Go, but pay attention.
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Rotterdam at 70/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Netherlands's national picture overall (75/100 vs 76/100).
City page · part of Netherlands
The one number a country page can't give you
What people who actually live in Rotterdam report
Numbeo aggregates thousands of resident-submitted perception surveys into a per-city Crime Index (higher = worse) and its inverse, a Safety Index — the only real city-granularity crime signal feeding this page, alongside Netherlands's national advisory, political, health, and police-trust data.
Crime Index
30.0
Safety Index
70.0
Sub-scores
Same real inputs as Netherlands's national page, with crime swapped for Rotterdam's own Numbeo number above.
Local know-how
Staying safe in Rotterdam, specifically
- • You should take normal precautions against pickpockets and baggage theft, especially in the main shopping streets, at markets, in trams and trains, at stations, and anywhere where tourists congregate.
- • It is not wise to hang around Stadhuisplein when nightlife ends.
- • In terms of general safety, at daylight most areas in the city are safe. But at night, some areas such as Spangen, Charlois and Hillesluis are wise to avoid.
- • When you drive a car with a foreign numberplate (especially if it's a French or Belgian one) you might or will be approached by so-called drugsrunners.
Legal status (national law)
Legal since 1811; equal age of consent since 1971 + UN decl. sign.
Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country →Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / F · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Tipping
Dutch law requires that all service charges and taxes are included in the prices that hotels, bars and restaurants publish. Tipping is therefore not necessary, but it is always appreciated as a reward for good service and it's increasingly common. Especially in tourist areas and large hotels, increased tipping is not uncommon. For good service in a restaurant, feel free to leave what you feel is a
Cash vs. Card
Banknotes of €100 and especially €200 and €500 are very rarely used, and some merchants will not accept them due to concerns over financial crime. Typically, establishments will have a sticker or A4-sized poster near the entrance or cash register indicating which banknotes aren't accepted. Almost all ATMs will only dispense denominations of up to €50.
How this compares to Netherlands
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Rotterdam at 70/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Netherlands's national picture overall (75/100 vs 76/100).
See the full Netherlands page and all receipts →