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Indian man shares video of littered street in Amsterdam: 'Inki civic sense dekh lo'

An Indian man shared a video of a littered Amsterdam street, sparking an online debate on civic sense.

Published on: Nov 29, 2025, 19:57:31 IST
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A video shared by an Indian traveller has sparked a lively discussion on social media after he filmed a garbage strewn street in the heart of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.

A clip posted by an Indian man showing garbage on an Amsterdam road triggered mixed reactions. (Instagram/rahulmahajan.x  )
A clip posted by an Indian man showing garbage on an Amsterdam road triggered mixed reactions. (Instagram/rahulmahajan.x )

(Also read: Indian woman in Amsterdam shows empty office at 5 pm, internet says 'Normalise this everywhere')

The user, identified as Rahul Mahajan, posted the clip on Instagram, highlighting what he described as an unusual sight in a city widely regarded for its exceptional cleanliness.

Voiceover questions common stereotypes

In the video, Mahajan captures a road littered with rubbish. His voiceover in Hindi, translated into English, states, “This street in Amsterdam Central is filled with garbage, yet people still claim that India lacks civic sense.

Take a look here at the clip:

Mahajan shared the clip with a caption that read, "Foreigners kehte hain Indians ko civic sense nahi hai aur inki khud ki civic sense dekh lo," which translates to English as, “Foreigners often say that Indians lack civic sense, but look at their own civic sense.

The contrast between Amsterdam’s global reputation for orderliness and the scene shown in the clip prompted widespread reactions online.

Mixed reactions pour in from Instagram users

The clip quickly drew attention and received a flurry of responses from Instagram users. The comment section soon became a space for contrasting viewpoints and spirited debate.

One user wrote that it was “still cleaner then most roads in India”, while another remarked that “it is cleaner than most of the roads in India and you’ll never see any paan stains in trains or anywhere in Amsterdam”. A different viewer commented that “some people will never praise India”, whereas another supported Mahajan by saying “yes I completely agree with you bro”.

The discussion continued with one user questioning why Indians “are always get questioned for civic sense”, while another added humourously that “don’t dare bro, Europeans will get offended.

(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)

  • Mahipal Singh Chouhan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Mahipal Singh Chouhan

    Mahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. His work primarily focuses on offbeat and trending stories that reflect everyday experiences and evolving conversations on the internet. He has consistently worked on transforming viral content and human interest stories into structured news pieces that engage readers while maintaining editorial clarity. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal contributes to identifying and developing stories emerging from social media trends, online communities, and real-world incidents that capture public attention. His approach involves adding context and journalistic perspective to fast-moving digital narratives, helping present viral moments in a clear and reader-friendly format suited for digital audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling practices. Mahipal holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. He is particularly interested in tracking emerging trends and understanding how online conversations evolve into broader public discussions. His work reflects a focus on accuracy, readability, and relevance in the rapidly changing digital news environment. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Mahipal takes an interest in history and sports and regularly works on improving his general knowledge, which complements his curiosity as a media professional.Read More

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