A new era began on Thursday 25 May in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, with the official entry into force of the ban on smoking cannabis in the streets.
The ban is part of city-wide efforts, spearheaded by Mayor Femke Halsema, to make the famous district more welcoming to its residents and workers.
Signs have been erected in the canal-lined De Wallen district known for its brothels and coffeeshops, which attract millions of tourists each year but are a nuisance to residents. Around 10-15% of Amsterdam’s tourism industry is said to be based in the Red Light District.
People who break the new law will be subject to a fine of 100 euros (about $110).
The law was proposed earlier this year by Amsterdam City Council.
“The inhabitants of the old city suffer a lot from mass tourism and the abuse of alcohol and drugs in the streets. Tourists also attract street traffickers who in turn cause crime and insecurity. The atmosphere can get spooky, especially at night. People under the influence of alcohol hang around the streets for a long time. The inhabitants do not sleep well and the neighborhood becomes dangerous and unlivable,” the city council said in a statement at the time.
“The ban on smoking in the street should reduce nuisance. We are also considering a ban on the purchase of soft drugs at certain times. If the nuisance does not decrease sufficiently, we will study the possibility of banning smoking on the terraces of cafes, ”added the municipal council.
The city council gave its final approval to the proposal earlier this month.
For now, people “will still be allowed to smoke inside and on the patios of coffeeshops that sell cannabis and hashish in the neighborhood and other parts of town.”
The cannabis smoking ban is part of an effort led by Femke Halsema, Amsterdam’s first female mayor, to improve conditions in the Red Light District.
