Amsterdam expands alcohol ban in Red Light District | Inland
The extreme crowds in the Red Light District have returned to the level of 2019 after the abolition of the corona measures. This mainly irritates residents and sex workers. The rapidly increasing numbers of visitors, and the nuisance this entails, puts – according to the municipality – an unacceptable pressure on the public space and the quality of life in the Red Light District.
Just like before the corona pandemic, the Red Light District acts as a magnet for visitors, who mainly cause nuisance later in the evening and exhibit undesirable behaviour. This concerns alcohol and drug nuisance, noise nuisance, pollution of public space and intimidating behavior and (violent) crimes as a result of alcohol use. It also attracts many tourists and other unwanted groups, such as street dealers.
Although there has been a general alcohol ban in the Red Light District from Thursday to Sunday from 10 p.m. since the summer of 2021, this will therefore be significantly expanded from 6 May from 4 p.m. on the same days. In addition, from this weekend, one-way traffic will start on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal and various alleys around it. The municipality will deploy 48 hosts to manage the flow of visitors.
Furthermore, many permits for temporary terrace extensions in a large part of the Burgwallen-Oude Zijde and on the Nieuwmarkt will also be revoked from 6 May. The companies concerned are addressed weekly.
Entrance gates
The municipality is considering even more additional measures if the situation in the Red Light District is not developed in accordance with this first action package. In a short letter from Mayor Halsema, the municipal councilors received on Friday: “It concerns no introduction of window times whereby new visitors are no longer allowed in the catering establishments after a certain time, the reduction of closing times on the weekend to 0 hours if necessary. to 2 a.m., and close access to the area at peak times and dose access to visitor numbers at 70% of the pre-corona level, in the extreme case by placing turnstiles.”
These measures will be the next steps on the ‘escalation ladder for the Red Light District’. In the letter to the council. Sex establishments are also being warned to tackle the queues in the street for their companies, and they are invited to enter into discussions with entrepreneurs with the district.
Entrepreneurs furious
The Oude Stadshart business association is furious about the measures. Cor van Dijk: ,,We have been informed about the ladder of measures. We are very shocked and think the way this has come about has become inappropriate.”
According to Van Dijk, the entrepreneurs were not involved in any way. ,,We have good hopes for the cooperation that we ourselves had sought to act in our area from a good approach. This shows little respect for entrepreneurs who come from a period from which they have yet to recover.”
The business association is considering steps.