Mosquitos in Amsterdam
Apr 13th, 2014, 01:20 PM
#21
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!
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!
Apr 13th, 2014, 01:20 PM
#22
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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.
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.
Apr 13th, 2014, 01:30 PM
#24
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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.)
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.)
Apr 13th, 2014, 01:42 PM
#26
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.
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.
Apr 13th, 2014, 03:21 PM
#27
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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.
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.
Apr 13th, 2014, 03:33 PM
#29
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.
Apr 14th, 2014, 07:41 AM
#30
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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!
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!
Apr 14th, 2014, 07:46 AM
#31
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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.
Apr 14th, 2014, 09:40 AM
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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.
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.
Apr 14th, 2014, 12:29 PM
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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.
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.
