Amsterdam residents avoid several city parks, shopping streets, bike tunnels at night

After a survey showed that 85 percent of Amsterdam women avoid certain parts of the city at night because they feel unsafe, AT5 went back to its panel to discover which places specifically. Respondents of all genders listed multiple city parks, specifically Vondelpark, Sarphatipark, and Oosterpark, industrial estates, shopping streets after closing time, bike tunnels in various parts of the city, and the areas around train stations.

Deflandplein in Nieuw-West was most often mentioned by the over 2,100 Amsterdam locals who responded to the city broadcaster’s survey. They consider the square in Slotervaart, near the ring road, as unsafe mainly because of drug users and dealers loitering there. “I’d love to shop there, but it’s so bad with intimidating behavior and pushy people,” one respondent said.

Many respondents also mentioned the two cycling routes, the Ooster Ringdijk and the Westerlijke Merwedekanaaldijk in Oost. The Ooster Ringdijk is located between Flevopark and Sciencepark. According to the panel members, it is very secluded, especially at night. No one will hear if something happens, several panel members said. The Westelijke Merwedekanaaldijk, on the other side of Flevlopark, has the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal on its other side. “I don’t find it relaxing there. I don’t let our daughter cycle there alone either,” one respondent said.

Multiple panel members mentioned the areas around train and metro stations as places they avoid; Bijlmer Arena Station was mentioned most often. Respondents called the station, located between the Johan Cruijff Arena and the Amsterdamse Poort shopping center, too quiet. “It's truly a remote area at night when all the shops are closed. There’s no one around you.”

Amsterdammers also avoid the Middenmeerpad and Rozenburglaan because they are too remote and quiet.

Weesperzijde, where the suspect in 17-year-old Lisa’s murder allegedly raped another woman, was also often mentioned. “There are so many places where someone can hide. It doesn’t feel safe there.” Panel members said the same about Transformatorweg in West, mainly at the start of the long street near Nieuwe Hemweg.

Another spot mentioned by multiple respondents was Haarlemmerweg, near Geuzenveld, where the bike path goes behind a noise barrier and you cycle between it and a green area. The fact that this makes you less visible to road users is a source of concern for multiple respondents. "I used to prefer cycling that route, but not anymore. It's poorly lit and you're hard to see," one said.