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Teenaged son

My 15-year-old son wants to hang out on the Leidseplein every Saturday night. He has to be in by 1.30, but we are still worried about what he is getting up to. Help.

Don't worry. The Leidesplein is so full of bouncers and policemen he is probably perfectly safe. Home by 1.30? Thing's won't have really gotten going yet. You can expect that first 'Can I be back at 2' phone call around 1.15.

There is a group of parents in Friesland who have got up a petition trying to get bars and clubs to close earlier so that teenagers go out earlier, come home earlier and can then get up in the morning.

Don't forget, at 15, he is not allowed legally to drink in cafés and bars - and bartenders are getting a lot better at checking ID with all the fuss about teenage drinking.

I wouldn't worry too much - Dutch teens are pretty good in the city. Its in the rural areas where things tend to get out of hand.