It's official: cannabis smoking banned on the streets of Amsterdam's Red Light District

A new era began on Thursday, May 25, in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, with the official implementation of the ban on smoking cannabis in the streets.

This ban is part of citywide efforts, spearheaded by Mayor Femke Halsema, to make the famous neighborhood more welcoming for its residents and workers.

Signs have been installed in the De Wallen neighborhood, which is bordered by canals and known for its brothels and its coffeeshops, which attract millions of tourists each year but are a nuisance to residents. Approximately 10 to 15 % of Amsterdam’s tourism industry is based in the Red Light District.

Anyone who violates the new law will be subject to a fine of 100 euros (about $110).

The law was proposed at the beginning of the year by the Amsterdam City Council.

«Residents of the old city suffer greatly from mass tourism and alcohol and drug abuse on the streets. Tourists also attract street dealers, who, in turn, fuel crime and insecurity. The atmosphere can become sinister, especially at night. People under the influence of alcohol linger in the streets for long periods of time. Residents can’t sleep well, and the neighborhood becomes dangerous and unlivable,» the city council stated in a press release at the time.

«The ban on smoking in the street should reduce nuisances. We are also considering a ban on the purchase of soft drugs during certain hours. If the disturbances do not decrease sufficiently, we will explore the possibility of banning smoking on café patios,» added the city council.

The city council gave its final approval to the proposal earlier this month.

For now, people «will still be allowed to smoke indoors and on the patios of coffeeshops that sell cannabis and hashish in the neighborhood and in other parts of the city.».

The ban on smoking cannabis is part of an effort led by Femke Halsema, Amsterdam’s first female mayor, to improve conditions in the Red Light District.