As of mid-May, Amsterdam's famous red-light district will become a smoke-free zone for cannabis enthusiasts. The city council has announced that smoking cannabis will be prohibited in the red-light district. Cannabis consumption will only be permitted in cannabis coffee shops, not in public outdoor spaces.
As part of the city's efforts to create a more peaceful and comfortable living environment, the council also hinted that they may consider extending the ban to the outdoor seating areas of cannabis coffee shops if necessary.
A long time ago, Amsterdamans complained that due to the high number of tourists visiting the city, which amounts to approximately 18 million people annually, the busiest parts of the city center, including De Wallen, the largest and most famous red-light district, had become unlivable.
The package of rules introduced on Thursday, February 9, will require sex workers to stop working by 3 am instead of 6 am, and bars, cafes, and restaurants will close at 2 am during the week and 4 am on weekends, with no new customers allowed after 1 am.
From Thursday to Sunday, shops within the inner city will not be allowed to sell alcohol after 4 pm and must either remove their alcohol displays from windows or hide them behind screens.
The council emphasized that a ban on drinking in public places will be strictly implemented. The new measures will be presented to residents, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders for feedback. Residents and entrepreneurs will have four weeks to respond. Following the city council's consideration of these responses, the measures will be implemented by the summer in the core area of the red-light district.
The recently announced measures aim to reduce crowds and related problems in Amsterdam's red-light district. A popular blend of leisure activities for tourists has been created in recent years as a result of the liberal tolerance policy on cannabis and other so-called "soft drugs," as well as the regulated approach to prostitution.
The neighborhood, however, can become unpleasant at night, with many people under the influence lingering for extended periods, which impacts residents' quality of life and safety.
The measures build upon existing efforts to reduce nuisance, such as using hosts in the area, restricting one-way traffic during busy times, closing off parts of the Red Light District, and banning alcohol consumption in public spaces.
In recent years, the city has been working to mitigate the impact of mass tourism on local residents and their neighborhoods. This is not the first time the city council has attempted to regulate cannabis, alcohol consumption, and prostitution. The "We Live Here" campaign, for example, has placed posters and billboards in the Red Light District to remind tourists about the neighborhood's tranquility.
However, in recent months, the city council has intensified its efforts to address the issue of nuisance tourism. A few months ago, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema proposed a ban on foreign tourists from coffee shops in order to curb drug tourism, stating that it was the only way to curb the local soft drug market.
As part of a campaign to curb tourism nuisance by limiting popular activities in the Dutch capital, such as alcohol, sex, and cannabis, deputy mayor Sofyan Mbarki launched a campaign in November to discourage foreign tourists from engaging in activities related to alcohol, drugs, and sex.
The effectiveness of the restrictive measures set to take effect in mid-May in reducing problems in the Red Light District is still unclear, but the city council has repeatedly stated that they intend to "clean up Amsterdam's reputation."
As part of the city's efforts to create a more peaceful and comfortable living environment, the council also hinted that they may consider extending the ban to the outdoor seating areas of cannabis coffee shops if necessary.
A long time ago, Amsterdamans complained that due to the high number of tourists visiting the city, which amounts to approximately 18 million people annually, the busiest parts of the city center, including De Wallen, the largest and most famous red-light district, had become unlivable.
The package of rules introduced on Thursday, February 9, will require sex workers to stop working by 3 am instead of 6 am, and bars, cafes, and restaurants will close at 2 am during the week and 4 am on weekends, with no new customers allowed after 1 am.
From Thursday to Sunday, shops within the inner city will not be allowed to sell alcohol after 4 pm and must either remove their alcohol displays from windows or hide them behind screens.
The council emphasized that a ban on drinking in public places will be strictly implemented. The new measures will be presented to residents, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders for feedback. Residents and entrepreneurs will have four weeks to respond. Following the city council's consideration of these responses, the measures will be implemented by the summer in the core area of the red-light district.
The recently announced measures aim to reduce crowds and related problems in Amsterdam's red-light district. A popular blend of leisure activities for tourists has been created in recent years as a result of the liberal tolerance policy on cannabis and other so-called "soft drugs," as well as the regulated approach to prostitution.
The neighborhood, however, can become unpleasant at night, with many people under the influence lingering for extended periods, which impacts residents' quality of life and safety.
The measures build upon existing efforts to reduce nuisance, such as using hosts in the area, restricting one-way traffic during busy times, closing off parts of the Red Light District, and banning alcohol consumption in public spaces.
In recent years, the city has been working to mitigate the impact of mass tourism on local residents and their neighborhoods. This is not the first time the city council has attempted to regulate cannabis, alcohol consumption, and prostitution. The "We Live Here" campaign, for example, has placed posters and billboards in the Red Light District to remind tourists about the neighborhood's tranquility.
However, in recent months, the city council has intensified its efforts to address the issue of nuisance tourism. A few months ago, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema proposed a ban on foreign tourists from coffee shops in order to curb drug tourism, stating that it was the only way to curb the local soft drug market.
As part of a campaign to curb tourism nuisance by limiting popular activities in the Dutch capital, such as alcohol, sex, and cannabis, deputy mayor Sofyan Mbarki launched a campaign in November to discourage foreign tourists from engaging in activities related to alcohol, drugs, and sex.
The effectiveness of the restrictive measures set to take effect in mid-May in reducing problems in the Red Light District is still unclear, but the city council has repeatedly stated that they intend to "clean up Amsterdam's reputation."
