Amsterdam, which feels that important parts of the city are becoming overrun by tourists, and especially by the least welcome kinds, is implementing new rules to stop tours of its Red Light District and keep foreigners away from its cannabis-tolerating ‘coffee shops.’
The rules against guided tours of the city’s legal sex industry went into effect on January 1st, supported both by residents and sex workers in the area. Enforcement is by fines that have increased sharply; in addition, guides can lose their city licenses. Under the rules, violations also result in the tour being disbanded on the spot.
The rules against foreigners buying marijuana or hashish at the ‘coffee shops’ is still under discussion. Amsterdam has long tolerated sale of small amounts of drugs in these locations, but there is concern that because the drugs aren’t actually legal, the shops acquire them from criminal gangs who use their profits to expand other illegal activities.
A number of Netherlands local councils are taking part in an experimental program to grow their own and push criminals out of the business. In the meantime, the city would like the business to shrink, and not to attract rowdy crowds from other countries, especially the UK. A survey indicated that 34% would come to Amsterdam less often if they couldn’t buy drugs, and 11% said they would never return.
