Amsterdam bans smoking weed on the street

Calming measures

Amsterdam bans smoking weed on the street and restricts alcohol sales

The Dutch metropolis Amsterdam suffers from the behavior of (too) many tourists. Now new rules should defuse the tense situation.

publishedFebruary 10, 2023 at 8:04 am

Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

IMAGO/ANP

• The old town of Amsterdam should become more liveable for its residents: mass tourism and its excesses plague the metropolis.

• New measures such as a ban on smoking pot on the streets and restricted alcohol sales times are now being introduced.

• In addition, prostitutes have to cover their famous shop windows earlier.

From the middle of May it will no longer be possible to smoke a joint on the street in the old town of Amsterdam. The weed ban is a measure against the big ones problems caused by mass tourism, as the Dutch capital announced on Thursday. In the famous red light district, the “Wallen”, restaurants also have to close earlier and prostitutes have to stop earlier. Background: The district should become safer and more liveable for the residents, said the city. “The atmosphere can get very grim, especially at night.”

For years, residents have been complaining about the consequences of mass tourism, such as people drinking, bawling and smoking weed on the streets. Tourists would also attract street dealers, the city said. These in turn ensured crime and thus an unsafe atmosphere.

Prostitutes are only allowed to work until three o’clock

A big attraction of Amsterdam are the so-called Coffee shops. Tourists can also buy small amounts of hashish and marijuana there. So far, the drugs can also be smoked in public. The authorities are also examining whether sales in the coffee shops can be restricted between 4 p.m. and 1 a.m.

The new rules are part of a package of measures against problems caused by mass tourism. Pubs are no longer allowed to accept new customers after 1 a.m., shops that sell alcohol must ban it from their shop windows. From Thursday to Sunday they are not allowed to sell any after 4 p.m. And the prostitutes have to close the famous windows at 3 a.m. at the latest, instead of at 6 a.m. as before.

Do you or hat someone you know having a problem with addictive substances?

You can find help here:

Safezone.chanonymous online advice on addiction issues

Feel-okinformation for young people

Infodruginformation and substance alerts

Alcoholics AnonymousTel. [phone]

Stopsmoking.chTel. [phone]

Poisoning emergencies, Tel. 145

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(DPA/trx)View Comments