Netherlands: Amsterdam bans smoking weed in public

Status: 02/09/2023 8:56 p.m

The coffee shops is one of the attractions of Amsterdam. But the city is now bothered by the stoned tourists. Right now this will finally end up here. For parts of the inner city, this means: no more joints on the open street.

From the middle of May it will no longer be allowed to smoke a joint on the street in the old town of Amsterdam. That shared the city ​​administration with. The ban is a measure against problems caused by mass tourism.

Residents have been complaining for years about people drinking, bawling and smoking weed on the streets. Tourists would also attract street dealers, which in turn fueled crime, the city said.

The so-called coffee shops, where tourists can also buy small amounts of hashish and marijuana, are a major attraction of Amsterdam. So far, the joints could also be smoked in public. The city is also currently considering restricting coffee shop sales between 4 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Also restrictions on pubs and prostitutes

The new rules are part of a whole package of measures. Pubs in the famous red-light district “Wallen” should no longer be allowed to admit new guests after 1 a.m. and prostitutes should have to close their famous windows at 3 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. as before.

The sale of alcohol in shops, liquor stores and cafes in the district is already banned on weekends after 4 p.m.

The city said the neighborhood should be safer and more liveable for residents. Especially at night, the atmosphere there can be “very gloomy”.

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