Amsterdam
I was in Amsterdam last week for a TLA event, and spent a few extra days there wandering around. Like Prague, Amsterdam has a bit of a reputation for being a reveller’s town, and by ‘reveller’ I mean drunken, loutish British gentlemen. In both cases, the reputation is not too far from the mark.
Dining on a canal boat may be clichéd, but worth it
Edge of the red light district
The other things that spring to mind when you think of Amsterdam are also largely correct: pot, tulips, and prostitutes. Clearly a potent triad when combined in that order. The red light district is a surreal experience, especially in the shoulder-wide alleys and little indoor circuits of window-fronts. ‘Coffeeshops’ in Amsterdam are largely unremarkable. Mostly filled with tourists, the vibe in them varies – some appear to be trendy cafés that just happen to have pot on the menu, others are a bit Rasta and gnarly.
The hotel room bathroom features a bottle opener mounted next to the toilet – my kind of people.
Being of the liberal frame of mind, I think the example set by Amsterdam, and the Netherlands generally, is most excellent and one that many countries can learn from. In Oslo prostitutes are often a nuisance, and quite visible in the main streets. Junkies are also very common, roaming around causing trouble whilst off their brain. Being the flighty type, they are often to be seen around the larger tram and subway stops in the city, and add a special kind of ambience by shooting up, at say, 6pm on a Monday night. It appears as though the state mostly turns a blind eye to these nuisances, even though its all highly illegal. It also seems somewhat bizarre that the state tries so hard to clamp down on such nasty vices through prohibition or high taxation yet people so visibly flout these restrictions, leading to greater harm for all. I think the Dutch approach, which emphasises harm reduction is infinitely better for not only drug users and prostitutes, but the wider society. I’ll hop off my soapbox now.
The advantage of having the topographical features of a pancake is that bikes are quite the efficient transport mechanism
Amsterdam is a delightful place, with lovely old buildings, narrow alleys full of restaurants, loads of foodie shops, great art, culture and history – and a lot of fun.
There are some photos online of Amsterdam
8. March 2008
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Nice to hear from you dude, good to see you’re having fun.
— Jamie · Mar 10, 06:20 · #