30 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Amsterdam (2026)

30 things I wish I knew before visiting Amsterdam for the first time, from the new 2026 tourist tax hikes and coffeeshop rules to bike lane etiquette, canal house stairs, and the local rules that will save you time, money, and stress on your 2026 trip. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 0:35 The Tourist Tax Has Jumped Sharply in 2026 1:23 Staying With Friends Skips the Tax 2:07 Short Term Rentals Are Capped at 15 Nights 2:52 Stay Off Peak to Save Money 3:34 Bike Lanes Are Not Sidewalks 4:20 Cyclists Yield to Trams, Not You 5:06 Renting a Bike Is Worth It 5:49 Watch for Fake Police 6:37 Skip Unlicensed Taxis at the Station 7:20 Pay by Card Whenever You Can 8:05 Coffeeshops Are Still Open to Tourists 8:54 You Can't Smoke Cannabis Anywhere Outside 9:38 Alcohol Sales Cut Off Early Downtown 10:23 The Red Light District Has Photo Rules 11:07 Get a Museumkaart if You're Museum Hopping 11:51 Book Major Museums Ahead of Time 12:27 The Anne Frank House Requires Advance Tickets 13:05 Canal House Stairs Are Steep and Narrow 13:43 Watch Your Head on Canal Boat Tours 14:22 The Jordaan Is Quieter Than the Center 14:59 Take a Day Trip to Zaanse Schans 15:37 Trams Are the Fastest Way Around 16:12 Tipping Is Appreciated, Not Required 16:47 Herring Stands Are a Local Tradition 17:24 Weather Changes Fast, Pack Layers 18:03 Sunday Shop Hours Are Limited 18:39 The King's Day Crowd Is Enormous 19:19 Fake Merchandise Is Common Near Tourist Spots 19:54 Learn a Few Words of Dutch 20:31 Respect the City Like a Local Would WATCH NEXT: 30 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Bangkok:    • 30 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Ba...   30 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting London:    • 30 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Lo...   MORE TRAVEL GUIDES FROM KAHANA DESIGNS: All travel guides:    / @kahanadesigns   Playlists (World Travel Guides 2026 & more):    / @kahanadesigns   Aloha from Kahana Designs — authentic, Native Hawaiian–owned Hawaii art, apparel & prints. Shop: https://kahana.shop Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KahanaDesig... FOLLOW KAHANA DESIGNS: YouTube:    / @kahanadesigns   Instagram:   / kahanadesigns   TikTok:   / kahanadesigns   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Pinterest:   / kahanadesigns   X: https://x.com/kahanadesigns Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kahanadesigns LinkedIn:   / kahana-designs-484321413   #amsterdam #netherlands #travel2026