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A video shared by an Indian social media user has gone viral after capturing a busy street in Amsterdam strewn with litter, igniting a heated debate about civic sense, cultural stereotypes, and cleanliness standards across countries. The clip, posted by Rahul Mahajan earlier this week, shows piles of garbage scattered across the pavements and tram tracks near Amsterdam Central, one of the city’s busiest tourist hubs.

Mahajan’s post, which includes a commentary in Hindi, directly challenges common stereotypes about India’s cleanliness. In the viral video, he says, “People say India doesn’t have civic sense, but the streets of Amsterdam Central are full of trash.” Text overlaid on the video further emphasizes the contrast: “These streets of Amsterdam are filled with garbage, and yet foreigners say Indians don’t have civic sense.”

The post was captioned, “British says Indians do not have civic sense and see their own civic sense,” reflecting Mahajan’s criticism of generalizations made about India.

The footage shows heaps of litter, including cups, bottles, food wrappers, and paper waste, lying scattered across what is usually considered one of Europe’s most organized and tourist-friendly cities.

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A post shared by Rahul Mahajan (@rahulmahajan.x)

Mixed Reactions Pour In Online

The video quickly sparked a wave of reactions, with thousands of users weighing in. The comments became a battleground of opinions, ranging from support to counter-arguments. A section of users pointed out that the area around Amsterdam Central is particularly crowded and often gets messy due to heavy tourist footfall. One Instagram user wrote, “Amsterdam Central is a bit messy, but cleanliness in other areas is very good. Tourists only see this part and judge the whole Netherlands.”

Another commenter, claiming to be a local resident, added, “I live in Amsterdam, and the mess is actually made by tourists.”

Others seized the moment to draw comparisons between India and Europe. “Cleaner than some Indian roads,” one user quipped, while another remarked, “Some people will never praise India, no matter what.”

Sparking A Larger Conversation On Civic Sense

While some defended Amsterdam’s overall cleanliness, others said the video highlighted an important truth, that no country is free from littering problems and civic sense is not limited to any nationality.

Many users thanked Mahajan for “showing the other side” of Western cities that are often idealized in comparison to Indian urban spaces. The video has since become a point of discussion on social media platforms, prompting a broader debate on tourist behaviour, cultural stereotypes, and the universal responsibility of maintaining public cleanliness.

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