|
Amsterdam - Basic Facts about the city and live questions and answer sessions, got a question on Amsterdam ?, well we have the answer
Speak Live with one of our team
A little history / Recent Happenings in Amsterdam / Current News
Amsterdam is unlike any other city on our planet, unique in most everything they do and the approach they take to solving problems like drugs, drug addicts, prostitution, crime, prison and everything else.
Little old Amsterdam really stands out from the rest and is known all around the world, mostly for the wrong reasons.
Amsterdam unlike all the other governments do not sweep the difficult issues under the carpet but sit down and talk and find a solution to the problem which makes all parties happy.
The above was true until 2005 but then a right wing government got into power, up until then it was always a coalition government of several parties but somehow this little "Harry Potter" looking type managed to steal the show and became prime minister and since then it's been all down hill for Amsterdam.
In the last year half the red-light district has been closed down and just last week Magic Mushrooms have been banned because one girl commit suicide by throwing herself off the Nemo building here in Amsterdam, One death and we rush in silly laws to ban this little weed, no mention of 30.000 a year killed by alcohol and the 1000's of families it destroys in the meantime, the 50,000-100.000 smokers who kick the bucket or the 1000 odd who are mowed down each year by the killer car. Where's the ban on these.
All governments are bad and ALL should be banned, they do NO good in any country, all they do is line their own and their friends pockets waste all our money on stupid projects and the few who are honest are left on the back benches because they will not toe the line.
What right has your government to say that you cannot smoke weed or take magic mushrooms? It's against the law, I hear you say. Silly laws should always be broken, Everyone knows the war on drugs was lost before it even began. Until 1937 cannabis was legal in the USA and around the world, read the facts about why cannabis was banned and why the Cannabis/ Marijuana ban is alcohol prohibition of this generation and we all now what happened during that time. The crazy thing is it's just the same to day with all drugs and anything else which is banned by the silly governments around the world.
Getting any drug in any country is easy, very easy. if you want drugs you will find a way no matter where you are drugs are not far away.
The city of freedom is loosing out to the right wing christen democrats who want to spoil the fun for everyone, it's a real pity they were not all fed to the Loins.
Amsterdam Smoking Ban -- July 2008 -- Smokers Against Discrimination
The smoking ban on cigarettes will come into effect on July 1st 2008. This now includes coffeeshops.
Will it be the case that it will be legal to smoke cannabis but illegal to smoke tobacco in a coffeeshop?.
Most people are unsure what the result will be but the law states that when buying cannabis, the customer must be able to purchase it in a smoke free zone. So it sounds like shops will have to build a wall cutting the shop and creating a booth separate from the main shop to create a make a smoke free zone, smaller coffeeshops will more than likely have to close down. This is the hope of the government.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LATEST NEWS
The following was issued Friday October 19th 2007
Your attention for the following , Pim en Marko have started an action against the leader of the Central Amsterdam city council , Els Iping,a very scary person is out to destroy the last bit of Amsterdam
freedom.
The plan of IPING and her followers would set Amsterdam back 15 years and virtually close the city center down as a place to eat drink and be merry. Oh yes you still could do these things but only in the way that Els Iping wants them to be enjoyed. For example... Even stricter closing times, less special outdoor events, Bed & Breakfasts stopped, 150 terraces to close and the Red Light District taken out of the Center. WHERE????
Kiss Amsterdam goodbye...or SIGN THE PETITION IN THE LINK BELOW.
We as Amsterdam citizens and visitors have a duty to say NO, we would rather have Els Iping go than Amsterdam Centrum. Visit http://www.ipingdraaitdoor.nl and sign the petition
PLEASE UNDERSTAND YOU DO COUNT.
======================================================
May 2008.
The count down to the smoking ban is drawing near, July 1st. No one really knows what is going to happen with the coffeeshops. Mushrooms are to be banned also.
=======================================================
October 2008
Severl coffeeshops have now opened tobacco smoking rooms in their shops. Rumors are going around that there is going to be a major crack down on the coffeeshops who are still letting tobacco be smoked on the premises.
keep you posted.
====================================================================================
November 12th
News just in. Magic Mushrooms to be banned from December 1st 2008.
We have just read that mushrooms dried as well as fresh are be be banned from December 1st 2008.
This is a another nail in the coffin for Amsterdam and will mean all the head / smart shops will close down as their business is 95% mushrooms and 5% tourist items and soon there will be no tourists.
Also rumors are going around that all coffeeshops licences will be withdrawn by 2010. If this happens it will be the final nail in the coffin. Bye Bye Amsterdam it was nice knowing you.
A bar on Nieuwmarkt square has a sign hanging outside saying.
In a few years Amsterdam will be a ghost town
No redlight district.
No smoking in bars
No coffeeshops
How far will the city council go?
===================================================================================
January 2009
Well here we are another new year and another years news to tell.
First off , Mushrooms seem to be still on sale in several shops. Several of our spys have reported back after having tried to get some magic into their lives and were successful but one or two places said they no onger had any as "all the growers had been closed down". Several signs have appeared in windows reporting " Fresh mushrooms arrive today", so there is still hope.
We have not heard any news about the Mushroom growers and shops getting together to stop the government bringing in the ban. Rumors had it that they were bringing a case to court to get an injuction to stop law being passed after they proved the girl who killed herself, did so without magic mushrooms.
Will let you know as soon as we do hear anything on the mushrrom front.
===================================================================================
Latest shit from Amsterdam city council is they are trying to force the Cassa Rossa (sex club) to stop feeding the ducks and swans. Yes you read it correctly,
The Cassa Rossa for years have had wodden boards outside on the canal which allows ducks and swans to get out of the water for a while.
At 6pm daily he arranges to have them fed and it makes for a great site , Forty swans and as many ducks gather round for the great feed, proper duck food and not just bad bread.
This has become quite an attraction in it's own right and tourists and locals alike stand and watch in amazement, really it's not often you see such a lovely sight.
But the council are not happy, "WHAT tourists and locals enjoying something and NO TAXES being paid" "Ban it, stop it, close it, NOW".
So the fight is on.
Also the Cassa Rossa until recently were famous for their giant penis fountain outside on the pavement. But once again city council decided to remove it along with the lovely flower arrangments and boxes they had.
===========================================================================
January 2010
A little bit of news to start the New Year off.
Things seem to have settled down in the coffeeshop business, for most its business as usual. Some shops built sealed off rooms (inside the shop) where the staff have no access so cannot in hale second hand smoke. Some have just ignored the whole thing and carried on as if there was no smoking ban, so its not all bad news.
A recent court case came down in favour of owners who have NO staff and who smoke themselves . Court ruled thats they are allowed to smoke in their own premises and so are customers. This has been appealed by the government.
Mushrooms (certain types) are also available and several new Mushroom shops have opened up or reopened.
Amsterdam has started the New Year very well, business wise with most apartments receiving a good supply of reservations. November / December were bad months in the accommodation business but New Year and now January being busy, things are looking up.
Alfter all, what other city can offer its visitors, sex, drugs and rock and roll all within a few minutes walk of each other.
August 2010
August Thursday 19th to Monday 23rd 2010. The tall Ships arrive back in Amsterdam after 4 years. If you have not seen theses amazing ships this is a perfect place to view them and go inside and explore them.
One of our Amsterdam houseboats / ships ( Amsterdam Ark ) actually takes part in the tall ships and is available to rent during the event. But at Euro 70.000 for the three nights (up to 30 guests). its not cheap.
You do get to go sailing with the other tall ships for ful three days with all food and drink included so it's a once in a life time.
August 6th 2010.
Amsterdam is getting ready for this years gay pride festival and the city is hopping with excitement, every apartment, hotel room and every other accommodation place is booked. Looks like its going to be some weekend.
August 7th
Bummer , the weather has been shit all day. Rain, rain and more rain. This will put a real damper on the river parade. Usually 500.000 people turn out to watch but I cannot see it happening this year. Usually this weekend is hot, hot, hot in every way.
More news when we get it.
|
request
