In Amsterdam even good locks can’t prevent bicycles from being stolen. And few Dutch people report bike theft to the police because they think that the police won’t do anything about it.

We’ll show you how to deter thieves from stealing your bike — and how to recover it if it goes missing anyway. »

February is the coldest month throughout the Netherlands, and the the coldest time of the year to spend in Amsterdam.

But it’s also one of the driest months, and with the lengthening days you’ll see a bit more sun. »

January tends to be Amsterdam’s coldest month. Expect anything from gloomy days with (near) freezing temperatures to deep blue, cloudless skies with lots of sun.

Plan for rain and don’t be surprised to see snow… »

Tourists from countries closer to the equator are often amazed at how short Amsterdam days really are in December, with sunrise on average at about 8:30 am, and sunset around 4:30 pm. »

The weather in Amsterdam during the month of November is best characterized by word ‘turbulent.’

The Dutch often refer to November as wind- or dolmaand — windy or crazy month. »

Amsterdam weather in October: rain, sunshine and anything in between.

Average temperatures, and what to wear. »

Tourists and expats – both in plentiful supply in Amsterdam — will rejoice when a plan for Amsterdam’s public transport system to start providing information in English, instead of just Dutch, goes into effect.

The plan is part of an effort to make the city more accessible to foreigners. However, a suggestion to provide an English-language police service point was turned down. »

Starting today, Amsterdam citizens 65 years and older can use the city’s public transport system free of charge until the end of May.

The city hopes the free transport will inspire the elderly to get more involved in social activities as a way to combat social isolation. »

Yesterday we showed you the oldest map of Amsterdam, painted in 1538.

Today we present the current map of Amsterdam, as provided by Google Maps.

Try the satellite view and zoom in on Amsterdam’s historic streets, canals and buildings.

Plus: find out what the suffixes attached to Amsterdam’s street names mean. »

How to contact Amsterdam police. »

Tourists and locals alike enjoy zipping around Amsterdam in TukTuks — the traditional Thai taxis. »

Locals refer to the taxi rank at Amsterdam Central Station as the ‘Gaza Strip’ — an indication of the boorish behavior of many unsavory taxi drivers found at that location. »

The main post office in Amsterdam — and local alternatives for those who don’t like long lines. »

How to use your cell phone in the Netherlands. »

Amsterdam is a safe city for women of all ages traveling alone or together, but normal safety precautions do apply. »

Seventeenth-century masons built Amsterdam on a foundation of wooden poles planted in soggy, sandy ground, leaving behind a beautiful architectural museum — but one with walls prone to sinking or crumbling without warning. So how do you dig a subway under it? Very carefully. »

You may need a travel converter and an international plug adapter kit to make use of your electronic equipment while traveling in the Netherlands. »

Current date and time in Amsterdam, Netherlands »

Amsterdam is full of funky bikes — painted, decorated, and otherwise personalized. Plain bikes, once parked, are harder to find. »

We have a prediction. Mark our words: If you visit the Netherlands — or, so help you God, move here – you will sooner or later buy a book titled, “The Undutchables.” Here’s why… »

The Undutchables is a highly popular caricature of — and guide to — the Dutch. Aside from over-the-top observations, the book (considered essential reading by Holland’s large expat community) includes useful information generally not found in tourist guides. Here’s how to order a beer in Amsterdam. »

While The Undutchables could rightly be described as a caricature of the Dutch, certain aspects of Dutch society are described with painful accuracy. Take, for instance, the way we board and exit public transportation. »

Gedogen is a Dutch word that, in essence, means something is illegal but not illegal. »

‘Poldermodel’ is a Dutch term for an approach in which efforts are made to reach a broad national (or local) consensus on important issues. »

Mike’s Bike Tours is popular with Amsterdam tourists for both bike tours and bicycle rentals. »