In another attempt at controlling what it considers ‘nuisance tourism,’ Amsterdam’s city council has posted signs enforcing a new rule: No smoking cannabis on the streets in the city’s red light district, the Wallen.
The area has long been a focus of the city’s attempt to control ‘overtourism’ that creates large crowds in an area of narrow streets at the city’s center and has often been the venue for rowdy stag and hen parties staged by visitors, most commonly from the UK.
Weeks ago, the city unveiled a social media campaign telling people who might be considering a ‘messy weekend’ in Amsterdam to stay home; it was aimed explicitly at British young folks, and created significant controversy.
Among other measures taken in what has been described as a campaign to reclaim the city center as a working part of Amsterdam have been reduced hours for the famed window brothels and earlier bar closings, with limits on alcohol especially at the weekends.
While many locals support the measure, there is also pushback from businesses that rely on the crowds, who say that it is unenforceable and will harm many businesses and jobs.
