Overheard: Amsterdam tourist season

Thursday, August 21, 2025

colour photograph of a sunset behind a canal in Amsterdam

As the sun sets on an Amsterdam summer tourist season, here are 17 random things I overheard tourists saying in Amsterdam in summer 2025.

  • It was presented as a democratic process, but it was not!

  • The best thing about wearing this skirt is my phone doesn't pull it down.

  • No, no, no, we will just buy the juice!

  • When you're in love, you're in the bubble, like, all the time.

  • Don't get me wrong, I love a good sunset, but I'm not gonna Instagram it! 

  • I could live here. This is the best weather we've had, this is all I fucking care about!

  • He used to be an addict, like a big addict. Did he tell you that?

  • You look stunning! If you'd have come to dinner dressed like that, we'd be wowed.

  • I don't wanna, like, work hard as fuck for that. So I'm not gonna go.

  • You haven't seen it yet, but I can get pretty fiery.

  • Small little boats with little or no entertainment? Ann and Steve did one and they said it was HORRIBLE, and I'll be taking their recommendation!

  • I don't fuck with mixing sweet and savoury.

  • That's like a firecracker, went right off in my throat!

  • She's an actress, a dancer AND an educator.

  • They didn't think about mental illness... that is literally insane! No pun intended.

  • Is that in New York?! Mo-Maaaa?! We'll look it up!

  • You're a troubled lady, aren't you?