I've never had any kind of problem going to or being in Amsterdam (though I do have all valuables in a moneybelt), but if you want a more traditional Dutch experience you could take the #300 Zuidtangent bus from the airport to Haarlem. The bus takes about half an hour and goes through a mixture of pretty countryside and interesting modern developments, till it gets to the cozy, atmospheric center of Haarlem, with charming architecture, and close to the same range of shops you'll find in Amsterdam, but without the bustle and sometimes grunge. You can get a really good feel for it in three or four hours too.