Quote Originally Posted by Funken Monken
A gentle warning:

As you walk the streets of old amstedam, particularly the areas around the redlight district, beware the men who come out after dark, and will stand on the corners of canals and streets. You will know them becuase when you walk past, you will immediately hear:
"coca? Extasy? Cocaaain?"

For the safety of both you and your wallet, ignore these people. Every time I've heard about people using these guys, they got ripped off one way or another, sometimes just loosing a bit of money, sometimes loosing all the moeny they had on them.
Even if you get refused entry to a coffeeshop because of your age or something, DO NOT USE THESE GUYS!!!

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The first day i was there I was like "no thanks" which to them meant follow you up the street and keep bothering you. The 2nd day i just shook my head "no". By day 3 i just totally ignored the scum. By prepared to hit them, strike 1st if you feel at all threatened. No one in amsterdam has a gun. But if these people think they can intimidate you they will.
That kind of sounds scary, it really is no more dangerous than london or new york. Walk confidently and ignore these people.