We had a conference there in a very stuffy building and I made the mistake of staying at a Sofitel since it was close by. Spartan would be luxury by comparison.
Anyway, I went for a walk in a nearby park one day for some fresh air. Before I had walked through I was propositioned at least five times for either drugs or sex from some really skanky looking characters. The place is just decadent.
Holland and Belgium were nice countries to visit in the 60’s when they were the Benelux. The shit started piling up thereafter with the Wirtschaftwunder and the import of foreign labor(from muzzie countries)
America beware!!
But I am too late with my warning.
Amsterdam is not nearly as bad now as it was in the late 80’s when I was stationed at Soesterberg. I walked out the Centraal Station entrance and in the first 6 blocks got offered coke and hash no less than 15 times. It was really bad. Now it’s like a dem run city.