Amsterdam remains the drug capital of Europe, as confirmed by its… sewage

Amsterdam’s sewers are raving 🕺

Ah, Amsterdam — the city of canals, bikes, and, apparently, some of the most chemically active sewage in Europe. 

The Dutch capital’s wastewater was practically pulsing with MDMA, cannabis, and ketamine, according to new research by the European Drugs Agency (EUDA). 

The study analysed sewage from 128 cities across 26 countries last year, and surprise, surprise…

NL drug test results are in (and wild)

Amsterdam gets high and ranks high, taking first place for MDMA, ketamine and cannabis traces in sewage water across Europe, as NU reports. 

While Antwerp takes the European crown for cocaine traces (congrats?!), Amsterdam’s levels still top the Netherlands.

Basically, the capital’s sewers are less drainage system, more ongoing afterparty.

Elsewhere in Dutch drains

It’s not just ‘Dam getting wasted; traces were relatively high in other Dutch cities.

Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Groningen also made the MDMA top 10, while Eindhoven was suspiciously absent. 👀

READ MORE | We tried out the Netherlands’ new LEGAL weed in Almere: Here’s what we thought

That’s because they dump the evidence — er, we mean drug waste — in that region, influencing MDMA and methamphetamine test results.

Party peaks on the weekend

The study also uncovered that MDMA and cocaine levels peak during the weekend — shocking no one. 🤷‍♀️

Meth, on the other hand, stays more consistently present throughout the week.

 Do you think it’s time for a drug detox in the Netherlands? Drop your thoughts below (but not into the sewage system, please). 👇

Feature image:Depositphotos

Accuracy, clarity, and a touch of humour — that’s DutchReview. Read our editorial mission.

Federica Marconi
Federica Marconi
Federica was born in Rome but decided life wasn’t chaotic enough — so she moved to the Netherlands in 2019, right before a global pandemic (impeccable timing!). While mastering the art of coffee as a barista, she also conquered an MA in English Literature & Culture. She dreams of opening a literary café where books and coffee fuel deep conversations. Until then, she writes. And drinks a lot of coffee.

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