how times change!!
You won't need a weapon as long as yer keep yer wits about ya.....but if you do wanna carry summit, make sure it's legal......a can of hairspray, +gas, aerosol paint, etc is just as good as a can of Mace
I'll admit that I'd never carry a weapon and wouldn't consider it (I just wouldn't go somewhere if it was somewhere where one might be needed) but fair enough, you never know what might happen to you anywhere. But regardless of the time of day or night I've found the Dam to be as safe as long as you take the sensible precautions you would in any modern city (maybe that's carrying a weapon I don't know!). The natives I know there have never been the victim of anything more sinister than bike theft - and only cause they were too absent-minded/drunk to lock their bike after a night on the town! Go and relax, I don't know what you're used to obviously but it's a shame the idea even occurs to you.
Carrying concealed weapons is very dodgy terriortory, anywhere. However if your a small person and wearing a Rolex watch or have a lap-top with lots of personal info on it or have a briefcase full of diamonds then I can see your point. Amsterdam is a fairly safe place to be honest, just don't hang about in unsavoury areas or walk down deserted unlit streets, etc, late at night. Overall A'dam is very densely populated and therefore most of the time somebody else will always be around so just scream out. For me, if any mugger came my way I would give them hell and they would be in hospital before they knew it. A UK army guy I knew who later joined the infamous SAS taught me a combat move that will incapacitate him on the spot using no weapons, but don't even think I'm going to explain it here. Another trick which I highly recommend is to have two wallets, one that has all your money and credit cards in tucked away safely and another dummy one that has old useless stuff in it. Just give them that one and run, or kiss your ass goodbye if it's a gang.
I just wanted to clear this up. I am not expecting anything to happen. This will be my first time overseas alone. So Im not sure. I wont know the city, I do plan on doing a lot of walking around. Nemesis, I hear you on the hand to hand. I learned some sick stuff in the infantry. Im sure everything will be fine though.
No worries. I understand what you mean. Stepping off the train and walking out the door at central station in A'dam can be very intimidating on your own, especially if it's your first visit, even more so if you've never travelled before. There are plenty of decent people about but a few mixed race too that lurk and ready to scam tourists. Around the red light zone you'll be approached, as does everyone by these types, selling hard drugs, just keep walking and don't say a word to them, nothing.! It's guaranteed you will itleast hear 1 of them trying to sell you coke or pills on your visit and imo are a total pain in the ass, but you get used to it. So now you know. It's a fairly safe city all in all, just avoid dark alleys and ignore the street dealers. Stick to well lit tourist areas after midnight and expect to be approached by the odd 1 or 2 beggars for money. Just like any other city.! You'll have a blast, don't worry at all. My first trip there I was on my own and It was absolutely fine, I had a great time, the first trip is the best.
