Amsterdam has a new Ad campaign telling young Brits looking for a messy night out to stay away

[OldHouseLover]

It's pretty bad when there had to be an actual ad campaign?

Do you think it's fair that only British people are targeted?

Other countries have similar ,the locals don't cause issues. It's a way of regulating and controlling what happens everywhere underground

What does the campaign look like?

Not sure it would impact much

I wonder if it's related to our work culture. Pre kids both dh and I did 60 plus hour weeks in demanding jobs but were also expected to play just as hard. My father was in the military, same principle applied and dh's was a civil engineer, again long hours and wild parties.

Personally having been a guest of the Italian Navy, partied with members of various foreign Airforces and been stuck in a holiday resort with a lot of Russians, I don't think it's just a British thing but as a country, we're definitely guilty. I went to a hen weekend in Amsterdam once and whilst I had a great time sight seeing, the behaviour of some of my (ex) friends left a lot of to be desired and the police got involved. On reflection though, they did nothing they wouldn't have done at home because of the work hard/play hard thing which is a whole other issue.

We're meant to be going this winter for various reasons but I must admit to being a bit put off. We're absolutely not the demographic this is aimed at (barely drink, disagree entirely with prostitution, don't do drugs, don't pee on the street, speak enough Dutch to manage ordering food/touristy stuff, like museums and want my kids to see Efteling because I loved it as a child) but knowing your nationality isn't wanted (for understandable reasons) is uncomfortable.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils you will be absolutely fine if you act normally. It's not Brits they don't want, it's too many Brits on an out-of-control stag do.

I found it an absolute hovel to be honest and wouldn’t go back.

Very much agree with this article; sadly, the Dutch have allowed extreme liberalism to spead like a disease, and like many extreme positions it's predictably not ended well

In the article it says that the mayor of Amsterdam is very pro full legalisation. It's the 'gedoogbeleid' that is the problem here.

Went once, the streets stank of piss from the pop up urinals everywhere, and don’t get me started on the red light area and the stink of cannabis ….they have a bigger problem than drunk brits imo

But men of other nationalities are not the ones falling about drunk, pissing, pooping, and vomiting in the streets, singing and chanting obnoxiously, and messing with other people.

Two of my DDs (American) were in Amsterdam last summer and couldn't believe what they were seeing and hearing. There were groups of Germans, Belgians, Swedes, Americans, Australians, and others there, but it was the Brits who caused problems, and they do it in other European cities too, where there are drug cafes or wide open red light scene. British stag parties were banned from Temple Bar in Dublin a few years ago, and I know Prague got sick to the back teeth of the mayhem as well.

It’s been a narco state since the 60s. They manufactured industrial quantities of LSD since the 60s. Then weed. In the 80s and 90s in was the place every high level drug lord went to get the Es that would be shipped back to the UK. The Dutch aren’t innocent fawns when it comes to serious drug trafficking, never have been.

In the article it says that the mayor of Amsterdam is very pro full legalisation. It's the 'gedoogbeleid' that is the problem here

Absolutely

It's within their own remit to sort the problems they've largely created for themselves, but of course it's SO convenient to blame "someone else" as a deflection

This thread makes a fascinating read. I know there's no voting enabled but it feels like the majority feeling is British tourists are not the problem ...Amsterdam is a grotty sithole & have created this entire problem themselves & are now looking to pin the blame elsewhere?

We have a friend who lived there & we visited many times over the years & ine always loved it as a city to visit. I was last there in 2019 & very much enjoyed thar trip. I don't smoke & we never went neat the RLD. We visited galleries & shopped off Princengacht, we had drinks in the Pulitzer & stayed in an amazing town house nearby & ate in a fabulous restaurant.. my experience seems at odds with many peoples perceptions on here. I would go back tomorrow in a heartbeat & we're planning a trip in the coming months

@OldHouseLover i would love to know how many people here have been to Amsterdam. I've been a few times and have loved it every time. I have visited the red light district, learned about the history of it, etc. I m think it's hilarious some people are asking a city steeped in history to change their culture instead of asking men to do better!

I totally agree @Confusion101 its v strange! Amsterdam is a fabulous city

It seems they’re blaming people for their own behaviour. Lots of people visit Amsterdam because of the liberal policy in the Netherlands, but clearly the behaviour observed in predominantly the British isn’t considered normal.

It's repression and being told to have a stiff upper lip so the drink brings out the letting loose. How many conversations aren't suitable sober but are when you have had a couple of drinks ? Russians are even more rowdy when I've been away and they have an even stronger stiffer lip mentality.

If you think that the women in German brothels are proper employees, there of their own free will then you are very much mistaken. I've come across tales of women from Eastern Europe who had their passports taken to dissuade them from escaping. The solution is to target the punters.

I lived in the NL for 5 years and found that the Brits were worse for their behaviour around the red light district. Interesting health facilities in Amsterdam were also feeling the bite as there was a significant number of Brit males literally cracking their heads (falling off from multistorey buildings, being hit by tram etc) because they couldn't handle weed (most Dutch males don't go out to get high actually). Its interesting that parts of Spain, parts of Germany, and now the Netherlands have complained of rowdy British tourists. I have traveled a lot and worse tourists have always been Brits for general behaviour, and Aussies for better than thou behaviour

Why are so many here trying to argue the bad behaviour of British men is thanks to the red light district and the availability of pot?

British stag groups are notorious all over Europe.

This Amsterdam problem has nothing to do with the quirks of the city itself. When cities all over Europe are banning British stags (and hens) you need to start looking at the behaviour and the culture that produces it.

There are videos all over the internet of scenes of public drunkenness and associated appalling behaviour in British cities, night after night. There are threads here about trains to avoid and days to steer clear of cities like York. Don't deny it.

But no, it's got to be something about Amsterdam. If only Amsterdam wasn't the way it is, none of this would happen. Pathetic.

Do you accept this as normal? Is this normal in Britain? There are British town centres that smell like urinals?

Because I think this is what Amsterdam finds unacceptable.

😂😂😂 this

The best thing about Amsterdam is the legal drugs.

The problem with Brits is the drinking. Not saying other countries don't but we never celebrate anything without alcohol.

Love it.

You must live a very sheltered life!
Leeds, York or Harrogate on a Saturday evening in the summer you will see this

York on races day-seen both peeing and pooing by a group of women walking back into town.