BEWARE: Foreign Exchange in Amsterdam
 

I was in Amsterdam last weekend. On Sunday evening, I ran out of cash (Dutch Guilders), so I looked for ATMs. They were either out of order or 15-20 people waiting in line for it. Thomas Cook was closed! Then, I guess I had to exchange at the foreign exchange shop near the square of the Dutch Palace (??) right across from the Thomas Cook. Needless to say that they charged me hefty 12% fees, the lady over the counter, without asking, passed me a tourist map with the guilders and my receipt. Of course, I said "Thank You!" After I walked out and check my receipt, the stupid map cost me NGD5.0!! It is like USD$2! When I went back to argue withe the dutch lady, she said she will not refund the map and told me if I had problem withit, I could call the police!!!
It was not much really, but the way the Dutch do business there was very tricky and sneaky!!
PS I was having Fish & Chip in Kuenkenhof cafeteria in Holland, each packet of ketchup and mayo cost me NGD1.00! Next trip, bring your own ketchup??!!

It's part of the culture there...McDonald's charges extra for ketchup when you get mayo on your fries, I think.

The Dutch are incredible cheapskates. You're right about McDonald's: both mayo and ketchup are 60 cents ($0.25) for each small packet. Don't expect any free soda or coffee refills either.

Also, most restaurants, bars and sometimes even stores will charge you for using the restroom, anywhere between $0.10 and $0.40. Imagine paying $150 for a luxurious dinner, only to find out you have to pay for using the restroom. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I think, in my opinion, we are talking about two entirely different things here. The petty charging for mustard packs, paying for the bathroom http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif, etc. does seem kind of cheap, but if it's uniform, well, it's their country after all (when in Rome... type thing) It might even be viewed as a conservation measure (not by me, but some I'm sure) to discourage waste, etc.

The money-change map scam is entirely different-- and really disgusting in my view. I can be a cheapskate at times myself but I don't dupe people out of their money and then challenge them to call the police when they catch me. Really revolting.

For the money exchange, at DTW the rate is terrible and they still charge some fee. Total of that might be greater than 12%. No wonder why the line was so long at AMS.

I bought a sandwich in Venice. It showed a price of 6000 Lit. but they asked for 12000 Lit when I had to pay. They said that the price of the sandwiches shown was by weight, not by piece.

So now you know where 'Dutch Treat' comes from http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

part of the charging for use of the restrooms, is to keep the homeless and vagrants from using them. this hopefully allows for true patrons of the establishment to be in cleaner restrooms that we are usually accustomed to. it also helps to offset the menial wages of the people that clean those restrooms.

as for the charge in ketchup at mcd's, many of the prices in europe are less than they are here, in part due to the slipping exchange rate. now how often is any meal in europe cheaper than here? the cost also helps to discourage wastefulness, which we all know, we americans are more than anyone else on the planet. (5% of the world's population, but 25% of the energy usage?? please!!!)

Related to Amsterdam, here is an article from yesterday's International Herald Tribune -
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A con artist who robbed tourists in Amsterdam after giving them cookies laced with a strong sleeping drug, was sentenced Tuesday to two and a half years in jail.
Riyad Khatib, a 32-year-old Syrian, approached tourists in the Dutch capital last autumn and offering them cookies containing Rohypnol. He then robbed them when they fell unconscious. Dutch media reports said he had stolen more than $2,000.

(my note: Rohypnol is the so-called "date rape drug".)

I've been married to a very generous Dutchman for 31 years, but we joke about our family frugality: he's a Dutch economist and I'm a Yankee.

His whole family is still in the Netherlands, and they've warned us many times about scams and threats in Amsterdam, which the natives say is like a separate country. Imagine that foreign visitors judged all Americans by the seediest parts of NYC.

By the way, do you know what a Dutch family orders in a restaurant? Small coke, alst U blieft, and 6 straws.

Or, do you know who invented copper wire? 2 Dutchmen fighting over a penny.

We have a couple of defenses when we visit:
1) When spending time in Amsterdam, accept that you are in a large city, and subject to con artists and other low-lifes. My brother-in-law once cautioned that some toughs offer to "watch your car" for a fee. Go for the museums, Anne Frank house, and canal boats, then get out again. Daytime is safer than night.
2) When traveling around the country, find a grocery store and stock up on bottled water, soft drinks and snacks to keep in the car, even if you have to drink them warm. Then you can stop in a charming cafe or terrace for coffee and ambiance, without having to put $ into really filling on food or drink.
3) You won't find many public playgrounds, but some cafes will have private ones your children can use while you sip coffee. Some of these are geared to older children rather than toddlers, so watch carefully.

Finally, as with any other place, you'll find nasty people and nice people. I once went into a fish store and asked to buy some milk for my baby's bottle. The shop owner filled it up and wouldn't accept any payment.

Comes with producing roughly the same proportion of global GDP? Could always use less but also produce less.

[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 05-17-2001).]

They charge for ketchup at the fast food places?

I'd go broke there! (

-Harry "I'd like the #1 Value Meal and 15 packets of ketchup, please." N.

But in europe we do not have to pay a 15-20% tip in restaurants.

Thanks for the warning about the cookies, CozumelJen. I'm going to Amsterdam next weekend and knowing me, I would have accepted the cookie as a kindness from a stranger (and I'd be in jet lag). The thought that it could be the date rape drug--well that is just frightening.

I'm arriving in Amsterdam on a Sunday morning. Should I not depend on ATMs over there? I'm only going to be over there for two days so I have no desire to take out travellers' checks. I was simply going to use an ATM. Should I exchange money before I leave?

ATMs are very, very common in Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands. Don't bring travellers' checks: too much hassle for just 2 days and you can totally depend on ATMs. Don't bring cash either: too much hassle, you could loose it and, again: ATMs are everywhere.

ATM card and credit card (Visa/Mastercard are most common; don't bring Discover) should do the job.

Don't worry too much. Just like any place in the world, there are some bad apples in Amsterdam, but I'm sure you'll run into a lot of friendly people.

Have fun!


[This message has been edited by wmvink (edited 05-17-2001).]

dup

[This message has been edited by wmvink (edited 05-17-2001).]