I'm certain that being a resident in Amsterdam, or any city for the matter, you would tend to form a very negative view on tourism, forming your own stereotypes along with it.

If they passed a law in Amsterdam that said no tourists could enter clubs or purchase alcohol, citing the same reasons as the weed ban, then I'm sure Dave Clarke would perhaps think differently!

@releasechi, yeah, but the red-light district in amsterdam is pretty scummy. I'd have outlawed foreigners poking prostitutes too. Like Dave said there's a lot more to Amsterdam than getting blotto in a coffeeshop then being unable to form a sentence.

yeah let's ban women from working while we're at it...idiot

Surely annoying tourists are better than all the violence that comes with an illegal drug trade

Either ban them outright or not at all.

I can't see how you can discriminate between nationalities when selling a commodity in the EU.

The major of Amsterdam is dead against it apparently. It's mainly the politicians in provincial (and less liberal) areas who support the ban.

I agree though that there is a lot more to Amsterdam than coffeeshops and hookers! There are a certain breed of UK tourists who never leave Damrak or the RLD...

What a fucking COCK ! great dj like but fucking hell.

This "Dutch weed ban" debate has been going on for years and is boring..... ing

I am NOT willing to comment on this tired old subject once again!

@jamesCal - Think you just did pal...

Candlelight - Back off! No need for that kind of petty nonsense!

I lived in Amsterdam for a year, I think personally tourism and small business that rely on the tourists are going to suffer heavily, as well as all those employed by the coffee shops (including many of my friends!).

Although I dislike the huge amount of tourists who come every weekend to smoke and see the hookers, these people would not come to visit and spend their cash without it. No offence to anyone from Amsterdam, but I found the city rather dull to live in if it wasn't for meeting some truly great friends I think I would have died of boredom. I mean sure its pretty and all but give me a bustling city any day!

Pahaha

Theres nothing funny about that kind of petty crap tbh! Butt out of these discussions if you have nothing to add!

You hardly have anything to add James, what was your original comment?

"I am NOT willing to comment on this tired old subject once again!"

If you are not willing to comment, why did you?

Candlelight - stop clogging up this thread with your idiotic palaver....You're a fucking moron mate! Now fuck off you silly pratt!

useless comment about not commenting is useless

Thanks mate. That guy is a complete fucking idiot!

Hahaha!

New nationalism in Europe, love it. It is unconvenient for some of our dutch friends that some Germans are stoned in the Netherlands and they want to ban Germans from smoking weed over there.
How about we ban them from occupying Berghain,Robert Johnson, Watergate, etc in response ? I have met enough annoying wasted Dutchmen for sure.

I am not endorsing this at all, but if our dutch friends carry on their nationalistic drug policy, this could be the answer.

Countries have different strengths, yours is weed, ours is clubs, lets let everybody participate in the others countries strength and skip this Nazi stuff.

This whole law is absolutely fucking madness, it is completely equivalent to us Irish Banning tourists from, lets say, drinking Guiness in Ireland. It doesnt bother me that wasted tourists fall around dublin every weekend after one too many pints of guiness, why would it? i do it in other countries, so why not them experience that side of dublin too? same thing in amsterdam, i went there, paid money and supported local shops/museums/clubs etc and spent a few days checking out coffee shops, what would putingt a ban in place actually achieve?

I have to say that living on the Dutch/Belgian border area, this is where the real problems lie, not necessarily in A'dam.

Roosendal, Maastricht and places like that had some real euro-scum drug dealers driving from neighboring countries and buying weed to distribute back at home.

These generic scumbags were causing bundles of shit in these fairly sleepy, safe town.

Whilst I'm not for prohibition, I can definitely see the benefits for these communities not having German, French and Belgian bad-boys misbehaving.

The time it was allowed was enough for a growing culture to develop. Those who want weed will eventually get to it. I agree with Clarke in the sense that Amsterdam has grown to be viewed only as a city of ganja. Though I fail to see why he finds the city to be beautiful, it's a fucking ugly and chaotic city.

Btw lol at the 'I've seen some art while I've been there' argument. Jog on.

, it's a fucking ugly and chaotic city.

Btw lol at the 'I've seen some art while I've been there' argument. Jog on.

made my day

As much as I respect mr Clarke for all his work, he needs to focus on music rather than politics...

Bullshit.

Anyway, I think the problems some of the tourist cause are largely due to alcohol, not weed. If Clarke really thinks this law will solve this problem he is an idiot. Look at the alcohol problems in the UK.
And this policy could affect the club scene, as it damages the liberal image people have of Amsterdam. By the way, this policy does not only affact anyone who doesn't have a Dutch nationality, but also the Dutch, since they have to become a member, and there aren't enough memberships available.

interesting