Amsterdam

Today we day-tripped up to Amsterdam. (just under an hour) And I know, you're thinking, "What happened to the last two days?" And I know where you're going with your thoughts. And you're wrong.

The last two days have been a whirlwind of culture, exploring the Netherlands' other capital city, Den Haag and it's delightful suburb of Scheveningen, where we've only managed to see our host coming and going what with his travels and our sleeping in.

It's been a WONDERFUL vacation so far. Doug couldn't have been more cordial (even in his absence). And as soon as I get around to back blogging a bit, you'll see what a wonderful time we've had thus far.

But back to Amsterdam, and my favorite coffee shop, Rookies. Holland is no longer the carefree capitol of kinky culture it used to be. Other political issues (mostly immigration) have graced these Nether regions with a conservative national government for several years now. As a side effect, we've seen a slow shift to the right with regard to certain social issues.

Amsterdam to Halve Brothels, Marijuana Shops
Posted Dec 6, 08 1:48 PM CST in

World

(Newser) – Apparently being the world’s sex and drugs capital isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Amsterdam is hoping to shut down about half of its brothels and half its marijuana shops, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The government has tried other tactics in the past. When Rob and I were here in '06 the new rule for coffee shops was the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages. So this joint Rookies did what many others who could afford it did and gained space next door, above or across the narrow street in order open a "separate" shop; one cafe' for beer and one cafe to purchase smoking products (which could then in turn be consumed back at the beer cafe'). Where there's a law, there's a way around it.

The current new regulation kicked in July 1 which banned smoking tobacco in any establishment; restaurant, bar, cafe' or what have you, with the exception of in fully enclosed separate spaces. In this case for Rookies, the way around the law was to build a wall (a nice picture window wall) right through their establishment. Just over there... beyond the glass lie the targets of the newest Dutch morals legislation... the evil cigarette smokers!

Still, the smoking ban has had its intended effect on some smaller coffee shops, forcing some to downsize or out of business altogether. On one of our strolls through Scheveningen we popped into a coffee shop wanting indeed to have some hot coffee. (It's cold here!) And the guy behind the counter, behind three tall stacks of coffee cups said, nope. Can't have none. Or something thereabouts in Dutch. So just to confirm if there were a problem with the espresso machine or the time of day or maybe he just didn't like our apparel. But it turns out that the cigarette ban killed his coffee business, so he's simply a corner drugstore dude now. (And a surly one at that. When I remember the name I'll update the page.)

For now, I'm just kicking back while Rob shops. He's a shopper.