Notorious police station into a tourist attraction

A former police station on Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam could become a national police museum. Real estate company NV Zeedijk wants to buy the property and turn the notorious police station into a tourist attraction, ANP reported on Friday. 

The most famous police station in the Netherlands located just off the Red Light District went through restless times especially during the seventies when the officers dealt with increasing drug trafficking, Chinese gambling houses and organized crime.

"This is a wonderful way to preserve this historical place," said Janny Alberts, the director of the real estate business.

The station is said to be an inspiration to former detective and writer Appie Baantjer, whose books, and later a famous television series, revolved around the characters Detective De Cock and Sergeant Vledder. Several former Warmoesstraat investigators are in talks with the developers, sharing their stories for the museum, according to Alberts.

Located at Warmoesstraat 48, the station closed in 2000, and officers moved into a new building one street over on Beursstraat. Besides the police museum, the property owner would like to see an organic supermarket or housing replace the empty property.

NV Zeedijk will hear in May if their bid is successful.