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Gedogen — illegal but not illegal
Gedogen* is a Dutch verb that cannot be properly translated.
It roughly means ‘tolerated,’ but in a wider and different sense of the word. It is used of a situation or activity that technically is illegal, but which is actively tolerated as a matter of government policy — since everyone knows the issue (say, prostitution or the use of soft drugs, can not be legislated away).
In short, gedogen is used in reference to something that is illegal, but not illegal.
Prime example: coffeeshops — where soft drugs can legally be bought and used.
Technically, however, it is illegal for a coffeeshop to buy soft drugs. As the saying goes, “the front door is legal, but the back door is illegal.”
That it happens anyway is one of those peculiar contradictions that make ‘gedogen’ necessary.
Note: Gedoogbeleid = policy of gedogen.
* The g in dutch is pronounced so that you make roughly the sound of clearing your throat. It is the same sound as the Scottish loch. Try and pronounce gedogen as ‘chuh-dough-chuhn.’
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DutchAmsterdam.nl is the no-nonsense travel guide to Amsterdam, Netherlands. This tourist guide is prepared by a handful of Amsterdam locals -- not by paid professionals, tourist office officials, or any other agency. We love this city and enjoy sharing our knowledge and enthousiasm with others. Amsterdam is truly the world's most unique city; a thriving, world-class metropolis in pocket format. Our aim is to provide basic, no-nonsense information about Amsterdam: How to get there, where to stay, what to see, where to shop, where to eat. [....more...]



