Coffee shops, restaurants and bars are open without hour limits and in full capacity. I think this is great. Amsterdam and Barcelona while low-cost . The Dutch metropolis has been suffering increasingly of over-tourism in the last decade. Best choice: bus or train. One exotic destination that still has strict entry requirements is Indonesia. Some city officials have proposed a discouragement ad campaign for international visitors with plans to go wild in the city. Alice, 25, UK. I dont mind the fact that it has no coffeeshops. New plan to deter tourists from Amsterdam post-COVID Mayor Proposes Plan To Ban Tourists From Amsterdam's Coffee Shops Stay alert in locations frequented by large crowds or foreign nationals. The city administration succeeded already by banning most Airbnb-style supply in town. Amsterdam will not ban international tourists from its coffeeshops. After all, what is central Amsterdam without red-eyed holidaymakers stumbling around canals in cannabis-leaf print beanies? London already has museums, fun people, and street dealers. But for some, its better known for, ahem, other stuff namely its weed coffeeshops and red light district. Netherlands Travel Advisory Tourists wont need entry visas either. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I cover the cannabis industry with a focus on Europe. The city's downtown area remains flooded and is not safe for public travel, they added. (Photo by Jean-Francois MONIER / AFP) (Photo by JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images), New Southwest Airlines Bonus Includes 60,000 Points + 30% Promo Code, 10 U.S. Cities With The Most War Memorials. However, since April 29, 2023, a rapid antigen test is acceptable, which is cheaper and quicker than the PCR test. You have entered an incorrect email address! Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when youre feeling flush). But we do have a problem with [] the behaviour of a minority of tourists. The U.S. is one of the last nations to drop this entry requirement. The Netherlands kept their Covid protocols for travelers in place much longer than . How could you not? "The discouragement campaign aims to keep out visitors we do not want. Amsterdam's City Council is planning to launch a campaign to discourage foreign tourists from access to activities related to alcohol, drugs, and sex, and it is implementing a comprehensive package of measures to fight back 'nuisance' tourism. Billionaire Adani Gets Final Nod to Revamp Famous Mumbai Slum, Australian Lender NAB Blocks Some Payments to High-Risk Crypto Exchanges, BlockFi Management IgnoredWarnings About FTX and Alameda, Creditors Allege, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Calls SEC a Bully Fresh Off XRP Token Ruling. I love smoking weed but ultimately Im in here for the friendly people of Amsterdam. But Ill try: I love weed. Further, the number of countries requiring a negative pre-arrival test for unvaccinated visitors has winnowed down to two countries: Brazil and Chile dropped their testing policies in May 2023. Japan no longer requires proof of vaccine or a negative pre-arrival test result to enter. Emmanuel Macron is on a two-day visit in Normandy as part of preparations to celebrate the millennium of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey on June 6, for the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings on June 6, 1944, which will take place in 2024. It could actually be more but this number is now the upper limit that Amsterdam authorities fixed back in an ordinance in June 2021. It's hard to overstate how big of a deal these high risks are. There are no travel restrictions to visit various countries in Central America or South America for the fully vaccinated. Amsterdam needs to find a balance between its residents and visitors. Share. According to a survey conducted by the government and non-profit research agency I&O Research quoted in the report, for 16% of tourists interviewed, the main reason to visit Amsterdam was to enter a coffee shop. These include: a new policy for shop diversity (a ban on new tourist shops), a ban on holiday rentals in 3 neighbourhoods in the city centre, and a new restrictive policy to minimise the number of new hotels. The proposed plan will affect millions of tourists that every year enter cannabis coffee shops, visit the Red Light District, and enjoy the pubs and bars. Many shops and grocers do not open on Sundays (with the exception of busy tourist areas like Nieuwendijk and Kalverstraat). Amsterdam has struggled with overtourism for years. But how do you come up with, execute, operationalize and replicate one? What If We Had a 15-Minute City for Friendship? The parties asked the mayor to consider alternatives like having coffeeshops sign a new covenant on good behavior, obliging them to be transparent about their finances, banning cannabis advertising in all shops, and a general ban on smoking cannabis in public spaces. They express a form of behaviour they would not express at home. The premises are not allowed to advertise or to sell hard drugs to the drug 'tourists' who arrive in Amsterdam each weekend to frequent the coffeeshops. The Dutch city wants to cut back on tourists coming to the city for sex and drugs and its targeting Brits first. "Nuisance and 'overtourism' are signals that the limit has been reached and that the quality of life is in danger. Opening hours in shops are generally from about 10am to 6pm, and 8pm for supermarkets. Currently, a tourist tax is in place which must be paid by tour guide companies and hotels. But if they Implement these laws, it may actually become a nice place to visit again. Sports category Alcaraz mauls Medvedev and sets his sights on Djokovic in dream final July 14, 2023 . Day trips around Amsterdam remain a popular attraction because it's an outdoor activity that didn't get affected a lot by current restrictions, so you can always enjoy Amsterdam bike tours or Segway tours. Ad . March 9, 2023 Netherlands - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution T Exercise increased caution in the Netherlands due to terrorism. Other measures foresee to spread tourist flows by developing leisure facilities in North, Southeast, New West and relocating leisure facilities from the city centre. 04.20.22. Tourist buses weighing 7.5 tons or more will have to stop outside the city center, and passengers who want to enter the city will have to transfer to public transport. Ocean isnt just a name: It is who I am. Read thecountry information pagefor additional information on travel to the Netherlands. Amsterdam to outlaw cannabis-smoking in red-light district streets A couple smoke a joint in an Amsterdam coffeeshop, Netherlands, 1st December 1994. Melita, 20, UK. 'They're sticking the finger up at cars': Amsterdam split by low In 2019, shortly after Halsema mentioned her proposal publicly for the first time, 100 tourists aged between 18-35 took part in a survey that found 34 percent would be likely to visit Amsterdam less often if coffeeshops were forced to close their doors to tourists. June 13, 2023 Public Transport, Schiphol Airport, Visitors Guide Comprehensive, up-to-date information about public transport to and from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. All the COVID-19 related ravel restrictions have been lifted. "I can assure those who are concerned about our economy that this decision has had no impact." Copyright 2023 Amsterdam2go by Kravstudio. The country started by issuing work and student visas but is now issuing tourist visas from most international destinations. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. With new EU rail rules getting rolled out, you Bring out the ice coolers and sunglasses, because summer weather is officially back in the Netherlands! The buses cause traffic jams on narrow streets and endanger cyclists and pedestrians. As you might be able to tell by my name, I love doing that. Amsterdam Travel Updates As a result, "groups of visitors are under the impression that Amsterdam is a city where anything goes," the report reads. In 2023, Amsterdam expects to see 18 million travellers. 11/01/2021. The Red Light District is another large drawcard for Amsterdam, which the marketing agency want to reorganise. And why do. Amsterdam drugs: Tourists face ban from cannabis cafes - BBC Chloe enjoys nothing more than hopping between the city's coffeeshops and museums. The ban on Amsterdam's recreational drug tourism may come into force in 2022. Its very hard for me to say anything meaningful about this, because Im incredibly stoned., If [the mayors plans] go through, I wont be back again, Ive accomplished a lot thanks to cannabis, I wouldnt exactly cry, but I would feel discriminated against, Why You Sometimes Feel Sick or Vomit After Smoking Weed, People Who Smoke Weed Share Their Wildest Munchies. In January 2021, she formally proposed plans that would see tourists banned from buying marijuana in any of the 167 coffeeshops currently permitted to sell the drug. [READ MORE] Embassy Messages Alerts Demonstration Alert - U.S. Consulate General Amsterdam, Netherlands (March 8, 2023) Thu, 09 Mar 2023 Worldwide Caution: Al-Qa'ida Leader's Death Wed, 03 Aug 2022 COVID passport (EU DCC or "green passport") is not required anymore. Visitors remain welcome in our city, but this should no longer be at the expense of livability and accessibility for our residents," the report reads. The reason for this is because the coffee shops are seen as a drug tourism destination. Furthermore, about half of the incoming tourists in Amsterdam visit a cannabis coffee shop or claim they will certainly do so. The Netherlands Amsterdam Amsterdam's new tourism campaign is ready to ruffle some feathers Save Barbara Woolsey Mar 30, 2023 7 min read When visiting Amsterdam, consider greener, more socially responsible activities than wild nights in the Red Light District Lana Iva / Shutterstock Even if I was barred from the coffeeshops, Id still come. Currently, a tourist tax is in place which must be paid by tour guide companies and hotels. Try another? Check all travel alerts that may affect your journey. He warned that banning tourists from coffeeshops could result in more online and street sales, risk underprivileged youth being recruited as new dealers, and would not keep tourists away. Events and festivals have various requirements depending on the number of guests and whether it's outdoors or indoors - check every venue separately. Some plans are underway to also close some of the city's cannabis coffee shops, while smoking and drinking alcohol may become restricted in certain parts of the city. I Asked Tourists If They Would Still Go to Amsterdam If It - VICE Im mostly here because of the coffeeshops. Created by BJE MediaTech. Going forward, only locals would have access to these spaces. TOURISM actors who are members of the Bali Provincial Association of Indonesian Tour Guides (HPI) support the application of a levy of IDR150,000 or US$10 which is intended for foreign tourists visiting Bali. Already in the last few years, important improvements have taken place. Weed is important to me, because it helps me deal with my mental health issues. Your email address will not be published. The Dutch government has been trying to close them down for years, but they keep popping up. She also raised doubts about whether the alternative proposals will help reduce the demand for cannabis in the city. 'Soft' drugs such as hashish and marijuana are legal for use in the Netherlands, unlike India. Amsterdam is cracking down on rowdy tourists The Dutch city wants to cut back on tourists coming to the city for sex and drugs - and it's targeting Brits first Written by Ed Cunningham. The Netherlands Drops All Entry Requirements And Travel Restrictions Airbnb is already banned in the historic city centre, and is heavily restricted throughout the city. Normally, this tax yields almost 200 million per year, and targets tourists staying for longer periods of time. That said, Id still come to Amsterdam even if the cafes were off limits. . Amsterdam is cracking down on rowdy tourists - Time Out People can still smoke weed on the terraces operated by coffeeshops. Under Dutch law coffeeshops are allowed to sell a maximum of 5 grams of cannabis per person to customers. A more cautious attitude toward tourism meets a progressive rethink of the canal citys complex past. . July 13, 2023. Parenting is one of the most complex and challenging jobs you'll face in your lifetime -- but also the most rewarding. Another report by the market research of Breuer&Itraval shows that more than half of the visits to coffee shops in the city are made by foreign visitors. Amsterdam city council majority against plan to ban tourists from coffeeshops, Ajax talking to Wesley Sneijder as Dusan Tadic leaves Amsterdam for Fenerbahe, Student financing agency ignored warnings about discrimination in fraud investigations, PM Rutte calls EU's migration deal with Tunisia a "true milestone", MH17 disaster commemorated in Vijfhuizen today, Officials exposed to harsh behavior by Education Minister Wiersma, even after internal apology, Warning shots fired by police during chase in Rotterdam, four suspects arrested for armed robbery, 21-year-old Dutch student shot by armed robbers during carjacking in South Africa, 16 year-old boy arrested for apartment explosion in Schiedam, Mayor opens International Nijmegen Marches with hundreds of brass bands. There is NO more quarantine or vaccination requirements. Europe is fully open for travel, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict continuing to impede travel to either destination. This does not mean that you have to levy a toll on everyone who comes from outside, but our advice is to investigate whether acity tax can have aguiding or discouraging effect.. Similarly, Udo wants to change how coffeeshops operate, so that day-trippers no longer travel to Amsterdam for weed. You're smoking in an area of Amsterdam where it is not banned. The ban applies to the streets in the Wallen. I also think it will attract desirable visitors, like the poster above. There are no testing guidelines for fully vaccinated guests. (Photo by Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images). The proposed ban only has support from the VVD, CDA, and JA21 - which represent eight of the 45 seats in the city council. Itd be a bit of a bummer though: Nothing beats going back and forth between the coffeeshops and citys museums. You have to go to scary places to meet up with scary people. Why The Dutch Government Is Trying To Close Down Coffee Shops All material on this website (DutchReview) is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. You run the risk of getting scammed, buying bad stuff, or worst case scenario, even getting arrested by the police. This decision applies to all travelers, including those traveling into the Netherlands from outside the EU/Schengen area. Mbaki introduced a package of measures in late November that aim to clean up Amsterdam's "reputation," as many tourists associate the Dutch capital with drugs and alcohol and the Red Light District, which attracts "voyeuristic tourism.". Amsterdam Wants Foreign Tourists To 'Stay Away' From Drugs - Forbes Dj vu! A majority in the city council indicated on Thursday evening it will vote against mayor Femke Halsema's plan to do just that, Het Paroo l reports. There wouldnt be much left for me. We already have this email. So you would be almost like any other week / weekend here, with a bit of extra planning needed. Popular tourist destinations like Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Tanzania are restriction-free. The proposed regulations also plan to tighten rules on Airbnb and short-term lets and encourage owners to turn them into homes for residents, and a tax could also be applied to tourists when the city is overcrowded. Or it is for now, at least. Such restrictions may apply to window prostitution and brothels in the Red Light District. Even so, I dont really feel it because Ive built up a high weed tolerance at this point. Last year, around 18 million visitors spent at least one night in the city. We Investigated. Have a confidential tip for our reporters. Similar events can be DIGITAL travel platform Agoda revealed an 8.7x increase in searches for accommodations in Singapore on the dates of Coldplays January 2024 concert series. I recently went to Amsterdam and I didn't think so many people would ask me if Amsterdam banned tourists or not.. I consider myself a considerate tourist, I dont get drunk and make noise, or fight, or use the streets as a vomitorium. Their love affair across one of the world's most heavily guarded borders had begun on the virtual battlefields of a video game where players bond over having . AMSTERDAM, July 26 (Reuters) - The Netherlands on Monday said it would ease COVID-19 restrictions to allow travel to all European Union countries, including several . Amsterdam museums are open, allowing full capacity - please book tickets ahead and contact museums to avoid closures and cancellations. On the whole, Amsterdams attitude to prostitution and marijuana is much more liberal than most cities in Europe. Anna, 21, UK, Its very hard to say something meaningful, because Im incredibly stoned. Here are further details about the June 2023 travel restrictions. However, there is currently no fee for those visiting Amsterdam for just the day. As a result, the smoke from the vehicles covers several places. Among the proposed measures, Mbkai aims to limit river cruises, tighten opening hours for pubs, bars, and restaurants, and window prostitution in the Red Light District during weekend nights. She will respond more substantively to the suggestions at a later date. The PvdA, GroenLinks, PvdD, Volt, SP, and FvD stand opposed to the proposal. The Dutch capital has over 160 coffee shops that sell cannabis products to hundreds of thousands of tourists every day. Amsterdam over New Year 2023 - Amsterdam Forum - Tripadvisor I hope that, in re-orienting the city to the benefit of its residents, Amsterdam will not end up prohibitively expensive for genuine, quiet, law-abiding travellers like me. They still want tourists, but for the culture, not just the cannabis coffee shops. You can find the most updated information about COVID-19 travel restrictions on this Netherlands government webpage. The stay away campaign isnt the only thing Amsterdam is doing to deter rowdy tourists. During the pandemic, Amsterdam was able to see what the city looked like without tourists of this ilk, and it doesnt want to go back. A few years and a pandemic later, what do tourists make of the mayors plans? Smoking isnt about escapism for me I just think it is fun. They Fell in Love in a Video Game. Now Both Are in Jail. No proof of vaccination is required, no fixed seating, no mask mandates unless the business decides differently. In order to build sustainable and socially responsible tourism in Amsterdam, the councilors also aim to limit groups of tourists of any kind from accessing the city center. A famous attraction for tourists because of the prostitution and prostitute girls in cabin with windows display and coffeeshops selling drugs. Amsterdam also wants to move its red light district to a new erotic centre outside of the inner-city area. Several countries in central and western Africa continue to require pre-arrival testing for unvaccinated visitors. More than half (92) are located in the city center and have become one of the main activities for many tourists that visit Amsterdam.