Hmm, I think I’ve discovered something.

Ringing the police to complain about the dealers and junkies can be a frustrating experience. You know they’re dealing/using, because they’ve been hanging around for ages, but that’s not illegal. And, more often than not, the bad guys have scattered if/when the police approach. Or even worse, your complaint is so vague, you just know that the police will probably ignore it.

BUT, if someone is playing loud music on the street, that is a concrete complaint that the police can deal with. So the magic words, “Ze spelen muziek op straat”, does seem to get a prompt reaction (within 5 minutes!) from the police.