Cannabis is set to be banned in Amsterdam’s red light district under new laws coming this spring.
Taking effect in mid-May, the regulations will make it illegal to smoke weed on the streets of the Dutch capital.
Local authorities pushed for the changes to improve the city for residents, who have long been frustrated by huge numbers of nuisance tourists.
Other measures will see sex workers have to close earlier at 3am, while restaurants and bars must now close by 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
No new visitors will be allowed to enter the red light area after 01:00.
Almost all councilors voted in favor of the laws, according to local media.
They are part of a wider effort by the Dutch capital to shed its reputation as a debauchery and position itself as a cultural hub.
Councilors plan to launch a ‘stay away’ campaign alongside the regulations to discourage tourists from coming for sex, drugs and drink.
In December, Amsterdam announced plans to stop weekend cannabis sales, close brothels and limit deer numbers.
He also wanted to tighten rules on Airbnb short-term rentals and introduce a tourism tax in peak months.
Alcohol sales, already heavily restricted, are targeted by the new law.
It is currently illegal to drink alcohol in public across Amsterdam, but shops will now have to cover it from Thursday to Sunday after 4pm.
The Dutch capital is notorious for its cafes and window prostitution, which attract millions of tourists from around the world every year.
Locals complain that the large number of visitors who use drugs and alcohol increases crime rates while deteriorating the character of the town and their quality of life.
The British are some of the noisiest visitors and have long irritated the city’s 880,000 permanent residents.
Possession, manufacture or sale of drugs is a criminal offense under current law in the Netherlands.
However, coffee shops are only allowed to sell cannabis under certain conditions due to the country’s “political tolerance” as they do not cause problems in the area.
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