In a vibrant, diverse city like Amsterdam, feeling safe in your home or business has never been more important. From densely populated neighborhoods and foot traffic to historic buildings, Amsterdam has its share of unique security challenges. Break-ins occur — often swiftly, silently and surprisingly — with little apparatus. With the advancement of home breaking-in, average locks are insufficient to keep intruders out anymore.
There are many ways to keep your property safe, but one of the best is to install high-security locks. These locks are much stronger, more intelligent in design, and come with better anti-intrusion features than standard cylinders. It doesn’t matter if you’re the lease holder of a century-old apartment in De Pijp or the proprietor of a retail storefront located in Amsterdam Centrum; securing high-security locks with Amsterdam Locksmith can amp up how secure your space feels.
In this post, we’ll discuss what high-security locks are good for, how they operate, and why you might want one in Amsterdam.
What Are High-Security Locks?
High security locks are designed to resist more against forced entry and illegal access. They are made of hardened steel and other reinforced materials, often with a complex pin system that makes them resistant to the easy picking, bumping or drilling one might use against a cheaper lock. In the Netherlands, such locks can be certified by SKG, an independent test house which evaluates security products.
SKG Press Ratings
SKG Press ratings are from 1 to 3 stars:
- SKG1 – basic security
- SKG2 – extra security
- SKG3 – highest protection against drilling, picking, and pulling
With Amsterdam businesses and houses, it’s become the gold standard too against most common types of break-ins in your area.
Standard Locks vs. High-Security Locks
Many of Amsterdam’s older buildings rely on old cylinders that are unable to thwart modern methods of entry. These traditional locks frequently feature easily exploited mechanisms a burglar can bypass in mere seconds.
Features of High-Security Locks
- Anti-pick pins
- Anti-bump mechanisms
- Drill-resistant metal plates
- Reinforced cores
- Key duplication control
You wouldn’t believe the difference. Where a simple lock is defeated under force, a high security lock is engineered not to be overcome even with forced entry tools or sophisticated break-in methods.
Reasons Why Amsterdammers Should Consider High-Security Locks
Older Buildings With Easy-to-Exploit Doors
Original doors were generally never designed to fit the locks we use today and so many homes in neighborhoods such as Oud-West, Jordaan and Oud-Zuid have incredibly vulnerable entrances. Most of the older doorframes can offer more convenience to burglars who engage in lock bumping or cylinder pulling.
Busy Streets and Shared Entrances
In high-traffic neighborhoods — especially apartment complexes and cohabitated dwellings — keys are shared among roommates, cleaners or short-term guests. Most high security locks eliminate the threat of duplicated keys and unauthorized access.
Familiar Burglary Methods in Amsterdam
Burglars here commonly use:
- Cylinder pulling (cilinder trekken)
- Drilling
- Lock bumping
- Slip-in or hotel-passing techniques
High-security locks are engineered so that these techniques won’t work.
The Advantages of High-Security Locks
Strong Protection Against Break-Ins
High security cylinders are constructed with various materials of metals, protective shields and hardened interiors. They are resistant to force, drilling and tampering much more than a regular cylinder. For a lot of burglars, encountering a high-security lock suggests that they should move on to less fortified pastures.
Bump-Proof and Pick-Proof Engineering
Among the most common are lock bumping — a way that employs a specially cut key to unlock standard cylinders. The very high security locks feature highly advanced pinning systems which completely shut out bumping tools. The same thing goes for picking: the internal mechanism can’t be tackled with common picking tools.
Restricted Key Duplication
Superior key control is one of the main benefits to high security cylinders. These keys are not duplicable without authorization, which typically involves a card and an ID. For landlords, property managers and Airbnb hosts in future Amsterdam, that means keys don’t have to float around in the wrong hands.
Long Lifespan and Durable Performance
The frequent rain and dampness of Amsterdam can quickly destroy a cheap lock. High-security locks are constructed from corrosion-resistant materials that remain dependable for many years. Which is a way of saying there will be fewer service calls, fewer replacements and less of a long term cost.
Better Protection for Insurance Compliance
SKG2 or SKG3 locks are demanded by many insurance companies in the Netherlands, particularly in high risk areas. Having a high-security lock fitted also protects your security and helps make insurance claims go smoothly in the event of a burglary. And depending on the insurer, some may even reduce rates following a security upgrade.
Compatibility With Smart Lock Systems
Amsterdam residents are becoming more smarthome friendly! Some of these new smart locks operate “transparently” with big brand SKG3 profiles, so homeowners can enjoy remote access options without compromising the physical layer security giving locksmiths and installers freedom to carefully consider their preferred SKG3 choice.
Best Type of High-Security Locks for Amsterdam
SKG3 Cylinder Locks
These provide high drill, pick and pull resistance. M&C, EVVA, DOM and CISA are brands with great reputation for reliability and performance.
Multi-Point Locking Systems
Ideal for older Amsterdam doors, these locking systems lock the door into the frame in several places at once so that forced entry is almost impossible.
Anti-Snap Cylinders
Particularly useful for houses with external locks like those found in Centrum, Oost and Bos en Lommer. Bump resistant – this cylinder is designed to prevent bumping which can help toward preventing unwanted violation.
Who Needs High-Security Locks?
- Homeowners in Busy Neighborhoods – Provides enough security to make sure your property is safe.
- Apartment Residents – Shared hallways, communal storage spaces and more foot traffic invite the opportunity for theft.
- Business Owners – Stores, coffee shops and other businesses have valuable equipment and cash. High-security locks help lower the chances of after-hour break-ins.
- Short-Term Rental Hosts – Limited keys and anti pick pins ensure that your property is secure when for rental use.
Are High-Security Locks Worth It?
Absolutely. Although the initial price may be more than that of a conventional cylinder, the rewards over time speak for themselves. Break-ins, meanwhile, cost significantly more to repair than a security breach because so much is stolen and the victims experience emotional stress. Most of these events are prevented by a high-security lock and peace of mind is preserved.
High security locks also have a longer lifespan, minimizing the amount of emergency locksmith visits and needed repairs.
Professional Installation Matters
It is not a do-it-yourself project, to install such high-security lock. A lock, even a great one, is only as good as its installation or its compatibility with the door to which it’s affixed.
Also, a professional locksmith in Amsterdam is familiar with the types of buildings and how to install SKG-approved locks – without breaching any insurance guidelines. Professional installation is an important step to ensure the quality of the lock.
Conclusion
High security locks provide superior protection against today’s break-in methods, guard your home and business from intruders and reduce the chance of unauthorized entry. In a city like Amsterdam – where older, tightly packed living quarters are the norm – lock upgrades just make perfect sense.
Homeowners, business owners, and landlords can all benefit from high security locks which offer long-term protection, peace of mind and insurance compliance.
Should you ever have trouble selecting a compatible lock or need professional installation, contact a local locksmith in Amsterdam to keep your premises thoroughly protected.
