Back door security in Amsterdam: basements, souterrains and the doors nobody sees
Back door security covers every entrance that is out of sight from the street, including the back door onto a courtyard or garden, the basement door under the stoop and the souterrain windows at pavement level; these are the doors and windows a burglar can work on without being seen.
The front door of an Amsterdam house gets a solid lock, a security plate and a camera doorbell. The back door gets whatever was there when you moved in. For a burglar that is an easy choice.
Back door security is the subject most people skip, and in a city of shared gardens, courtyards and alleys it is where the real risk sits. This blog looks at three weak spots: the back door, the basement door and the souterrain.
The back door onto the garden or courtyard
Many Amsterdam back doors are older than the front door, have a single point lock and a cylinder that sticks out, and are hidden behind a fence or a shed. Once a burglar is in the garden, nobody sees what happens next.
The fixes are the same as for a front door: an anti snap cylinder, a security plate and ideally a second lock, because a single bolt in an old wooden door gives way to a shoulder. Check the hinges too; a door that lifts off its hinges does not need a lock to be opened.
The basement door under the stoop
Houses in the canal ring, De Pijp and Oud-West often have a door under the front steps, leading to a basement or a souterrain flat. It sits below street level, half hidden, and is rarely used, so the lock is rarely checked.
If it connects to the house, it is a direct route in. Fit it with the same cylinder and plate as the front door, and if it is never used, add a sturdy bolt on the inside.
Souterrain windows at pavement level
Windows at knee height on the pavement are the classic weak spot of the souterrain: old, often single glazed and closed with one catch. A burglar kneels down, slides the catch and climbs in, shielded by parked bikes. Window locks that hold the frame shut, or bars on windows that never open, remove that option. On an escape route, choose a lock that opens from inside without a key.
Sheds, bike storage and the route to the back
Sometimes the weak spot is not the house at all. A shed with a thin padlock holds the ladder that reaches the balcony. A shared bike storage with a broken lock leads to the back doors of six homes. If your back door can be reached through a shared space, that shared lock matters as much as your own; raise it with the building manager or the neighbours.
What we do
Locksmith Amsterdam checks the back of the house with the same care as the front: cylinders, plates, hinges, bolts and window locks. Where a lock is worn, our lock repair service puts it right; where it is too weak, our lock replacement service fits a cylinder and fitting that match the front door. The options are on the lock security page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the back door more at risk than the front door?
Because nobody sees it. A burglar can work on a back door or a souterrain window for minutes without being noticed from the street.
What does a secure back door need?
An anti snap cylinder that sits flush behind a security plate, solid hinges and, on an old wooden door, a second lock or a multipoint lock.
Should I secure a basement door I never use?
Yes. If it connects to the house it is a route in. Fit a proper cylinder and use the inside bolt, or add a sturdy bolt if the door stays closed.
How do I secure a souterrain window?
With a window lock that holds the frame shut, or bars on a window that never opens. On an escape route, use a lock that opens from inside without a key.
Can Locksmith Amsterdam check the back of my house?
Yes. Call +31 (0)20 210 1986 and we check every door and window at the back, day or night, with the price confirmed before we start.
Not sure how the back of your house holds up? Call Locksmith Amsterdam on +31 (0)20 210 1986. We check back doors, basement doors and souterrain windows on site and confirm the price before we start.
