Twentysix coffeeshops that would have to close under recommendations of an urban renewal plan for downtown Amsterdam may possibly open elsewhere in the city instead.
Normally the city’s rules governing coffeeshops — establishments where soft drugs can legally be bought and used — do not allow for such moves.
The number of coffeeshops in Amsterdam’s Red Light District will be reduced by 34 percent over the next 3-6 years.
The closures are meant to make a dent in the estimated €21 – 42 million in un-taxed, yearly profits made by organized crime syndicates that officials have documented as being involved on the supply side.
The proposed measure, expected to be accepted by the Amsterdam City Council, is part of a large-scale project to clean up and repurpose Amsterdam’s city center.
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.
Tourists are staying away from Amsterdam’s ‘clean’ Red Light District as a result of Project 1012 — the city’s efforts to spruce up the area.
In response, German sex emperium Beate Ushe, for the most part now in Dutch hands, plans to start a publicity campaign designed to attract more foreign tourists to the world-famous district.
Amsterdammers who live in the area affected by Project 1012 — the City’s plans to reduce the number of brothels and coffeeshops in Amsterdam’s downtown area and Red Light District — were invited to have their say during a meeting with city officials.
Many of them feel stigmatized by the suggestion that their businesses are somehow promoting criminality.
After closing a number of brothels in the Singel canal area, Amsterdam Alderman Lodewijk Asscher tells the city’s town council no further closures are necessary there.
The closures were part of the ambitious Project 1012, designed to ‘clean up’ Amsterdam’s historic city center. The project has met with increasing resistance from locals and town council members.
Asscher also says that a number of coffeeshops scheduled for closure in the Red Light District will be able to close later than originally planned.
According to Amsterdam daily Het Parool, mayor Job Cohen informed Kaatee at the end of January that his permits would not be renewed, because there is a ‘serious measure of danger’ that the gambling halls are being used for money-laundering.