Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
People enjoying a drink on an Amsterdam terrace. 14 May 2015
People enjoying a drink on an Amsterdam terrace. 14 May 2015 - Credit: ahavelaar / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Business
Amsterdam
tourism
Red Light District
de wallen
alcohol
Femke Halsema
coffeeshop
prositution
Monday, 24 February 2020 - 14:20
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Amsterdam wants to limit alcohol sales in fight against partying tourists

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema asked the government to come up with new legislation so that the capital can limit the sale of alcohol around entertainment areas. She hopes that this will help decrease the problems caused by partying tourists. The number of tourists and day trippers visiting Amsterdam is expected to increase from 20 million this year to 32 million in 2030, Halsema said in a letter sent to the city council along with the annual crime figures on Monday.

"The proportion of tourists who come to Amsterdam to party causes a lot of work for the police and enforcement officers: litter, public urination, aggression, noise pollution, and petty crime," the mayor said in her letter to the city council. "Alcohol plays a major role in nuisance and misconduct."

Halsema therefore wants to limit the sale of alcohol in stores around entertainment areas in the city. But for that to be possible, Dutch law will have to be adjusted. She asked the national government to look into doing so.

The mayor also launched a number of investigations into coffeeshops in the city. A recent survey by the city's statistics office showed that 57 percent of tourists consider coffeeshops an important or very important reason for visiting Amsterdam, she said in the letter.

Another major attraction for tourists is the window brothels in Amsterdam, according to the mayor. She, the city council, and other stakeholders involved are therefore already in discussion about the future of sex work in Amsterdam. The city already took a number of measures to discourage mass flows of tourists to De Wallen district, which includes the Red Light District.

From April, group tours will be banned in the area. The city will also stop using the term "Red Light District" on signposts leading to the Wallen area.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Amsterdam to limit B&B's, cruises in fight against over-tourism
  • Emergency sirens to sound for sick children's party in Amsterdam; No cause for alarm
  • Rise in criminality at Den Haag train station blamed on “homeless EU migrants”
  • Renewable energy rose slightly to 15% in the Netherlands in 2022; Halfway towards target
  • Bargain store Action to ditch self-scan checkout after shoplifting increase
  • Jumbo stopping Max Verstappen sponsorship after this Formula 1 season

Top stories

  • Renewable energy rose slightly to 15% in the Netherlands in 2022; Halfway towards target
  • Jumbo stopping Max Verstappen sponsorship after this Formula 1 season
  • Wettest spring since 2006; Good for groundwater levels
  • Ajax coach John Heitinga out as team's manager after worst finish in 14 years
  • Defense attorney Inez Weski, who represented Ridouan Taghi, to be released from jail
  • Job growth expected to stall in the Netherlands next year

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content