Amsterdam has announced plans to implement new measures that will reduce the disturbance caused by tourists in the Red Light District.
The city plans to ban the smoking of cannabis in outdoor areas in De Wallen, which incorporates the district. The proposed measure will soon be presented to residents, entrepreneurs and concerned parties, after which they will have four weeks to provide feedback before the full city council debates the measures.
If approved by the council, the new measure will come into effect from mid-May, reports the NL Times.
If the nuisance is not significantly decreased with the smoking ban, the city has warned it may ban to-go sales of soft drugs in De Wallen. This restriction would be applied from 16h00 to 01h00 on Thursdays to Sundays, although political leaders have yet to determine if they are able to implement this type of ban.
Other measures that the city plans to implement include:
- From April 1, windows in the Red Light District and sex work establishments need to close at 03h00 instead of 06h00 at weekends.
- From April 1, restaurants, cafés, and sex establishments where food and beverages are served have to close by 02h00 instead of 03h00 or 04h00 at weekends; locations with a terrace need to close at 01h00.
- From April 1, companies with a catering licence will be banned from allowing new visitors into the premises from 01h00, instead of 02h00.
- Restrictions on alcohol sales in the area will be tightened, with shops, snack bars, and liquor stores currently having to stop the sale of alcohol at 16h00 from Thursday to Sunday. This measure will remain in place indefinitely, but will be tightened from mid-May.
