Going Dutch, and more

THE long stretch between Damm Square and Central Station, in the heart of Amsterdam, is where all the action is once night falls. Once upon a time, this was a dingy network of lanes where even locals feared to tread. Now it’s the showpiece of Dutch tourism. While taking in the sights post-midnight, one spotted the Argentina hockey team doing the wide-eyed thing. Curfews were obviously the last thing on their minds.

Marijuana On My Mind

AND there is plenty that one wouldn’t see anywhere else. World cuisine restaurants rub shoulders with adult toy shops and coffee shops. The last is actually an euphemism for marijuana shops: Tourists can walk in, point at any of the sparkling glass jars stocked behind the bar, and receive their kind of marijuana. The variety is tremendous and so is the price range. A medium quality sells for nine euro (around Rs 500). If the smoke doesn’t make you lightheaded, head for the hemp museum around the corner. And oh, the city plans to host a Cannabis Festival next month. Bet there weren’t too many contestants for the bid.

Voyeur Voyage

A LONG canal lined by sex shops splits the ‘tourist spot’. The wide-eyed voyeur can hire a boat to glide down the canal. It can be quite a surreal experience, gawking at people gawking at women apparently killing time with cellphones and magazines, yet making no secret of why they are there.

Sting in the Tale

BUT these titillating sights tell only one side of the story. Though some argue the easy availability of drugs and adult shops only fuel baser instincts, others point out that legalising contraband and paid sex have had positive spin-offs. The drugs black market, once rampant in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, is a thing of the past. Help for addicts in need is far more accessible than it was before. The same goes for the sex industry. To get a licence, professional sex workers must undergo regular check-ups. There is an exemplary healthcare system in place, and it has gone a long way in checking the spread of AIDS.