Monday, March 21, 2011

Travel Tips : Alluring Amsterdam (Part 2)

.
Today's entry focuses on a more adult and liberal aspect of Amsterdam. Warning: If you are easily offended, please skip this post. But I very much doubt many of you will stop reading. Some of the traits our education at St Joe of the Seventies imbued in us are: open-mindedness, tolerance and a sense of humour.

Also lest you think this site is going for cheap thrills, that is not so. The purpose is simply to reflect the very open nature of the Dutch culture and policies. Some of you might know that in this country, smoking cannabis is legal under certain circumstances and prostitution is also legal in specially demarcated areas. The Dutch have basically taken the pragmatic approach that if a problem is almost impossible to eradicate, it is better to legalise it but keep it under close control.

Guys, you don't know the sacrifices I'm making to bring interesting material for you on this blog .. LOL

I should also stress that by simply reporting on these topics, it does not necessarily mean I approve or support all they are doing. For that personal perspective, you will have to buy me a good dinner first  :)


Amsterdam Coffeeshops

The first thing to note is that there are "coffee shops or cafes" and there are "coffeeshops" (almost always spelt as one word). We are talking about the latter here, and not cafes such as Starbucks and the like.

The rule is that people above the age of 18 are permitted to buy up to 5 grams of cannabis per day from a licensed coffeeshop and also to smoke it within the coffeeshop. I am told that 5 grams is a LOT ... more than what a normal person can smoke even in a few days. I've often been confused about the difference between cannabis, marijuana and hash. Anyway, I've learnt that marijuana (also known as weed, pot, dope, grass, ganja ...) consists of dried flowers or buds from the cannabis sativa or cannabis indica plants. Marijuana looks green and fluffy. Hash (hashish) is a concentrated resin that is extracted from those same plants by a variety of methods. Hash comes in brownish clay-like blocks.


Here's a picture of one of many coffeeshops one can find in the streets of Amsterdam.






All the coffeeshops have special licenses, and I've heard that the authorities are not issuing new licenses any more. I'm also told that such coffeeshops have been decreasing in numbers in recent years, although there are still well over a hundred in Amsterdam.

Before I leave this interesting topic, let me just add the usual caution: KIDS, PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME   :)


De Wallen - Amsterdam's infamous Red Light District

The Red Light District of Amsterdam is located a mere 10 minutes from the city centre (which is generally agreed to be Dam Square). It is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike - mostly men but a significant number of curious women too - and "window shopping" takes on a very different meaning in this area. (Mostly) beautiful young ladies, dressed in sexy lingerie, stand behind red lit windows, creating an exciting atmosphere. I read somewhere that there are about 250 windows spread throughout the different lanes in the area.


This area, called De Wallen locally, is actually one of the oldest parts of the city and the old buildings here have been left relatively unchanged. A canal runs through it and there is even a sizeable church (Oude Kerk) right in the centre of the area.


Here are some glimpses of the various lanes of De Wallen ...



And some of the windows and their attractions ...







This area is also home to a bronze statue - unveiled during the Red Light District's "Annual Open Day" in April 2007 - in honour of prostitutes round the world. It is believed that this is the first and only such monument in the world. The tourist guidebook has this description "Titled Belle, it depicts a full-breasted woman who is standing in a doorway at the top of small set of steps and looking self-assuredly into the world."




Here's a clearer view of the words on the plaque.





Well, I reckon that's enough for today. I hope you found that interesting and perhaps even somewhat educational. Views, comments and sharing of your experiences are, as usual, most welcome.

And finally,  the "C" that I was mentioning in my previous post refers to "CULTURE" ... that's what I meant, of course. What were you all thinking?
.

24 comments:

  1. class trip to Amsterdam???????

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like window shopping too

    ReplyDelete
  3. Any bargaining or not?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very interesting post. Hmmmmmm, sudden urge to call my travel agent now.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amsterdam here we come

    ReplyDelete
  6. what abt the Sex Museum, WJ? any photos?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hmmm. I'm still thinking how to include photos from the Sex Museum without offending some viewers. May not be possible.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I see one dressed like Britney :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. WJ, seems your bunch are too shy to comment on this posting. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  10. Britney's uniform in the video, 'Opps I did it again'

    Of course shy mah....we all from St.Joe mah...not from other schools who are not shy mah...

    Anymore part 3 WJ? I'm sure there are some more 'interesting' photos, common, show them to us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yep... that's the 4th "C" I was referring to...:-)) Not the usual "kopitiam" we know, innit?

    Nice picture of the Moulin Rouge.

    Gerard told me abt your recent visit to AMS, so am curious to check your blog. I did a similar write-up but less adult-ish :-D

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for visiting, Nasifriet. I certainly enjoyed my visit to Amsterdam and the surrounding countryside. You did a much more complete writeup of the place in your blog, which I'd encourage others to take a look at:
    http://nasifriet.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Certainly not my corner kopitiam.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wish to glob-trot with WJMarch 25, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    Class trip to Amsterdam??? You must be joking! Anon Mar21, 11.26am

    ReplyDelete
  15. Do you know there is a close historical link between the Netherlands (Holland) and Indonesia? Indonesia was once a Dutch colony, and the Dutch East India Company was a huge player on the spice trade. Even today, we saw many Indonesian restaurants in Amsterdam.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Class trip cannot go to Amsterdam meh? Why, Wish to glob-trot with WJ?
    No plane flying there meh?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Air Asia got fly to Amsterdam or not?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wish to globe-trot with WJMarch 28, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    Hi Keen To Travel,
    ask your wife ( married right? ), can or cannot
    go to Amsterdam for class trip ( men only? ).
    too many unhealthy distractions lah. best is go to Bako National Park.

    ReplyDelete
  19. @Wish to globe-trot with WJ - Can lah. We only want to visit Amsterdam to see the clogs and cheese and tulips and windmills waaah.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Aiyoo, my wife said cannot unless she tags along.the pictures of those sexy dames by the windows make her feel insecure. got one who looks like student with her checkered skirt.

    ReplyDelete
  21. That was a Britney i think

    ReplyDelete
  22. when do we get part 3, WJ?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Tax Crackdown on Amsterdam prostitutes

    - 12 Jan 2011

    AMID budget cuts and falling revenues, the Dutch government has warned prostitutes who advertise their wares in the famed windows of Amsterdam's red light district to expect a business-only visit from the taxman.
    Prostitution has flourished in Amsterdam since the 1600s, when the Netherlands was a major naval power and sailors swaggered into the city's port looking for a good time. The country legalised prostitution in 2000, but authorities are only now demanding prostitutes pay income tax.

    Janneke Verheggen, spokeswoman for the country's Tax Service, said now is the right time to "increase compliance."

    In a sign of the times, few prostitution advocates are protesting - though many are skeptical tax law can be enforced in an all-cash industry.

    ReplyDelete