Filming in Amsterdam proved problematic, with crowd control being a major issue. In many instances, Peter Davison drew the attention of Dutch viewers, because they recognised him from his role as Tristan Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small (1978). John Nathan-Turner tried to assist Ron Jones in dealing with the onlookers, and he is indeed is visible in the transmitted episode shooing away a group of gawkers in the background of the scene in which the Doctor and Nyssa use a telephone box. At one point, Nathan-Turner's attempts at crowd control became dangerous when an elderly woman assumed he was a thief and attacked him. On another occasion, several members of the cast and crew decided to take a walk around Amsterdam. Unfamiliar with the city, they suddenly found themselves in its infamous red light district, where Janet Fielding was mistaken for a prostitute.
Tegan is the first companion to have rejoined the Doctor on his travels after having departed (although other companions/recurring characters had previously left the Doctor's company then reappeared), though she only departed in the previous story.
The Dutch street organ that transfixes Omega for a moment during part four is playing the song "Tulips from Amsterdam". The same music is heard during the establishing shot of Amsterdam at the start of Arc of Infinity: Part One (1983).
This episode was watched by 7.2 million viewers on its original transmission.