Most Annoying Downsides of Amsterdam

1. Litter

After visiting Switzerland, an impeccably clean country, I returned to Amsterdam and noticed every bottle, bag and wrapper lying in the street. Perhaps it's because the public trash cans are too tiny, or because the fierce Amsterdam winds have a tendency to pick up loose litter and distribute it around the city, but stray trash can be a problem here.

Big parties like Queen's Day, the Gay Pride Canal Parade and New Year's Eve leave litter-filled aftermaths that seem to linger too long. And summer crowds bring more irresponsible tourists who think the city's parks and canals are garbage receptacles. Don't be one of them!

2. Dog Droppings

As a dog owner living in Amsterdam, I am religious about picking up my pooch's poo. Unfortunately, not everyone follows suit. In fact, I've had Dutch people commend me for doing so in a park, admittedly because they feel they're above such a disgusting task. Hmmm…I think it's far more disgusting to step in it and drag it all over town!

While parks and green spaces are the most common places to find doggie doo (scout out your picnic spot carefully), it's not uncommon to see droppings on streets and sidewalks, so stay alert as you step.

3. Public Urinals

I can't decide which is worse: stepping in dog poo, or smelling pee as I walk by a public urinal in Amsterdam. I realize these structures are meant to prevent urinating in the street or in canals, but I'll never understand why they can't be more discreet.

The fixed urinals, which resemble a shower stall at a public pool, are usually located on corners near parks or busy areas. But worse are the "Hey everyone, look at me!" portable kinds, which have a quadrant design to accommodate four men at once. They're often placed smack in the middle of crowded squares on busy weekends. Hold your breath as you walk by!

4. Graffiti

I'm all for expressing oneself, but not when it means defacing centuries-old buildings and bridges. Graffiti is common in most larger European cities, and Amsterdam is no exception.

Spots along train tracks and around abandoned buildings are prime "tagging" areas, but Amsterdam graffiti "artists" don't stop there -- they mar upscale neighborhoods, historic canal houses and sometimes top museums. A pet peeve of mine is the city's tolerance of the scrawling. I once saw paint removed from the Van Gogh Museum immediately, but most instances are left to pollute (or decorate, depending on your view) the urban landscape.

5. Slow Service

Visitors often ask me why service in Amsterdam cafés and restaurants is so slow -- it's not uncommon to wait up to 15 minutes before a server approaches you; and subsequent visits to the table might be infrequent. The most logical explanation is that the Dutch don't rely on tips, so they don't have to try as hard. In general, Europeans spend longer in restaurants than Americans, so service is not rushed. This is especially true when you want to pay the bill. In Amsterdam you must request it; servers will almost never bring it to you without being asked. If you find yourself frustrated, try to make eye contact, don't hesitate to flag down your server and remember, you don't always have to tip! (Read How Much Should I Tip in Amsterdam?)