**The Dutch capital wants to move its renowned red-light district to the outskirts in the hope of alluring new residents. Residents fear they may be the next evicted.**
Peter, a resident of Weesper Street in the city center, was angry. He blasted the “rage” of Femke Halsema, Amsterdam’s mayor, and her “politics of symbols.” In particular, he blamed her for placing flower boxes in the middle of his street, with the “obsession” of chasing cars away in favor of residents. “I’m a resident! But not one of those bobos who, according to the Greens and their friends, should be ‘given the city back,'” Peter said, while sitting in a “bruine kroeg,” a local cafe.
The following day, Weesper Street made the front page of Het Parool, Amsterdam’s daily newspaper. Ambulance crews and firefighters on their way to a scene were stopped by the flower boxes, which had to be moved. The opposition now asks the deputy mayor in charge of transportation to report daily on traffic obstructions. Peter was pleased. “We’re going to win, and we’re also going to win the battle for De Wallen!”
Close to its street, which borders it to the west, this long-enclosed area known as the “ramparts” covers some 6,000 square meters in the oldest part of the Dutch capital. Today, it is at the center of a controversy between its residents, the city hall, and the sex workers who made it famous in the first place, not to mention the city’s other stakeholders, who all seem to have an opinion about its future.
In 2008, Halsema’s predecessors renamed De Wallen and transformed it into a global brand: The Red-Light District, like the neon tubes illuminating the windows displaying hundreds of prostitutes. From a tourism perspective, it was a resounding success: Some 18 million tourists visited Amsterdam last year. The city has a population of just under one million, and most visitors obviously did not want to miss the parade along the canals and alleyways after dark.
Now, the mayor and her deputies, Socialists, and liberals, want to put the brakes on what they call “overtourism,” a phenomenon encouraged by low-cost travel and the Airbnb craze leading to too many people, too much noise, too many incivilities, and not enough concern for the area’s 10,000 or so inhabitants. According to authorities, newcomers could be attracted to Amsterdam if the place is reformed and safer.
Europeans capitals are turning into open air museums filled with airbnb everywhere
The Amsterdam Red District was one of the most disgusting experiences of my life and I don’t consider myself prudish when it comes to sex.
Genuinely can’t understand why would anyone want that in their city center.
Amsterdam has been hell bend on killing itself as a tourist destination for a long time. I read that they want amsterdam rebranded as a cultural capital of europe. But getting rid of the things people are currently coming for is rather dumb if you don’t actually put effort into bringing more culture into the city.
As of right now you can hardly call amsterdam part of the Netherlands anyways. And if any other european country actually gets legal weed which amsterdam doesn’t actually have its going to be a insanely overpriced and very boring vacation destination that doesn’t offer much uniques. Utrecht offers a lot of the same thing and is a lot nicer looking and more pleasant to be in imo.
Femke Halsema has been an unmitigated disaster for Amsterdam.
As a southerner I should be happy, but at the same time it pisses me off how she could ever be declared fit to rule.
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**The Dutch capital wants to move its renowned red-light district to the outskirts in the hope of alluring new residents. Residents fear they may be the next evicted.**
Peter, a resident of Weesper Street in the city center, was angry. He blasted the “rage” of Femke Halsema, Amsterdam’s mayor, and her “politics of symbols.” In particular, he blamed her for placing flower boxes in the middle of his street, with the “obsession” of chasing cars away in favor of residents. “I’m a resident! But not one of those bobos who, according to the Greens and their friends, should be ‘given the city back,'” Peter said, while sitting in a “bruine kroeg,” a local cafe.
The following day, Weesper Street made the front page of Het Parool, Amsterdam’s daily newspaper. Ambulance crews and firefighters on their way to a scene were stopped by the flower boxes, which had to be moved. The opposition now asks the deputy mayor in charge of transportation to report daily on traffic obstructions. Peter was pleased. “We’re going to win, and we’re also going to win the battle for De Wallen!”
Close to its street, which borders it to the west, this long-enclosed area known as the “ramparts” covers some 6,000 square meters in the oldest part of the Dutch capital. Today, it is at the center of a controversy between its residents, the city hall, and the sex workers who made it famous in the first place, not to mention the city’s other stakeholders, who all seem to have an opinion about its future.
In 2008, Halsema’s predecessors renamed De Wallen and transformed it into a global brand: The Red-Light District, like the neon tubes illuminating the windows displaying hundreds of prostitutes. From a tourism perspective, it was a resounding success: Some 18 million tourists visited Amsterdam last year. The city has a population of just under one million, and most visitors obviously did not want to miss the parade along the canals and alleyways after dark.
Now, the mayor and her deputies, Socialists, and liberals, want to put the brakes on what they call “overtourism,” a phenomenon encouraged by low-cost travel and the Airbnb craze leading to too many people, too much noise, too many incivilities, and not enough concern for the area’s 10,000 or so inhabitants. According to authorities, newcomers could be attracted to Amsterdam if the place is reformed and safer.
**Read the full article here:** [**https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/07/19/amsterdam-wants-prostitutes-out-locals-fear-they-will-be-next_6058507_4.html**](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/07/19/amsterdam-wants-prostitutes-out-locals-fear-they-will-be-next_6058507_4.html)
Europeans capitals are turning into open air museums filled with airbnb everywhere
The Amsterdam Red District was one of the most disgusting experiences of my life and I don’t consider myself prudish when it comes to sex.
Genuinely can’t understand why would anyone want that in their city center.
Amsterdam has been hell bend on killing itself as a tourist destination for a long time. I read that they want amsterdam rebranded as a cultural capital of europe. But getting rid of the things people are currently coming for is rather dumb if you don’t actually put effort into bringing more culture into the city.
As of right now you can hardly call amsterdam part of the Netherlands anyways. And if any other european country actually gets legal weed which amsterdam doesn’t actually have its going to be a insanely overpriced and very boring vacation destination that doesn’t offer much uniques. Utrecht offers a lot of the same thing and is a lot nicer looking and more pleasant to be in imo.
Femke Halsema has been an unmitigated disaster for Amsterdam.
As a southerner I should be happy, but at the same time it pisses me off how she could ever be declared fit to rule.