The Duality of Amsterdam
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
Amsterdam, also known as Venice of the North or Sin City, is known for its beautiful canals, brightly-colored tulips, and of course- the “coffee shops”. While most envision a pristine and clean-kept city, there is also a side to it that includes a huge techno scene, lots of drugs, and the infamous Red Light District. For the most part, Amsterdam is a picture-perfect postcard town filled with tons of art and history. However, when the sun goes down, the party gets started.
Image Courtesy: Timeout
In an instant, you get transported from looking at Rembrandt’s most famous artwork, “The Night Watch,” to walking down a street that looks familiar and has the same vibes as Bourbon Street. The duality that Amsterdam displays convey an essence of creativity, fun, and overall a free spirit. However, some facts about Amsterdam are misunderstood or false. First is the weed scene. While Amsterdam is thought to be known for legalizing marijuana, there are actually strict rules about owning and smoking the plant . Rather, weed is decriminalized for personal use, and Dutch residents can grow up to 5 of their own marijuana plants. You must smoke inside a coffee shop or your own personal residence, or else you can face charges from the city. The same goes for shrooms, which are thought to be legal. While psychedelic mushrooms are highly illegal in Amsterdam, magic truffles are legal and able to purchase almost anywhere in the city.
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After you have spent your day walking around the gorgeous district of Jordaan, eating insane cookies from the famous Van Stapele Koekmakerij, and touring the Anne Frank House, it’s time to visit the Red Light District. In Amsterdam, the Red Light District is fair game. Prostitution has been legal in Amsterdam since 2000, giving sex workers more control over their profession, reducing criminal activity, and improving their working conditions. The Red Light District is located in an area called De Wallen, and while that is the main one, there are two other smaller and less popular Red Light Districts throughout the city. Something that is not as known as the Red Light District is the Blue Light District, where transgenders and transvestites can safely do their work.
Then, there’s the music. The techno or electronic music scene in Amsterdam rivals Berlin, which is the home of techno music. The overpowering and captivating music genre has become extremely popular in Amsterdam in recent years as Dutch DJs such as Tiësto and Armin van Buren gained major popularity. Now, Amsterdam is home to some of the most famous techno clubs such as Amsterdam ArenA, De Marktkantine, and Melkweg.
Image Courtesy: EDM Joy
It’s no surprise that Amsterdam gets about 18 million visitors per year. The city is very up-to-date with the latest trends and offers a variety of modern exhibits, food, and nightlife while still maintaining historic Dutch art and culture, as well as an amazing canal system. Amsterdam is an adventure in itself, and you are sure to get lost in all its beauty and wildness.
Strike Out,
Writer: Nikki Cohen
Editor: Abby Crosby
Graphic Designer: Katie Esguerra
Tallahassee