Amsterdam planning to extend early closing times for Red Light District to 2027

The municipal executive of Amsterdam wants to extend the earlier closing times in De Wallen, which is the portion of Amsterdam’s old city center that includes the main Red Light District, to April 1, 2027. The measures were implemented on April 1, 2023. They contribute to reducing the number of people and noise pollution in the area, the city’s Mayor Femke Halsema said on Tuesday during the city council meeting.

Bars, cafe’s and restaurants have to close at 2 a.m. during the weekend, instead of 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., as is the case in other parts of the city. No new guest are allowed into the establishments after 1 a.m. Terraces have to close at 1 a.m., as opposed to 2 a.m.

In addition, the Burgwallen Oude Zijde has been designated an “alcohol nuisance area” since April 1, 2023, this means that there are restrictions for stores and liquor stores to sell alcohol on the weekend. The municipal executive also wants to extend this measure to April 1, 2027.

Entrepreneurs are not happy with the measure. They pointed out the “worsening financial situation of the catering establishments and unfair competition compared to the rest of the city.”

Another issue for the entrepeneurs is that customers sometimes react with aggression towards staff when refused alcohol after a certain time. Or there is a grim atmosphere on the streets after closing time.

“Although there are negative consequences for entrepreneurs (and sometimes residents) as a result of this measure, the municipal executive does not think it is favorable to let the restrictions go now and thinks it is sufficiently necessary to extend these to April 1, 2027,” said Halsema. The council still has to decide about this proposal.