The Netherlands is a fairly safe country. But whether one feels safe is subjective.  For a Japanese expat, the Netherlands might not feel safe at all, since crime rates in Japan are much lower.

Crimes in the Netherlands occur--according to the Central Bureau of Statistics--around a million times a year. Most of them—unsurprisingly for the Netherlands--are tax crimes, but robberies and destruction of private and public properties come second. Also driving offenses occur quite frequently. The latest report from the CBS (August 2011) shows that the police registered 1.2 million crimes in 2010, 5 percent fewer than in 2009.

Around 100.000 crimes a year are related to physical violence. These crimes have a strong impact on the subjective element of whether one feels safe in the Netherlands. The CBS reports that crimes of violence, bike thefts and criminal damage all fell in 2010, but house break-ins and scooter and motorbike thefts rose.

The feeling and statistics both point out that citizens in Utrecht, Amsterdam and The Hague do not feel that safe. In these cities, crimes are highest as well. Strangely enough, people do feel safe in Rotterdam, but crime rates are relatively high. The Hague is safe for a relatively large city.

The murder rate in The Hague in 2010 at seven remained the same as the previous year, according to research by Elsevier. Approximately 170 murders were committed in the Netherlands in 2010, a slight decrease from 2009. In Amsterdam the number of murders decreased from 32 in 2009 to 16 in 2010 and in Rotterdam the murder rate dropped from 20 to 14. A striking difference in 2010 was the sharp rise in domestic murders ending with the perpetrator committing suicide.

It's difficult to say, where crimes occur most frequently. One could expect that main railway stations and tourist spots are areas where you might expect pick-pocketing, but crimes occur everywhere.

On the other side, expats commit crimes as well of course, and sometimes unintentionally. There are so many rules in the Netherlands, that it might be difficult not to break one. For instance, holding your mobile phone in your hand in the car--even when not having an actual conversation--will result in a fine. Parking your bike in the city often is difficult; you are only allowed to park your bike in specific areas.

Despite what some foreigners think, soft drugs are not legal, but "tolerated". This is a word particularly prevalent in Dutch culture; criminalising certain behaviour but then pursuing a policy not to actively prosecute. But use your common sense and don't try to smoke soft drugs in front of a police officer.

Also, be very careful what you say to police officers. If you insult them--and that can happen quite easily--you might get a fine or even need to go to court.

For instance, there was the case of a smart individual who insulted a police officer in a ‘creative’ way to avoid being fined by saying to the officer fining him for a parking ticket that "other people in exactly the same situation might call you a bastard." 

He was fined for insulting an officer nonetheless.

When it comes to places to avoid, make your stay in The Netherlands safe by observing what the locals do; for instance, stay clear of small alleys in the early hours of the morning. But do pay your taxes; although it is in the nature of the Dutch to try to avoid them--frequently unsuccessfully.

Expatica/ Legal expert David Nauta LL.M., Guapa Legal

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