http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl The no-nonsense travel guide to Amsterdam, Holland Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:07:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/681-coffeeshops-amsterdam-close http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/681-coffeeshops-amsterdam-close#comments Tue, 19 May 2009 10:21:17 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=681 According to the Municipality of Amsterdam the large number of coffeeshops in the center of town create an infrastructure that encourages criminality. The City refers to such establishments as 'crimogene' -- a term used to describe functions that encourage 'promotion or advancement of -- or susceptibility to -- criminality.'

The closures are part of the Coalition Project 1012, designed to spruce up downtown Amsterdam by -- among other things -- breaking the influence of organized crime.]]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/681-coffeeshops-amsterdam-close/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/578-starbucks-schiphol-airport-amsterdam http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/578-starbucks-schiphol-airport-amsterdam#comments Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:49:34 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=578 We've given the two Starbucks stores at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport a fair try -- nine times, actually. But we're still not impressed, and we'll tell you why.

We'll also point you to some alternative Schiphol stores that serve excellent coffee drinks.]]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/578-starbucks-schiphol-airport-amsterdam/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/572-cafe-gasthuys-amsterdam http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/572-cafe-gasthuys-amsterdam#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:48:20 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=572 't Gasthuys -- one of Amsterdam's typical 'brown cafés' -- has a reputation for serving good food at decent prices. This is certainly one of our favorite hangouts, especially during the summer when its canal-side terrace is open for business.

We'll place the café in its historical context, so you'll know why, for instance, the alley next to it is called 'prayer without end./']]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/572-cafe-gasthuys-amsterdam/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/550-coffeeshops http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/550-coffeeshops#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:30:58 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=550 Recently Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen saw himself 'forced' to close 43 of its 228 coffeeshops -- licensed establishments where marijuana can legally be bought and used -- by the end of 2011.

In doing so, Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen “reluctantly” follows up a federal government directive to establish ‘distance criteria‘ between schools and coffeeshops.

However, after both Amsterdam locals and city leaders angry about that approach, Cohen has promised to look for alternatives.]]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/550-coffeeshops/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/548-amsterdam-closing-coffeeshops http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/548-amsterdam-closing-coffeeshops#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:38:13 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=548 The City of Amsterdam has announced it will close 43 of its 228 coffeeshops because they are located too close to schools.

In doing so, Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen "reluctantly" follows up a federal government directive to establish 'distance criteria' between schools and coffeeshops.]]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/548-amsterdam-closing-coffeeshops/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/545-coffeeshops-netherlands http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/545-coffeeshops-netherlands#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:05:38 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=545 A Dutch criminologist predicts that two years from now, all coffeeshops in the Netherlands will have closed.

The coffeeshops -- establishments where cannabis and other soft drugs can be legally bought and used -- are under fire for various reasons, ranging from the nuisance created by tens of thousands of drug tourists, to ties to criminal organizations.

The mayors of some municipalities are closing the coffeeshops, while those of others towns -- Amsterdam included -- speak out in support of the current approach.]]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/545-coffeeshops-netherlands/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/391-amsterdam-alcohol-standing-terraces http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/391-amsterdam-alcohol-standing-terraces#comments Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:11:22 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=391 Think Amsterdam is a city where anything goes?

Think again!

Why, you can't even drink alcohol while standing up... ]]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/391-amsterdam-alcohol-standing-terraces/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/331-amsterdams-expensive-terraces-and-the-logical-alternatives http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/331-amsterdams-expensive-terraces-and-the-logical-alternatives#comments Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:44:58 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=331 The price you pay for beer or coffee at Amsterdam's main squares is the highest in the country.

But unless you have a pressing need to be seen at a tourist trap, there are countless excellent alternatives.

Be like the Dutch and go to a locals pub.]]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/331-amsterdams-expensive-terraces-and-the-logical-alternatives/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/324-amsterdam-coffeeshops-smoking-ban http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/324-amsterdam-coffeeshops-smoking-ban#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:49:50 +0000 CityDesk http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=324 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/324-amsterdam-coffeeshops-smoking-ban/feed 0 http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/315-amsterdam-smoking-ban-coffeeshops http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/315-amsterdam-smoking-ban-coffeeshops#comments Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:30:21 +0000 Amsterdam Guide http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/?p=315 On July 1, 2008, a smoking ban will come into effect in all horeca (hotel, restaurant, and catering) businesses in the Netherlands. Will the smoking ban make it illegal to light up in an Amsterdam coffee shop? Yes and no. Among other things, it depends on what you want to smoke. Read on. You may be surprised. ]]> http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/315-amsterdam-smoking-ban-coffeeshops/feed 0