Is there a lot of drugs in Amsterdam?

[Khadeejah_al-Jahani]

Amsterdam does a bit of a reputation about drugs and the famous ‘red lights district.’ I’m not very fond of either of those things. Do they present a problem to people who want to live in Amsterdam but avoid those sorts of things?

[Pascal_de_Vink]

Hi!
I have been living in Amsterdam for the past 10 years and have never been in contact with drugs or the red light district, unless I actively sought it out.
As much as Amsterdam is famous for both drugs and the red light district, it is also famous for letting people decide for themselves whether to use them or not. Drug use isn't rampant and you'll seldomly see people using drugs on the streets.

[Dung]

It's not that you won't see anyone smoking weed on the streets, but apart from seeing it once in a while, you're good. Regarding the red light district, it's only in one small area of the city, so super easy to avoid.

In general you don't have to worry about drugs or prostitution. It's not like people are harassing you on the streets to buy coke.. Unless you're in the red light district area.

[Bart_van_den_Berg]

Not at all. In comparison to other European cities Amsterdam is well organized and overall shows less drug related crimes than other cities. The policy around harddrugs is similar to other metropolitans. Soft drugs is well regulated.

[Kevin_K_Kurian]

Amsterdam is indeed very liberal towards drugs and prostitution. These do not really provide a problem on your date-to-date life. If you're focused on what you're doing, it won't disturb you at all.

You'll smell marijuana in the air on occasion but it won't bother you.

[Karin_van_Soest]

I totally agree with all above. Unless you go looking for it, and hang out in the red light district, you won't be bothered with it.
(Legalised) drugs and prostitution are very regulated, it keeps drug dealers off the streets, and prostitutes confined to the red light district behind their red windows. I haven't had anyone bother me on the streets at all in the 5 years I have been living there.

[Pim_Mulders]

The Red Light District is a really small section of the most touristic part in the centre of Amsterdam, it's easy to avoid if you don't want to be confronted with that kind of thing.

As far as drugs go, you won't see people using drugs on the street, except for tourists who feel obligated to smoke weed as soon as they set foot in this great city.

That being said, Amsterdam has one of the most lively club scenes in the world and people do tend to use drugs when they go to parties, but it's pretty much the same in other big cities and never bothered me to be honest. People are really friendly and worst case scenario they will ask you if you're having as much fun as they are, so nothing to worry about.