We advise you to exercise normal safety precautions. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks. For further details see The Netherlands' National Coordinator for Counterterrorism website .

The Dutch Government has publicly referred to the activities of extremist groups which may point to the preparation of terrorist attacks in The Netherlands directed at Dutch Government buildings, public events, shopping centres, and rail and air transport infrastructure. In response, Dutch authorities have increased security measures.

In 2010 and 2011, the US Government warned its citizens of the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe, including on public transport and tourist infrastructure. A number of terrorist attacks on passenger railway systems, aviation interests, including passenger terminals, and other places frequented by travellers have occurred in Europe. In recent years these types of attacks have occurred in Moscow, London, Madrid and Glasgow. In addition, a number of planned attacks have been disrupted by European security services recently, underscoring the continuing interest of terrorists in attacking such locations.

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers .

Australians are advised to avoid all demonstrations, protests and rallies, as they may turn violent, and to remain informed of potential risks to safety and security by monitoring media and other local information sources.

Foreigners are often the targets of robbery, pickpocketing and bag snatching. Pickpocketing is common around Amsterdam's main tourist attractions, in restaurants and tourist accommodation, at Central Station and on public transport. There are frequent reports of bag snatching on trains and trams, including those that operate through Schiphol Airport (the Netherlands' major international airport at Amsterdam). Laptop computers are an attractive target for thieves operating on public transport systems. Do not carry passports and other valuable possessions in the laptop bag.

Thieves usually operate in pairs, with one attempting to distract you while the other steals your possessions. People using automatic teller machines (ATMs) are increasingly being targeted by thieves, especially around nightclubs and bars.

There are reports of thieves posing as plain clothes policemen. The thieves ask to inspect currency and credit cards looking for counterfeits. Tourists handing over their money have been robbed.

Incidents of drink spiking have been reported. Do not leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers.

Advance fee fraud and lottery scams occur in the Netherlands. Typically, advance fee fraud takes the form of foreigners being contacted in their home country by email, and advised of an inheritance or other offer, often originating in Africa. The perpetrators seek an advance payment for alleged official expenses, and the victim is invited to visit the Netherlands to finalise the transaction. No monies are paid to the victim and, upon return to their home country, there may be further bogus offers of assistance from sham legal representatives to recoup lost funds.

The lottery scam typically takes the form of a foreigner being contacted as the beneficiary of bogus foreign lottery winnings, with a request for payment to facilitate administration costs associated with winnings. Australians have lost large sums of money in such scams. To find out more about scams, see also our travel bulletin on International Scams .

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.

Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority .

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

In January 2010, Schiphol airport introduced increased security procedures, including full body scans. See Schiphol airport website for more information. The new procedures may increase the time to clear customs. Travellers should check with their airlines for suggested pre-departure check-in times.

For further information, please refer to our Aviation Safety and Security travel bulletin .

Our Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling with Children brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page , Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council .