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EMERGENCIES AND
DRUGS |
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You're unlikely to come into contact with the police force . It's
normally possible to walk anywhere in the larger cities at any time of
day, though you should obviously be wary of pickpockets in busy places,
and badly lit or empty streets at night. If you're detained by the
police, you don't automatically have the right to a phone call, although
they'll probably phone your embassy for you. As for drugs , people over
the age of eighteen are legally allowed to buy five grammes of hashish
or marijuana (less than one-fifth of one ounce) for personal use. Don't
assume that the bar or café you're in permits dope-smoking; if in doubt,
ask. Also bear in mind that the liberal attitude exists only in
Amsterdam and the larger cities of the Randstad: elsewhere, public dope-smoking
is frowned upon. Possession of amounts less than 28 grammes (one ounce)
is ignored by police. All other narcotics - except fresh magic mushrooms
- are illegal. Check out The Honest Cannabis Info Site ( www.thc.nl ).
Regarding health, a pharmacy ( apotheek ) is the place to get a
prescription filled; all are open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm. Outside this
time there'll be a note of the nearest open pharmacy on the door. Duty
doctors at the Centrale Doktorsdienst (tel 0900/503 2042) offer general
advice about medical symptoms; otherwise head for the casualty
department of any hospital ( ziekenhuis ).
Emergency numbers
Police, fire and ambulance 112
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