Posted on: janvier 2, 2025

How to Recover Lost Items in Amsterdam: The Complete Lost and Found Guide for 2025

Lost and Found Amsterdam is more than a city service—it’s your lifeline when panic sets in. Losing your phone, wallet, or passport in a busy city like Amsterdam can ruin your trip fast. But don’t stress—this expert-backed guide shows exactly how to act quickly, recover your items, and stay safe, based on local knowledge and trusted sources.

Lost and Found Amsterdam: The Ultimate Guide to Recovering Lost Items in the City

Losing something in a busy city like Amsterdam can be stressful, especially if you’re a tourist. But don’t worry — this guide will walk you through exactly what to do if you’ve lost (or found) something. Whether it’s your phone, bag, wallet, or even AirPods, there are reliable ways to increase your chances of getting it back.

In this guide, you’ll learn where people commonly lose items in Amsterdam, how to report lost property, where to go to reclaim it, and how to use apps like this revolutionary Find My application to track your belongings. Let’s dive in.

Common Places Items Get Lost in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a vibrant, fast-moving city. It’s also a place where items get lost all the time — especially by tourists. Knowing the most common places where people lose their belongings can help you retrace your steps faster.

Top locations include:

• Public transportation: GVB trams, metro lines, and buses often collect lost items. Many people forget bags, phones, or jackets on seats or luggage racks.

• Dutch Railways (NS trains): Amsterdam Centraal and Schiphol Airport stations are common places where things go missing during travel.

• Tourist attractions: Busy areas like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Vondelpark, or canal tours are frequent places for misplaced items.

• Cafés, bars, and hotels: Especially in the Jordaan, De Pijp, and Red Light District neighborhoods.

• Bike parking areas: With so many cyclists, bags or items in baskets are often forgotten or dropped.

The more specific you are about where you lost the item, the better your chances of recovering it.

How to Report a Lost Item in Amsterdam?

If you’ve lost something, don’t wait — act quickly. Amsterdam has several official and centralized systems in place to help people report and track down their lost belongings.

Here’s how to start:

1. Use iLost: Go to iLost.co — a Dutch platform used by public transport companies, police, hotels, and many local businesses. Just type what you lost and where.

2. Contact GVB: For items lost on trams, buses, and the metro, use the GVB website’s lost and found section. Items usually take up to 3 days to appear.

3. Dutch Railways (NS): For train-related items, visit NS Lost & Found. You can also call customer service.

4. Schiphol Airport: If you lost something at or near the airport, use their dedicated lost property page.

5. Report to the police: For valuables like passports, IDs, or wallets, file a report at the nearest police station or online via politie.nl.

Be ready to describe your item clearly — brand, color, shape, time lost, and any identifying marks.

Where to Find Lost and Found Offices in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has several dedicated lost and found locations depending on where the item was lost. Knowing the right place to go can save you a lot of time.

Here are the main ones:

• GVB Lost & Found Office
  Located at the GVB Service & Tickets offices at Amsterdam Centraal Station. Items from trams, metros, and buses are stored here after processing.

• NS Lost and Found
  For trains, items are handled by Dutch Railways and can be claimed after submitting an online form. You’ll be notified if your item is found.

• Amsterdam Municipality Lost and Found
  If you lost something in a public space (not related to transport), check with the city’s lost property department: amsterdam.nl/lostfound

• Schiphol Airport Lost & Found
  For items lost on flights, in lounges, or at airport gates, visit the Schiphol Lost and Found portal.

Each office has different holding times — from 5 days to 3 months — so check their policies.

Using the Find My App to Locate Your Devices

If you’ve lost an Apple device or Bluetooth item, this Find My app is your best friend. It can track iPhones, iPads, AirPods, MacBooks, and even third-party Bluetooth trackers using the Find My network.

How to Use It:

1. Open the Find My app on another Apple device

2. Tap Devices ou alors Items to see a live map of your gear.

3. You can often mark it as Lost, play a sound, or get notified when it’s found.

4. If your device was stolen, you can remotely erase your data.

For enhanced functionality, download the latest Find My-compatible app here: Apple Find My (App Store)

This is especially useful for:

• AirTags in luggage

• AirPods left behind in cafés or hotels

• iPhones lost on trams or tours

Even if the device is offline, Find My can show its last known location.

👉 Want an even easier way to track your phone in real-time?
Visit FindMyPhoneApp.io — a simple, user-friendly tool designed to help you locate and secure your phone instantly, even across devices and platforms. Perfect for travelers and locals alike.

5 Best Tips to Improve Your Chances of Getting Items Back

Timing and accuracy make a huge difference when trying to recover a lost item. Follow these practical tips to boost your chances:

1. Act fast: The quicker you report the loss, the more likely your item hasn’t moved far.

2. Be detailed: Provide a clear description including brand, color, model, and any unique feature.

3. Keep proof: Receipts, photos, serial numbers, or Apple device identifiers (IMEI, serial number) help verify ownership.

4. Follow up: Don’t just submit a report and wait. Call or check the lost and found office after a few days.

5. Use English and Dutch: If you’re posting online or talking to staff, having both versions can help.

Many lost items are recovered in Amsterdam — it just takes patience and persistence.

What to Do If You Find Someone Else’s Belongings

If you find something in Amsterdam, don’t keep it — Dutch law requires you to hand it in within a reasonable time.

Here’s what to do:

• Public transport: Give the item to GVB or NS staff immediately.

• Public places: Hand it in to the nearest police station or the Amsterdam City Hall lost & found desk.

• Hotels/restaurants: Give it to the manager or reception. They often use iLost or have their own logs.

If you decide to hold onto the item temporarily, you must report it online via verlorenofgevonden.nl — this ensures legal compliance and gives the owner a chance to reclaim it.

Helping others get their items back is part of what makes Amsterdam so welcoming.

Final Thoughts

Losing something in Amsterdam doesn’t have to ruin your trip or day. With the city’s strong infrastructure for lost and found services — plus tools like the Find My app — there’s a good chance you can recover your belongings.

Act quickly, use the right channels, and stay positive. You’re not alone — hundreds of people recover lost items in Amsterdam every day.