Can you drink tap water in Amsterdam?

The answer is yes! Drinking water from taps in the city is very safe to drink and even has a great taste! We tell you were to find the spots and why the water is so special.

In Amsterdam, tap water is safe to drink. The city has strict regulations on how much fluoride and other contaminants can be added to the water supply.

The Netherlands has some of the best tap water in the world.

In Amsterdam, drinking water is filtered from water in the dunes near the beach. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Netherlands has some of the safest tap water in the world, with an average of 0.1 parts per million of arsenic in the water. This is well below the WHO guideline of 1 part per million.

Tap water is tested regularly.

In fact, the Dutch government tests tap water every day. The results are published online so that everyone can see how much arsenic is present in the water. If the levels are above the limit set by the WHO, then the water company will notify residents and take steps to reduce the level of arsenic.

In Amsterdam, more than 500 free tap points are installed.

From little fountains to actual taps. An interactive map of tap points in Amsterdam is made available by Waternet.

Tap water is safer to drink than bottled water.

Soft plastic bottles (PET) can leach chemicals into the water they contain. Researchers found that the longer the water sits inside the bottle, the higher the concentration of certain chemicals. Tap water may be even healthier than water from a store bought bottle! Most bottled water is sold in soft plastic also known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Research shows that PET may be an endocrine disruptor, altering our hormonal systems.* Although this type of plastic is BPA free, phthalates in bottles can still seep into your water, especially when exposed to high temperatures or stored for an extended period of time. Some companies, such as Poland Spring, use plastic #7 for their 3-gallon water bottles. This type of plastic contains BPA, which has been banned in countries around the world, including the European Union and China, due to its toxicity. BPA exposure is linked to multiple health effects including fertility issues, altered brain development, cancer, and heart complications. 

*source: https://www.cleanwateraction.org/2020/07/29/bottled-water-human-health-consequences-drinking-plastic#:~:text=Although%20this%20type%20of%20plastic,their%203%2Dgallon%20water%20bottles.