Foreign Office updates Amsterdam travel advice and warns UK tourists 'follow guidance closely'

UK tourists visiting Amsterdam have been warned to 'follow local guidance closely' after a violent incident in the city. The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for the Netherlands on Monday, November 11.

It followed an incident on Thursday, November 7, in which Israeli football fans were targeted in what the local mayor described as 'hit and run' attacks. The attacks caused five people to be hospitalised and led to 62 arrests.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered to protest in Dam Square on Sunday, calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza. Demonstrations had been temporarily banned after Thursday's incident and dozens of people were reportedly arrested for defying the order.

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With tension growing in the city, the British Foreign Office has issued a safety warning to UK travellers heading to the area. It said: "On the evening of November 7, violence broke out in Amsterdam city centre against Israeli football supporters visiting to watch the Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Ajax Europa League match. You should follow local guidance closely."

The Foreign Office has also told holidaymakers to protect their belongings as 'pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common' in central Amsterdam and may use distraction techniques.

Tourists should also be aware of fake police scams, which involves criminals using false police identities to trick tourists into handing over cash and credit cards. The official advice reads: "Be very cautious about any approaches.

"Genuine plain-clothes police will rarely carry out this type of inspection. Dutch police do not have shiny badges, which the fake police sometimes present as ID."