SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!!!!! Goodbye Amsterdam
 

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/picture...offee_Shop.jpg

:sadcryinghttp://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html

Amsterdam to clamp down on sex shops, brothels, dope cafes

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Amsterdam unveiled plans Saturday to close brothels, sex shops and marijuana cafes in its ancient city center as part of a major effort to drive organized crime out of the tourist haven.

The city is targeting businesses that "generate criminality," including gambling parlors, and the so-called "coffee shops" where marijuana is sold openly. Also targeted are peep shows, massage parlors and souvenir shops used by drug dealers for money-laundering.

"I think that the new reality will be more in line with our image as a tolerant and crazy place, rather than a free zone for criminals" said Lodewijk Asscher, a city council member and one of the main proponents of the plan.

The news comes just one day after Amsterdam's mayor said he would search for loopholes in new rules laid down by the national government that would close marijuana cafes near schools citywide. The measures announced Saturday would affect about 36 coffee shops in the center itself -- a little less than 20 percent of the city total.

Asscher underlined that the city center will remain true to its freewheeling reputation.

"It'll be a place with 200 windows (for prostitutes) and 30 coffee shops, which you can't find anywhere else in the world -- very exciting, but also with cultural attractions," he said. "And you won't have to be embarrassed to say you came."

Under the plan announced Saturday, Amsterdam will spend ?30 million to ?40 million ($38 million to $51 million) to bring hotels, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques to the center. It will also build new underground parking areas.

Amsterdam already had plans to close many brothels and some coffee shops, but plans announced Saturday go further.

Asscher said the city would reshape the area, using zoning rules, buying out businesses and offering assistance to upgrade stores. The city has shut brothels and sex clubs in the past by relying on a law allowing the closure of businesses with bookkeeping irregularities.

Prostitution will be allowed only in two areas in the district -- notably De Wallen ("The Walls"), a web of streets and alleys around the city's medieval retaining dam walls. The area has been a center of prostitution since before the city's golden shipping age in the 1600s.

Prostitution was legalized in the Netherlands in 2000, formalizing a long-standing tolerance policy.

Marijuana is technically illegal in the Netherlands, but prosecutors won't press charges for possession of small amounts. Coffee shops are able to sell it openly.

Dirty D respectfully calls for a moment of silence...

I don't believe that at all... I think it's islam in action $.02

you just need to know the right addresses ;-)

There is no spot for these places in the New World Order.

Doesn't seem so bad to me?

Asscher underlined that the city center will remain true to its freewheeling reputation.

"It'll be a place with 200 windows (for prostitutes) and 30 coffee shops, which you can't find anywhere else in the world -- very exciting, but also with cultural attractions," he said. "And you won't have to be embarrassed to say you came."

looks as they just want to cut down the sleezy parts but not totally cut it all out..

I guess it's back to wooden shoes, windmills and cheese then....

That's the way I feel about it too. Still kinda sucks though. :(

"And you won't have to be embarrassed to say you came."

I can honestly say that I have NEVER met anyone from any walk of life who went to Amsterdam and said they were "embarrassed"

When I was there in 2007 it was 4 days of the most freedom I have ever experienced. And I don't smoke pot. I just enjoyed the feeling of being an adult and not having the govt. make decisions for me.

This is a sad day for all of humanity.

There's just something soothing about knowing anywhere you're at in the city you're can get "coffee" nearby. :pimp

it'll all just move from visible windows to the first floor appartments above users "proppers" on the streets.
"Hey dude, wanna buy some weed? Walk with me, it's just above Nr. 24 just 10 feet from here. I'll walk up and get you some..."
So the city of Amsterdam can report to the Gov. that they all cleaned it up and get more BUDGET (!) to create new things in that area...
It's always about money

thats so damn stupid, all the art stuff andd bla bla, i don't think any person lives in Amsterdam ashames where He/She comes from or neither any foreigners like Me cares about it, so these kind of restrictions only gives bad credit in the eyes to me such a city where it's known as capital city of a freedoms country.

ok, i respect art; but giving such a looking a city is just borring.

I'm hoping this part remains true:
WG

they just want the sleaze to be concentrated in one area so it'll be easier to police and handle.. but yeah, it used to be a very free and nice country.. seems like its going the way of the "big brother is watching" way

Fisherman Friend
" This is very strong shit"

Hahaha

ah if they do this they will fuck themselves out of billions of turest Euro's - Would you go to Vegas if there were no Casino's?

Thread title is a bit off. Its not the end but they are just getting rid of the trash and crime. The bad result would have been if they got rid of the 80% which are legit because of the 20% bad apples, which is exactly what the US would have done in the same position. Congrats on Amsterdam being ran by people with brains.

i live here so i can talk about it.
what they really want to do is crack down on the follwing:

For the pros: illegal trade of human beings for prostitution.
For the weed: All coffee shops (weed) in the area of schools are to be closed.

For both 2 reasons I kind of agree that our mayor is doing the right thing

Very true point...

can I let a little tear drop ?:helpme

before anyone jumps the ship
there will still be coffeeshops left, the quality of the weed will increase significant. and the criminality will go down.
If you want an act of Islam, then you missed the news last week that schools were threaten with burning down including the kids cause our Sinterklaas ( 5 december event ) has black guys who help him. The Islam is kind of irritated by one of our older traditions where we use painted black guys who spread pepper cookies.

Anyway, no panic, weed enough :)

hopefully they are just cracking down on the illegal stuff and will keep the fun loving atmosphere we all know and love :)

Makes sense to me. :thumbsup

Hope they won't crack down on Argentinian steak houses

http://www.adultwhoswho.com/data/adu...23500074_1.jpg

There's less than 30 good coffeeshops in Amsterdam anyway, so if they just close the shitty ones, great.

Like the fucker in Dirk van Hasseltssteeg who always used to advertise Gold Leb, when the Israelies were in control of south lebanon for 8 years and none was being made.
You'd go in and ask and he always used to try and sell you something else.

I had a six month holiday in dam doing a different coffeeshop a day trying to find the best.

Den Haag's got some great friendly coffeeshops, just go there.

Fuck, Thanks Obama.

Leave the reefer alone!

must be nice to be a shop owner in the outskirts of town!

Marijuana and sex is not criminal. Say goodbye to your tourists Amsterdamnit.

Being that it's Holland, I'm surprised they wouldn't just double or triple tax it and call it a day.

Isn't that one of the main reasons many tourists go there.. for the coffee weed shops and whores?

Sounds like just a minor cleanup, not a major ban.

Looks like Amsterdam is turning a little conservative while America takes little steps leftwards towards liberalism. Funny how global political trends play out.

huh??? :helpme :error

yep......before you know it we have to go to Vegas to even smoke a sigaret...

footnotes?

those weed prices there, what units are they in? I mean how much weed are you getting there for 10 Euro?

You just ruined my day