Amsterdam seeks cultural push in shift from sex, cannabis and nightlife tourism
- As the Dutch capital emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is looking to shed its ‘anything goes’ image in favour of its cultural and historical offerings
- Residents say the mass of tourists have contributed to antisocial behaviour, litter and noise, as well as skyrocketing rents due to the boom in holiday rentals
Artist and tour guide Louke Spigt makes ends meet by offering tours to some of the millions of foreign visitors who pour into the Dutch capital Amsterdam each year seeking culture, cannabis and excitement.
But even she has misgivings about their return after the Dutch government started lifting most Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in April, opening the door again to mass tourism in one of the world’s most-visited cities.
“The problems are the uncontrollable groups of drinking Brits, the low-budget tourists who throw all their waste on the streets,” said the blue-haired Spigt, 53. “We want other [kinds of] tourists.”
As Amsterdam emerges from heavy pandemic restrictions, it faces a balancing act – how to revive the tourism trade that underpins nearly a tenth of the city’s economy, while making sure it does not dominate at the expense of residents.
To do that, the city is looking to urgently shed its “anything goes” image – based on its tolerance of cannabis and sex work in the famous Red Light District – and focus on bringing in visitors who would rather indulge in its cultural and historical offerings.
If tourists only want to smoke weed, drink too much alcohol and visit the Red Light District, please stay home
