Amsterdam’s cannabis cafes likely to ban tourists for offensive behaviour

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Amsterdam’s famous cannabis cafes are likely to ban tourists from visiting after a rise in inappropriate behaviour. The cafes are most popular with foreigner tourists as it allows legal buying of drugs under a certain limit.

However, visitors returning to the cafes after Covid restrictions were lifted are now facing a ban from entering the shops due to offensive behavioural patterns. Earlier this year, the city’s mayor proposed the ban to prevent drunk and rowdy tourists from populating the areas.

The proposals, put forward by Mayor Femke Halsema, could see only Dutch residents allowed to enter the city’s 166 marijuana-selling cafes. The Mayor said that Amsterdam is an international city and wishes to attract tourists but would like them to come for its richness, its beauty and its cultural institution.

Lawyer and Councillor Don Cedar welcomed the move but warned there’s still a lot of work to be done. He mentioned that it is a very positive step when it comes to making the city liveable but the international image of Amsterdam as the drugs capital of the world should be changed.

He also shared that in order to make such a move authorities will draw a different crowd and make sure the city becomes more liveable. However, cannabis cafe owners have warned that it could result in their closure if foreign tourists are not allowed to visit.

« Back to Page

• Amsterdam to ban new hotels in fight against mass tourism

• Amsterdam targets cruise cutbacks to manage over-tourism

• Airbus SE Shareholders Overwhelmingly Endorse All Proposals at 2024 Annual General Meeting in Amsterdam

• Amsterdam paints a new vision of the city for tourists with ‘Renew Your View’ campaign

• Amsterdam and New York Emerge as Favored Destinations for European Business Trips: Report