85% of Amsterdam women avoid certain parts of the city for safety
85 percent of women in Amsterdam avoid specific places in the city because they feel unsafe, AT5 reported after surveying over 2,100 Amsterdam residents. Men included, around 70 percent of Amsterdammers have areas they consider dangerous.
On average, Amsterdammers give how safe they feel in the city at night a 6 out of 10. But that comes with the warning to avoid certain places in the dark. City parks were most often mentioned, specifically Vondelpark, Sarphatipark, and Oosterpark. “You have less of an overview there, and there are fewer people around,” one respondent said about going to a park at night. “If something happens, you have less chance of getting to a safe place or of being able to talk to someone. Then I do feel like something could happen.”
Other risky areas mentioned were industrial estates, shopping streets after closing time, bicycle tunnels in various parts of the city, and the areas around train stations. Transformatorweg in the West district, Vliegenbosch in Noord, Christoffel Plantijnpad in Nieuw-west, and the section of Rozenburghlaan and Weesperzijde in Amsterdam Oost were specifically mentioned.
“There are places in Amsterdam I prefer not to go after dark. The atmosphere on Leidsestraat and Kalverstraat can be very grim after the shops close,” a respondent said. Another: “I find bicycle tunnels difficult, and I avoid them as much as possible after dark. I prefer to take a detour then.”
Half of the respondents said they experienced something intimidating or scary on the street, ranging from verbal abuse and catcalling to threats and even physical assault. Yet 91 percent did not report the incident to the police.
Over half of the panel members said they don’t think the police do enough to ensure safety on the streets. “The police have become invisible since the neighborhood police officer disappeared. You feel like you’re being abandoned to your own devices,” one said. Other panelists believe the police are doing their best, but can’t prevent everything.
