Amsterdam and tourism reset?

[West Bromwich Holme]

Disclaimer: This is PG-13 and not about discussing the merits of prostitution.
See this Moderation question I asked.

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There is a possible proposal to relocate Amsterdam's red light district.

Yes, I understand there are concerns for residents as the article states; but wouldn't better solutions be more civic ones, such as restricting motor vehicle access except for access or permit holders, or enhanced CCTV, no not facial recognition.

“Amsterdam has a very long tradition of protecting freedom, and being a tolerant city. And I really want to protect that,” mayor Halsema told Time, noting that she voted in favor of national legalization of prostitution as a lawmaker in 1999. “But we do not want to be famous because of sex and drugs. We want to be famous for our cultural heritage.”

Also, the people involved are concerned about this, some opposed to the move, and some think it's a bad idea, from what I've read.

Amsterdam already is famous due to sex and drugs, but not just that; Van Gogh is as much a reason to visit, and of course, Anne Frank and World War II.

I'd say it's not only famous because of sex and drugs; depending on who you ask, it'd be famous for the other two things as well.

I've been, and it's a great city to visit.

I would consider this as being a sort of equivalent of whitewashing slavery like the Colston protests in 2020 in Bristol, England; yes, slavery happened and us British aren't proud of it, but we can't erase it from history.

After all, didn't someone say:

‘Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.

Amsterdam is not just sex and drugs; it's a good foodie city too, I went in 2016, it's got some great food. Would have liked to have seen more of the suburbs but didn't have the time - only 4 days mini-break.

I may visit again post-COVID, but Brexit may complicate things.

Do you agree with this planned reset of tourism the Amsterdam local authorities are doing, or is it an attempt at historical revisionism, purplewashing (that's related to feminism), redwashing (social justice for public relations gain), or even pseudohistory where bits are cherry-picked?

I can understand the desire to get tourists back post-COVID.

This is more about tourism and political issues than prostitution though.

[Herrebrugh]

So long as they don't all come to Rotterdam...

[Bistritza]

So long as they don't all come to Rotterdam...

Do you mind explaining the implications of what your so catastrophic scenario entails when you post it?
It makes communication less tedious to both of us and reading third parties.
Or did you just want to say that for the sake of saying it?

[The Alma Mater]

So long as they don't all come to Rotterdam...

Do you mind explaining the implications of what your so catastrophic scenario entails when you post it?
It makes communication less tedious to both of us and reading third parties.
Or did you just want to say that for the sake of saying it?

Amsterdam and Rotterdam have a long, long, long standing rivalry.
Rotterdam, being one of the busiest harbours on the planet, is also a logical place to have a huge red light district.

[Ethel mermania]

The red light district brings tremendous revenue to the city, and is very conveniently located for mass transit.

What is the point of moving it?

Edit: read the article the mayor is an idiot.

[Herrebrugh]

Do you mind explaining the implications of what your so catastrophic scenario entails when you post it?
It makes communication less tedious to both of us and reading third parties.
Or did you just want to say that for the sake of saying it?

Amsterdam and Rotterdam have a long, long, long standing rivalry.
Rotterdam, being one of the busiest harbours on the planet, is also a logical place to have a huge red light district.

I don't care too much about the rivalry, more that tourists are more and more starting to overflow cities other than Amsterdam as well.

Furthermore, to add to this discussion in a hopefully somewhat less tedious fashion, Amsterdam isn't just trying to relocate tourists, but is faring policies aimed at limiting tourism in general, as mentioned here in Het Parool:

Critical boundary

During the Easter Weekend, it could once again well be observed how the center suffers beneith the massiveness of tourism. According to mayor Halsema, the 'critical boundary' of disturbance brought by the droves of tourists has, after two years of covid, again been reached, as said by her in an interview with Het Parool. 'King's Day and Pride are exceptional days that belong to the capital, but the beautiful historical center where people live should not be permanently used as an attraction park.'

The city board has in the past couple of years taken measures to counteract the crowds. There is a hotel stop, the amount of shops aimed at tourists in shopping streets is being pushed back, pub crawls and tours on the Wallen are forbidden and for some time it hasn't been allowed to drink alcohol on the streets.

Halsema says she is working on 'additional measures'. Here, one can think of an extended ban on alcohol sales, barring entrance to gastronomy after a certain time and lowering closing times of the nightlife from three to two o'clock in the night. Halsema: 'These steps have to be worked out further, including the necessary police and enforcement capacity, logistic preparation and legal preparation.'

[HC Eredivisie]

The new location would also have CCTV camera's, police and always people around so that don't seem to be very good reasons not to move but it seems Halsema just wants to get rid of the icky sex work.

The red light district brings tremendous revenue to the city, and is very conveniently located for mass transit.

The revenue would still be there if it's kept inside the city.

Edit: read the article the mayor is an idiot.

Indeed she is.

So long as they don't all come to Rotterdam...

You can have the residents instead of the tourists though. Not the real Amsterdammers, but the imported ones, with their bakfietsen.

[The Alma Mater]

You can have the residents instead of the tourists though. Not the real Amsterdammers, but the imported ones, with their bakfietsen.

There barely are any left. The city center is entirely aimed at tourists and expats* - most shopkeepers do not even speak Dutch anymore. Rents of E 2000 a month for 50m2 are considered "normal". The "real" Amsterdammers mostly fled to Almere.

*And obvious money laundering; 50 or so candystores within walking distance of eachoter in prime real-estate are not a realistic business model.

[The Two Jerseys]

Amsterdam and Rotterdam have a long, long, long standing rivalry.
Rotterdam, being one of the busiest harbours on the planet, is also a logical place to have a huge red light district.

I don't care too much about the rivalry, more that tourists are more and more starting to overflow cities other than Amsterdam as well.

Furthermore, to add to this discussion in a hopefully somewhat less tedious fashion, Amsterdam isn't just trying to relocate tourists, but is faring policies aimed at limiting tourism in general, as mentioned here in Het Parool:

Critical boundary

During the Easter Weekend, it could once again well be observed how the center suffers beneith the massiveness of tourism. According to mayor Halsema, the 'critical boundary' of disturbance brought by the droves of tourists has, after two years of covid, again been reached, as said by her in an interview with Het Parool. 'King's Day and Pride are exceptional days that belong to the capital, but the beautiful historical center where people live should not be permanently used as an attraction park.'

The city board has in the past couple of years taken measures to counteract the crowds. There is a hotel stop, the amount of shops aimed at tourists in shopping streets is being pushed back, pub crawls and tours on the Wallen are forbidden and for some time it hasn't been allowed to drink alcohol on the streets.

Halsema says she is working on 'additional measures'. Here, one can think of an extended ban on alcohol sales, barring entrance to gastronomy after a certain time and lowering closing times of the nightlife from three to two o'clock in the night. Halsema: 'These steps have to be worked out further, including the necessary police and enforcement capacity, logistic preparation and legal preparation.'

Mayor: "We want to be famous for our cultural heritage, not prostitution and drugs!"

Also the Mayor: "All these damn tourists coming to see our cultural heritage are a pain in the ass!"

[GuessTheAltAccount]

"Fame for the freedom to buy sexual services without going to jail over it" =/= "fame for sexual services." It's fame for freedom. Most of the people so sanctimonious about prostitution wouldn't conflate fame for the freedom to get an abortion with fame for abortion, or fame for the freedom to engage in gay sex with fame for gay sex, and would probably (and rightfully) call BS on anyone who conflated them, so why should this be any different?

Amsterdam needs to get off its high horse about this immediately. Instead they should be proud. Isn't the concept of legalized prostitution gaining popularity elsewhere anyway? If they hold fast to their legalization model then they can claim they were ahead of the curve.

Also, is it really any more rational to visit a country because a famous painter and a famous Holocaust victim were from there? We visit a country for what it can offer right now, and while historical significance can be a factor in that, it's only one of many factors, and the kinds of examples the OP mentioned are only a small fraction of even that.

[The Blaatschapen]

Limiting tourism requires something else. Forbid airbnb style lodgings. It will decrease rent too. Why sublet for €1000 a month,when you can sublet for €80 a day? And much less hassle, complaints, etc. Sure, cleaning costs, but those you can also charge on top of the rent.

But that might require parliament to take action rather than actions on the municipality level.

[Ethel mermania]

"Fame for the freedom to buy sexual services without going to jail over it" =/= "fame for sexual services." It's fame for freedom. Most of the people so sanctimonious about prostitution wouldn't conflate fame for the freedom to get an abortion with fame for abortion, or fame for the freedom to engage in gay sex with fame for gay sex, and would probably (and rightfully) call BS on anyone who conflated them, so why should this be any different?

Amsterdam needs to get off its high horse about this immediately. Instead they should be proud. Isn't the concept of legalized prostitution gaining popularity elsewhere anyway? If they hold fast to their legalization model then they can claim they were ahead of the curve.

Also, is it really any more rational to visit a country because a famous painter and a famous Holocaust victim were from there? We visit a country for what it can offer right now, and while historical significance can be a factor in that, it's only one of many factors, and the kinds of examples the OP mentioned are only a small fraction of even that.

Amsterdam has some wonderful museums, and the city itself is well worth spending time in.

[The Blaatschapen]

"Fame for the freedom to buy sexual services without going to jail over it" =/= "fame for sexual services." It's fame for freedom. Most of the people so sanctimonious about prostitution wouldn't conflate fame for the freedom to get an abortion with fame for abortion, or fame for the freedom to engage in gay sex with fame for gay sex, and would probably (and rightfully) call BS on anyone who conflated them, so why should this be any different?

Amsterdam needs to get off its high horse about this immediately. Instead they should be proud. Isn't the concept of legalized prostitution gaining popularity elsewhere anyway? If they hold fast to their legalization model then they can claim they were ahead of the curve.

Also, is it really any more rational to visit a country because a famous painter and a famous Holocaust victim were from there? We visit a country for what it can offer right now, and while historical significance can be a factor in that, it's only one of many factors, and the kinds of examples the OP mentioned are only a small fraction of even that.

Amsterdam has some wonderful museums, and the city itself is well worth spending time in.

The Rijksmuseum has been renovated and I've been told it is lovely. They modernized facilities, (lots of technology that will explain/enhance the old stuff), etc. for a good story experience.

[The Black Forrest]

The red light district brings tremendous revenue to the city, and is very conveniently located for mass transit.

What is the point of moving it?

Edit: read the article the mayor is an idiot.

Ditto. The mayor is an idiot.

It’s almost like they got the idea from “free speech zones”

[Page]

I've been to Amsterdam a few times and I always spend the days high on space cakes, but that makes me want to do things like eat ridiculous amounts of poffertjes and ride in the canal boats, the latter of which I wouldn't pay for sober because I can easily walk 20km in a day but when you're high it's nice to sit back and look at the sparkly canals and buildings.

[West Bromwich Holme]

"Fame for the freedom to buy sexual services without going to jail over it" =/= "fame for sexual services." It's fame for freedom. Most of the people so sanctimonious about prostitution wouldn't conflate fame for the freedom to get an abortion with fame for abortion, or fame for the freedom to engage in gay sex with fame for gay sex, and would probably (and rightfully) call BS on anyone who conflated them, so why should this be any different?

Amsterdam needs to get off its high horse about this immediately. Instead they should be proud. Isn't the concept of legalized prostitution gaining popularity elsewhere anyway? If they hold fast to their legalization model then they can claim they were ahead of the curve.

Also, is it really any more rational to visit a country because a famous painter and a famous Holocaust victim were from there? We visit a country for what it can offer right now, and while historical significance can be a factor in that, it's only one of many factors, and the kinds of examples the OP mentioned are only a small fraction of even that.

I didn't just go because of Van Gogh or Anne Frank, also the restaurants too and the boat tours as well. I had some good vegetarian bitterballen as a snack food there.