Mosquitos in Amsterdam
 

The internet is flush with tales of the mosquitos in Amsterdam, particularly near the canals. We are contemplating renting a houseboat the last week in October. Can anyone speak to that issue for that time of year?

Much obliged...bdj

I have been going to Amsterdam for many years and often sit and picnic by the canals - I do not remember any mosquitoes ever so if so that is a very recent trend within the last year.

Ignore those rumors as IME they are just not true.

I mean I have sat a collective zillions of hours by canals and never seen a mosquito!

Now, this is many years ago, but I brought my boat up to Amsterdam in late Summer from the Med, and stayed through the Winter. I do not recall any mosquito problem anywhere on the journey. We did another trip on the upper Saone in September a few years ago, and had no issue with the critters. My Wife is sensitive to their bites, and I surely would have heard about it (loudly) if it had been an issue.

I suppose one could have a problem if you moored near stagnant water, but the actual canals of Amsterdam are regularly flushed to keep them (relatively) fresh, which should minimize that problem. I cannot believe that the residents of Amsterdam would tolerate being plagued by the creatures.

I haven't noticed a mosquito problem, and by October most mozzies will be dead or hibernating or whatever they do.
The canals aren't stagnant, and mosquitoes need standing water to breed.
I wouldn't worry about it.

Never remember seeing or feeling a mosquito in that city and I've been at all times of the year, too.

<i> Mosquitos in Amsterdam
Posted by: bdj on Apr 13, 14 at 12:48pm </i>

On your other identical post find my identical reply
"Never saw a mosquito in several years of living in Haarlem. At that time of the year you probably wouldn't even see one in southern France."

Been to Amsterdam a fair number of times at all times of year and never encountered a mosquito.

I agree that mosquitos are unlikely to be a problem in late October but this anecdotal evidence from tourists is --- never mind.

There are mosquitos in summer in Amsterdam. Plenty.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=768587

http://www.asthebirdfliesblog.com/20...l#.U0r3OBys-zl

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Province.html

And this from a Netherlands-based website:

Tips
The humidity during the months of July and August turns Amsterdam into an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Pharmacies and some drug stores carry a mosquitoes repellent by the unlikely name of ‘Muggenmelk’ (literally, mosquitoes milk). Those whose blood is favored by the tiny pests swear that Muggenmelk provides the best defense.

http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/1971-am...ther-in-august

And here is a review of a hotel on the canals in Amsterdam:

"Our room was in the basement and had only one small window approx 18" x 18" without a screen. The window was open when we arrived, but the room was full of mosquitos so we closed it. The room was warm and there was no air conditioning and we couldn't open the window, so the night was pretty miserable. I actually slept on the bathroom floor because it was cooler and there were less mosquitos. There were smashed mosquitos all over the walls, so the staff obviously knew that this was an issue. On the positive side, the staff was very helpful and friendly and the location was very good."

There are mosquitos in summer in Amsterdam. Plenty>

I'll take my, St-Cirq's and spaarne's and others experience of having been to Amsterdam zillions of times in summer and never seeing a mosquito - a good example of internet hype that definitely is NOYT true.

Oh, but ours is just anecdotal evidence from tourists, pal;)

bdj,

Here is another review of hotel guests in the Pulitzer, which is right on the canal.

"“Good location, terrible mosquito problem.”
Reviewed 20 April 2012
Loved the location, a block away from the Anne Frank House and all major monuments and squares. Amsterdam is truly a beautiful city and the hotel is very quaint and has lots of character. Service was good and food options were optimal. However, after our first night's stay I had at least 10 mosquito bites on my upper body, including my face, not good. My husband was attacked fiercely by the mosquitoes and his arms were badly bitten. We complained to the concierge who said they would spray something in the room but that never happened and the mosquitoes kept biting us until we managed to kill them all ourselves. They were so big there were little blood splatters on the wall whenever we got one. They need to get this issue under control, if this happens in cold weather I can't even imagine how bad it gets in the summer sitting right next to a canal.

Stayed April 2012, travelled as a couple"

Pal et al,

I am sure you would all take each other's word for anyhting. This is someone else's trip so the need better information.

whether or not there may be mosquitoes in some hotel rooms I do not know - never saw any in the flop houses I have stayed in so assume that would be a rarity - maybe standing fresh water in the back garden, etc.

Buying a Frommer's guidebook might help

http://books.google.it/books?id=Rba6...0canal&f=false

Or this, from "insider's tips" for Amsterdam

--Despite Amsterdam's northerly location, mosquitoes can be a problem in summer. Take electronic zappers and repellent.

http://www.simonseeks.com/insider-ti...terdam__165522

Review of the Bridge Hotel near several canals in Amsterdam:

"
- When the housekeeper cleans the room they would sometimes leave the balcony doors open to air out the room. Of course, Amsterdam being surrounded by canals everywhere, mosquitoes would fly into your room and make themselves at home. I've spent nights awake as tiny little mosquitoes buzzed my ear and I would box my ears trying to swat at them. I've made myself deaf on a few occasions as I missed and hit my ear. Ugh!! Bring some DEET or citronella candles in case this happens."

Balony - mosquitoes never ever were a problem the 20 summers when I spend a few weeks in Amsterdam - camping by the way right inside the city - in an area surrounded by canals.

sandralist is just being a Cassandra without any firsthand knowledge it is obvious. Ignore.

This appears to be a very serious issue for the P.S. Queen.

Regarding possible mosquito activity in October, this is from a health website for the Netherlands:

"There are 21 species of mosquito in the Netherlands and 1,200 worldwide. They are active during the summer and autumn. Given the precarious weather conditions in the Netherlands, many like nothing better than hanging out in bedrooms where they are safe from the elements, and the females have one or more passive victims to choose from during the night."

whether or not there may be mosquitoes in some hotel rooms I do not know - never saw any in the flop houses I have stayed in so assume that would be a rarity>>

roughly 10 or so years ago in April we stayed in a hotel in Amsterdam which was not by a canal, had no garden, and really it was not a lot of cop apart from the fact that it had private parking. our room was full of mozzies which plagued us for the entire 4 nights; our kids in a different part of the hotel never saw a single one.

After that we invested in one of those plug-in repellents, which we have taken everywhere with us, but only needed to use last year in Wanaka [New Zealand]. it worked a treat!

So i would take one with me anyway - they take up a bit of room, but they are much better than being eaten alive!

Re: mosquitoes in August near canal?
Jun 29, 2013, 3:37 PM
Never seen a mozzie yet on my place and I live by a canal. The weather has been terrible, hardly tropical so no mozzies yet.

By the way mosquito larvae prefer stagnant water so a small pool on a roof would be better for them rather than being disturbed by passing boats so staying away from canals woud not really solve anything.>

TripAdvisor that sandralis is cherry picking from also congtains many entries like the above.

The hotel's mosquitoes were probably caused by standing fresh water on the roof like it says in post above.

I think giving someone accurate information is serious, yes.

Just also happen to be seriously science minded, not "If I never saw it it must not exist!"

For the science minded, turns out the Dutch malarial studies are some of the key studies in studying mosquito behavior because the Netherlands had such a severe mosquito problem until it was declared malaria-free in 1970.

Here's what I would want to know if I was traveling to Amsterdam in late October and thinking of renting a houseboat:

"The peak of naturally infected patients in the Dutch
summer did not coincide with the period when mosquitoes
were found to be infected. The population was still
building- up outdoors, and few mosquitoes acquired an
infection. In a search to find the crucial period for survival
of P. vivax in a temperate climate, it turned out
that the peak of infected mosquitoes occurred in the
autumn when female mosquitoes were seeking shelter
inside houses, and where they kept taking blood meals."

Malaria may be gone, but I would doubt shelter-seeking mozzies are.

bdj,

up to you what you want to believe and do. I have no opinion or advice (other not to use one-shot answers in social media to plan a trip.)

OK pack some DEET!

The hotel's mosquitoes were probably caused by standing fresh water on the roof like it says in post above.>>

possibly, though i don't recall its having a flat roof. My points were a) that there are mozzies in amsterdam, b) they may be present even if you don't experience them yourself c) those plug in things really work - and for a room/cabin may be better than a spray or similar that you put on yourself as they don't stop the buzzing, and you may miss a bit.

My apartment was at the corner of the Spaarne River and the Bakenessergracht (canal) in Haarlem. I had Dutch air conditioning - open window, no screen. Never had a mosquito, but did have dog poop on my doorstep. Later I lived on the west side of Haarlem. There was a ditch across the street. It always had standing water but never a mosquito inside the house, again with Dutch air conditioning. This is not anecdotal. This is fact.

Being as there is a nearly constant drizzle in Holland there are likely pools which would enable breeding. Some people were apparently unlucky being near a breeding puddle.

I remember trying to breed there one night in 84. I got bit on the rear. Mosquito I think.

I've encountered mosquitoes in Amsterdam in July (staying out near Liedsplein). Perhaps there was standing water in nearby Vondelpark. I can't imagine any still hanging around in October so I think the OP will be fine.

Sure, there are mosquito's in Amsterdam. Not many compared to Sweden in the midst of summer, but when enjoying a late meal on the deck during a hot week in July or August it may seem like they are everywhere (especially when lights are switched on). OTOH, if you've ever sat on a lakeside in Sweden in the midst of summer, you'll hardly notice the few bugs in Amsterdam (it is said the Swedes don't start complaining about mosquito's until a baseball hat stays afloat mid-air when tossing it in the air).

In Amsterdam in October you'll probably won't notice them. Chances are it'll be too cold to enjoy the deckchairs in the evening anyway and mosquito's don't like the typical Dutch October-temperatures.

If it happens to be unusually warm at that time of the year and mosquito's do get into the boat, buy some cheap stick-on mosquito-nets to seal the windows with. These things shouldn't cost most than a couple of bucks and it takes mere minutes to "install" them. When you're at it, get a couple of (electric) flyswatters (that won't break the bank either), organize a hunt for half an hour and presto, a bugfree boat!

Never said there weren't any skeeters in Amsterdam but the OP's question was about them infesting the canals and sitting for hours and hours by canals I have never seen one skeeter. That they may be in hotel rooms or on outdoor patios no doubt.

To bad. We will be in Amsterdam mid-May are were hoping for a GTG with mosquitos, but since they will not be there, it will be tough.

I picked a new car up in Amsterdam in 2001.

It was a lovely day and there was some standing water.

I seem to remember some insects in the air, could have been Mosquitos or Horseflies.

Not sure if this helps.

What was the manufacturer's warranty on mosquitos?

It was an Audi, so we had 3 years unlimited malaria cover.

I will check our trip photos, see if I can identify the insects.

Be sure to check the ones that are smeared all over the hood and windshield, too.

They were Dutch flying bedbugs.

We have a lovely recipe in Lancashire. Eccles cakes : currants and raisins cased in puff pastry. Locally known as a "fly graveyard".

God, there's nothing on telly tonight.

I'm in Hamburg most of the summer, pretty far from any standing water. We just had screens put on the windows. YAY!

For years I kept the windows shut and the lights off in the evening, even if got stifling.

The problem is not vast hordes of mosquitos like you get in the States, queueing up in formation for a peck - - not at all. The problem is one mosquito - - just ONE - - in the bedroom.

In the past they were easy prey -- you turn on the light, the thing comes over to the light and parks on the wall, and you slap it, and get a bloody spot on the wall. No problem. But now there is an even smaller African breed of mosquito, that does not behave predictably. You hear it humming with that high pitched whine like a Messerschmidt ready to land on your ear, you turn the light on, and ... nothing. This can last hours. You do NOT want a single mosquito in your room at night, and in summer, you HAVE to take evasive action (the worst being sticking one leg out from under the covers and letting them have at it), unless you can find some heroin and then sleep like a bear.