Amsterdam is famous for an array of things, including its thriving nightlife - red light district, cannabis cafes and bars - attracting 20 million tourists per year. Rembrandt used to live in this neighbourhood you know? According to Dutch law, it is illegal to possess, sell or produce drugs. Last month, Amsterdam introduced rules that banned the smoking of marijuana on the streets of the red-light district and required businesses to shut at 3 a.m., three hours earlier than the previous time. As the article indicates, the Netherlands has a policy of toleration regarding the possession and sale of small quantities of soft drugs, although these activities are not strictly permitted in law. Elena Simons, one of the leaders of Amsterdams Reinvent Tourism movement, is working to find new and constructive ways to engage the citys tourists. Were just moving ahead and dealing with the problem, he said, adding: There is no silver bullet.. Amsterdam pot cafes fear tourist ban amid COVID recovery But not through a vote of the City Council. This policy means the coffee shops buy their stock from underground criminal growers, who mostly cultivate it illegally in the Netherlands or smuggle it in from places such as Morocco, Jamaica, Colombia and Thailand. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Amsterdam weighs ban on 'coffee shop' tourism - DW - 01/09/2021 Starting April 1, 2020, a new measure will go into effect You will get a situation where you arrive at Schiphol and the dealers ask if youd like to buy something because you cant go in a coffee shop, he explained to the Observer. Around 11% of the respondents said they would never come again to those areas. A digital discouragement campaign targeting men aged 18 to 35 in the UK. Another shows close-ups of a man being handcuffed and fingerprinted by the police. The citys council has announced a series of new bylaws that are meant to prevent the excesses of tourism including the ban on smoking weed. The laws will come into effect from mid-May and aim. He told the Observer that research for the Bond van Cannabis Detaillisten business group found just under half of tourists came for cannabis, and 24% would still come, even if banned. "We are seeing other cities going ahead while we are left behind. A digital discouragement campaign targeting men aged 18 to 35 in the UK is being. Scout out socially responsible initiatives in the Red Light District, such as the Condomerie, a boutique condom shop run by a safe-sex and HIV/AIDS-prevention foundation, or visit the sex-worker collective My Red Light'smini-museum about De Wallen history. According to the study, 57% of travelers said they chose to visit Amsterdam because they want to experience marijuana cafes. More about Claire Moses, A version of this article appears in print on, Amsterdam Has a Message for Male Tourists From the U.K.: Stay Away, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/world/europe/amsterdam-uk-tourists-stay-away.html. If someone grows cannabis, they are criminal, but I see my business as separate from hard drugs and other crime., Others worry about street dealers increasing, especially as Amsterdam and other cities try to protect vulnerable young men from crime. between the ages of 18 and 35 who were visiting Amsterdams Red Light District back From banning vacation rentals, moving the popular "I AMSTERDAM" letters to its latest proposal of banning tourists from its popular cannabis coffee shops. Within the last 15 months, Amsterdam has banned tours of its famous Red Light District, removed one of its most famous photo ops, has closed the last of its iconic floating florists and even stopped promoting tourism in the city altogether. Its one of the few knobs that we can turn on a local level to curb the major nuisance in the city centre and adjust our drink-drug image, local party leader Claire Martens told the Observer. If youre in search of an eco-minded road trip through Europe, enjoy this excerpt from Lonely Planets new Electric Vehicle Road Trips Europe guide. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Now efforts to rein in the expected post-pandemic crowds are ramping up, but not without controversy. 2023 BBC. If you're a young British male planning a trip to Amsterdamto "go wild,"consider yourself on notice. The measures are in line with the Dutch hands-on approach to tackling problems, the citys deputy mayor, Victor Everhardt, said, adding that, while the pandemic had not shifted the citys course of action, it may have accelerated its pace. The only real winners would be street dealers and their criminal backers, as noted by Dutch television reporter Gerri Eickhof, in a segment broadcast out front of Amsterdams Jolly Joker coffee shop. However, Dutch News reported that there had been a resurgence in the street dealing in those towns and cities where coffee shop access is limited to residents. the mayor asked visitors if they would be willing to pay an entry fee to Residents say drug and alcohol abuse have made the inner city unliveable. But according to the Dutch newspaper Parool, Halsema, who has been in charge as a mayor since 2018, wouldn't need to rely on majority support within the city council if she declared the situation a necessity. In February, the city council announced it would ban people from smoking marijuana on the streets in the Red Light Districtfrom mid-May. If you use common sense, your visit to Amsterdam is sure to be, as the Dutch say, lekker gezellig. One of those scenarios the relocation of sex workers to a prostitution hotel elsewhere in the city has recently attracted the support of a majority of city council members. These trips generally include all-night drink and drug benders and sometimes antisocial behavior, which causes a strain on daily life for residents. "The streets in [Amsterdam's city center] are very small and therefore much [more] crowded than, for example, the wide public spaces in Paris, London or Berlin," she continues. Amsterdam has been working hard over the past few years to crack down on the number of visitors to the city. We need to change everything we have on offer in the city center if we want to bring the balance back to living, working and recreating, she said. About 22% of respondents said they would ask someone else (of Dutch nationality) to go and buy cannabis in coffee shops, while 18% said they would look for another way to purchase cannabis. As reported in the New York Times and subsequently around the world, Amsterdams proposed tourist ban for cannabis coffeeshops may go into effect sometime in 2022. In 2019, the city banned tours of the neighborhood. In 2013, research showed that more than half of young people were likely to drink more on vacation than at home. Read below to learn how the new campaign. On Monday, April 11, local news media outlets reported that the. But Irina, Mr. Helms, Mr. Van Kempen and half a dozen other Amsterdammers interviewed agreed that the city center has a major problem: A tourism monoculture has taken root, and residents are being pushed out. RELATED: Amsterdam Considering Home Rental Ban To Combat Overtourism, Its a move city officials are considering to help balance Amsterdam. Now smoking joints in public in the inner city is set to be outlawed from mid-May. If you're going to experience the city for its dynamic culture (in both daytime and nighttime), historic architecture, forward-thinking gastronomy and pristine natural spaces, here are some tips for having a fantastic time in the Dutch capital while being respectful of local life. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. 2023 Travel Noire. Support for the prostitutes and coffee shop owners was echoed in several interviews with Amsterdam residents, including Roy Van Kempen, a 31-year-old marketing manager who has lived in Amsterdam since 2008. In fact, to combat drug-related crime and nuisance, the Dutch government introduced a new toleration rule in 2013, where only residents of the Netherlands are permitted to visit coffee shops and purchase cannabis there. Legalization News World Mayor of Amsterdam Threatens To Ban Tourists From Coffeeshops The next threat to the cannabis industry in Amsterdam comes (again) from the city's mayor as the. In an ad campaign aimed at British men between 18 and 35, the Dutch capital threatens fines for visitors who are looking for a messy night., The next time a British man between 18 and 35 types search terms looking for a cheap trip to Amsterdam for himself and his friends, he may see an unusual advertisement: Stay away.. The world's first sustainable-fashion museum, Fashion for Good, explores fast fashion's alarming impact. Cannabis shop owners believe the mayor's ban could make tourists targets for drug gangsters, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has attracted support from residents who want an end to its seedier side. Over the years, the government has adopted the so-called Gedoogbeleid, a toleration policy toward cannabis products. And last summer, in response to complaints about the rise in home sharing, the city imposed a complete ban on all short-term vacation rentals in three neighborhoods in the city center, including the Red Light District. The surprising truth behind the 'walking' statues of Easter Island. Unlike many may think, the Netherlands has not yet legalized cannabis. Amsterdam council to vote against banning tourists from coffeeshops My good friends, she said, we will let the i-criterium simmer in your heads.. Bernadette wobbles around to demonstrate how some visitors act from late morning onwards, urinating in the street and vomiting in gardens. Similar bans already exist in some Dutch cities, including Maastricht and Den Bosch, which have long complained of excessive numbers of cannabis tourists. Amsterdam's compact center is easy to explore on foot and its public transport takes you even further. The Royal Palace on March 26. More than 30% of respondents said they would stop coming and at least A percentage of ticket sales goes toward a same-named nonprofit that helps local designers become more sustainable. You may opt-out by. (Full disclosure: Bergman is a regular editorial contributor to Leafly.) When a report from research firm Breuer & Intraval shows that no more than seven of the nations 102 coffeeshop municipalities currently enforce such a ban. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Shops in the inner city also wont be able to sell alcohol after 4pm from Thursday to Sunday. Then in 1972, a Dutch student named Wernard Bruining and some friends exerted squatters rights over an abandoned bakery and transformed it into Mellow Yellow, a teahouse on a small side street that soon drew crowds for its steady supply of cannabis, which could be purchased from an employee posed as a customer. VideoThe surprising truth behind the 'walking' statues of Easter Island, Sport's strictest dress code finally relents. By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly'sTerms of ServiceandPrivacy Policy. In 2018, the city introduced on-the-spot fines and increased the presence of city workers in the streets, as well as creating an ad campaign targeting British and Dutch men. And the proposal is likely to pass. Business is booming on our end, he said. Joachim and other owners have told the BBC their reputation is being damaged by disjointed regulations. In a revamped Noord warehouse,Sexyland Worldis an artists' hub bringing together 365 businesses and organizations that hosts everything from roller-disco nights to poetry slams. The PvdA (Dutch labor party), which emerged as the biggest party after the March 2022 local elections, is willing to support the "residents-only" rule if the mayor is committed to banishing drug street dealing. But it has, of course, been a matter of policy.. Their response? And critics of this new plan now fear that if it goes through, that old problem will return.. Sex workers will have to close their doors at 3am. Here's how to visit Berlin on a budget. Travel Travel News Amsterdam to ban cannabis smoking in public to curb 'grim' tourist behaviour By Rosie Frost Updated: 15/02/2023 Residents say drug and alcohol abuse have made the inner. "I've lived here all my life," the owner told me. Here's how to plan your visit, This Spanish pilgrimage spot could soon introduce a tourist tax, Swap your flight for a trip on Europe's fastest train. The Netherlands' largest city has long been a haven for cannabis users around the world. They added that the atmosphere can get grim, especially at night when people who are under the influence hang around for a long time. Ms. Simons is also one of the authors of The Untourist Guide to Amsterdam and the co-creator of a project that allows tourists to marry an Amsterdammer for a day. This alternative tour, which launched in 2019, is a four-hour experience that starts with a fake wedding (rings, gown and flowers included) and includes a personalized jaunt around a lesser-known part of the city. However, the move to ban tourists from buying cannabis products in coffee shops is not backed by Democrats 66 (D66) and GroenLinks, the two of the biggest parties on the city council, which are currently in talks on forming a new coalition administration with the PvdA. You can really get to know the city on a walking tour that brings diverse Amsterdam voices to the fore. Authorities in one of Europe's most visited cities are eyeing a ban on pot for tourists as a way to cut down on . The bylaws will be open for consultation from residents and business owners for a month and are just one part of ongoing efforts to crack down on visitors bad behaviour. the red light windows after 10 pm. "In recent months, I have talked to many different groups: residents, businesses, experts and interest groups. However, the government allows the sale of small quantities of cannabis products ( no more than 5 grams) in coffee shops even though it would be a criminal offense. Those ads used annotated images to remind visitors that drinking and singing loudly should be contained to bars and not spill into the streets. the quality of life for local residents with the demands of visitors.. The organizations work was cut short by the pandemic, Ms. Simons said, but she is optimistic that interest will pick up quickly when visitors return. There are not enough people living there and working there to get this liveliness back in the neighborhood when the visitors are gone.. The destination has long been known for cannabis but local residents have complained that overtourism is making the centre of the city unlivable. The ban was overturned in court earlier this month, but city officials are now working to find a way to reimpose the measure legally, the spokeswoman said. Any guide found breaking the rules could face fines of $205. Even though there will be no majority for the ban when councillors vote on Wednesday, Halsema has not given up. Read about our approach to external linking. But some of the proposed measures have proved controversial. And even if the ban does go into effect, it likely wont last long. Dr Ton Nabben, criminologist and drug researcher, studied the effects of an unsuccessful mandatory resident weed pass a decade ago in border towns such as Maastricht. Constantly increasing numbers of visitors, misconduct, a shrinking retail mix, rising property prices, commercialization of public space and criminal subversion all call for measures to be taken.. Amsterdam city council majority against plan to ban tourists from Whats new to do on Leafly this April 2023? The city's mayor has proposed banning tourists from the city's famous cannabis coffeeshops. While the "Stay Away" campaign is targeted at just British male tourists for now, authorities say it may be expanded later in the year to include visitors behaving badly from elsewhere in the Netherlands and other EU countries. A recent survey of young tourists, commissioned by Mayor Femke Halsema, examined the most popular reasons for visiting Amsterdam and sought to investigate what would happen to the willingness of tourists to visit Amsterdam if either the availability or accessibility of one or more of these factors should reduce or disappear, as reported in CNN. Amsterdam launches stay away ad campaign targeting young British - BBC Further measures such as reducing the number of Airbnb rentals, hotels and river cruises aim to dial down tourism overall, bringing annual overnight stays from 18 million to below 10 million. Related: These are the best travel credit cards for 2020. Video, The surprising truth behind the 'walking' statues of Easter Island, Curfew stays despite 'scum' riots in Dutch cities, Paris hails victory in short-stay rent case, Dutch coffee shops are allowed to sell it, Two dead after 'emergency' on Crimea bridge, Australian man and his dog survive months at sea, Russia seizes control of Danone and Carlsberg units, Extreme heat intensifies across south-west US, Twitter loses half ad revenue since Musk takeover, Swimmers injured in dolphin attacks on Japan beach. Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox. Equally alarming was the articles second paragraph, which explain whats happening in a way that was both factually accurate and wholly misleading: The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, [has] proposed a plan expected to be passed by the city that would only allow marijuana products to be sold to Dutch nationals and residents of the Netherlands. The 10 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam While High, How to Find High-Quality Cannabis in Amsterdam, The best strains of all time: 100 popular cannabis strains to try before you die. In the same letter, Ms. Halsema proposed four scenarios for the future of sex work in the Red Light District.
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