Amsterdam, a gray zone of the capital



Coffee-shops, not to be confused with cafes, have been a part of Amsterdam since the 1970s, when
the Dutch government made a clear distinction in the law between 'hard' and 'soft' drugs. Unlike Amsterdam's
fully legal smart shops, coffee-shops have always existed in a grey area.

Under Amsterdam's drug laws, such as the fact that it is not allowed to sell alcohol and cannabis products on
the same premises. Since 2008 the introduction of the tobacco ban has made it illegal to smoke this dangerous
substance in anyone's workplace. Pure cannabis joints may still be smoked as normal, as bongs, pipes and
joints made with the special 'herbal smoking mixtures' provided by some coffee-shops. Many coffee-shops
also have a sealed 'smoking area' in order to allow customers to smoke joints containing tobacco.


The hotels and cannabis coffee shop, 'speak easy'

Sit down to relax, inhale, exhale and drink. The way to spend in the coffee shop in Amsterdam

The coffee shop, ' Baba', that campaigning 'Try our new way of smoking'
A loud visionary music was playing in the room with a large Indian god? on the wall. 　Web http://www.babashops.nl/

(L) A soft drug shop (R) Drug aspirators at display in Amsterdam

(L) A different hallucinogenic mushroom at display (R) 'Smokers' shop in Amsterdam

A showcase displays a guide book how to grow marijuana, titled 'Marijuana Horticulture', published by Van Patten Publishing.
This book describes the most current cannabis growing methods.

A man was struck hard and injured at this district and policemen were asking the situation.
He was later taken by an ambulance to a hospital.

The 'smart' shop and sex shop in Amsterdam

Sex shop and hotel in Amsterdam


The Red Light District in Amsterdam is famous for the many Amsterdam girls behind red light windows. It is unique
among Amsterdam and many visitors look at it in amazement. Because of the tolerant attitude towards prostitution,
girls from many countries come to work here in clubs and behind the red lit windows.


アムステルダム中央駅を右に少し歩くとダムラック（Damrak）通りが南に向かって伸びている。この通りの左右に赤線地域
（Red Light District）が広がる。ことに旧教会（Oude Kerk）周辺は治安の悪い「性とマリファナ」のショップが密集している。
コーヒーショップではタバコを吸いながらコーヒーと大麻が含まれるクッキーやチョコレートを注文する。マリファナ入りの
タバコもあり、マリファナそのものも吸引出来る。しかし、タバコ副流煙の有害性を知るものにとっては、もうもうたる煙の中
に入ることなどとても出来ない。オランダではソフトドラッグは合法で個人使用の場合は5グラム以下であれば逮捕される
ことはない。最近ではオランダ国内でも批判も多く、ソフトドラックを販売するコーヒーショップの全面閉鎖を主張する
政治家もいる。

注意：日本国内では大麻の栽培、保有、使用は違法です。

Amsterdam garbage strike
An agreement has finally been reached and municipal cleaners are back to work as of 16 May 2010.
Due to a strike by city cleaners, refuse collection was ceased between 6 and 15 May 2010.


Amsterdam with full of garbage

A garbage everywhere in the cental commercial districts

アムステルダムの中心街はゴミの山に埋もれていた。業界のストライキの結果だ。街を歩いていたときは、ゴミの収拾拒否の
ためとはおおよそ分かっていたが、運河に沿った住宅街にはゴミ一つ落ちていなかったためその正確な理由は分からなかった。
ただ、労働問題が解決しても平常に戻った街がどの程度クリーンなのかは分からない。

Holland
Netherlands Schiphol Airport and Railways Amsterdam tram Amsterdam city 1 Amsterdam city 2

Tobacco control in Holland


静寂と混迷とが混在する運河の街、アムステルダム
2010年5月執筆　医学博士 宮本順伯
★This Web site is link-free.
The article was written and photographs were taken in May, 2010、by Dr. Junhaku Miyamoto.
Copyright(C) 2010 Junhaku Miyamoto, All rights reserved.