Tour of the “expensive” red light district, “special coffee” worries about losing customers

A group of Vietnamese tourists follows a European tour from April 25, visiting the center of the Dutch capital Amsterdam on April 27. (Photo: Facebook Thang Nguyen)

The fear of lack of customers still haunts the “special coffee” shops in Amsterdam

The “special” of Coffee Shops (coffee shops) is the Cannabis coffee shops (coffee shops selling cannabis) – which is one of the famous tourist attractions in Amsterdam. They contribute about 20 million tourists a year to the capital city of the Netherlands since 1976 – when Coffee Shops and Cafes (coffee shops) were used for entertainment purposes.

In the pre-Covid-19 era, Cafes (coffee shops) were usually full during the week in a noisy and bustling atmosphere. Customers interact with each other while eating, drinking, smoking Cannabis (marijuana) and working online. (Photo: CNN)

From March 2020, the Netherlands imposed a strict blockade order, closing restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and Cafes. Cafes that sell Cannabis (cannabis) seem to have suffered a catastrophic blow because of the lack of international tourists – who bring in the majority of their revenue.

However, Coffee Shops (coffee shops) have never had to close completely because they are classified as essential businesses. This has led to many people starting to buy illegal cannabis from Cannabis coffee shops through the “back door”.

The introduction of a travel ban to Cannabis Coffee Shops to better regulate the cannabis market, is arguably the best temporary measure. But there are also two of the major parties of the Amsterdam city council that do not support. (Image: Shutterstock)

Currently, there is news that the Mayor of Amsterdam – Mrs. Femke Halsema – wants to temporarily ban tourists from visiting Cannabis coffee shops, citing “a worrying interdependence” between soft drugs (light drugs that can as addictive as marijuana, which is thought to be less dangerous) with hard drugs (heavy, addictive drugs like heroin, cocaine, meth, ecstasy).

“Money from the cannabis trade easily finds its way to heavy drugs,” said Mayor Halsema, emphasizing that: The move to ban tourists from Cannabis coffee shops in Amsterdam is “an act of violence.” needed intervention is the first step towards regulation” to reduce serious crime and violence.

A group of Vietnamese tourists on a European tour, check-in Keukenhop (also known as the Garden of Europe) in Lisse, south of Amsterdam, on April 27. Keukenhop is the world’s largest flower garden with about 7 million tulips of 100 different varieties. (Photo: Facebook Thang Nguyen)

According to a previous study, only 66 out of 166 currently licensed Coffee Shops in Amsterdam are meeting the needs of local residents. There is still a situation where there are Coffee Shops dealing with cannabis purchases through the “back door” with criminal organizations.

Walking tours to the red light district of Amsterdam are crowded again

Taking a step further in efforts to prevent an increase in illegal transactions on the streets, Mayor Halsema also increased the number of CCTV cameras throughout Amsterdam, along with displaying signs. warns tourists of “risks” in the city center and the Red light districts.

A group of Vietnamese tourists followed a European tour, visiting the red light district of Amsterdam on April 26. (Photo: Facebook Thang Nguyen)

This is one of a series of measures taken by the Amsterdam government to “clean up” the Red light districts, taking into account competing interests to “make the city more balanced for both tourists and locals”. “.

Tourists take a walking tour to visit the largest De Wallen red light district in the center of Amsterdam. (Photo: Viator)

With the concept of considering Sex (sex) as a normal need of life and the human body is worth contemplating, discovering the hidden secrets… so the Dutch in general think and talk about sex very much. comfortable.

Perhaps that’s why the red light districts in the Singel canal area seemed to “disappear” under orders to move away from the center of the city, now gradually crowded with tourists following guided walking tours. guide.

Now when the flow of foreign tourists gradually returns, Amsterdam authorities are trying to prevent foreign guests who make noise in the Red light districts, from pouring into the city center. (Artwork: thestar)

In 2019, Amsterdam welcomed nearly 22 million tourists. Due to Covid-19 the number of tourists coming to the city decreased to more than 8 million in 2020. Similar numbers are also estimated for 2021 and 2022.