What can not be done in Amsterdam

We are all used to thinking that Amsterdam is a city where everything is possible! In general, this is so. Much of what is prohibited in other cities and countries today in the Dutch capital can be found completely legal. For example, marijuana and other “soft” drugs, prostitution and even (oh horror!) Gay parades.

However, if you walk around Amsterdam, carefully observing its urban environment, then you will begin to notice a fairly large number of prohibition signs. Let's see what is banned in Amsterdam?

Let's start with the most important thing: you can’t smoke marijuana here. "SHTOOA? !!", you ask. After all, it was precisely with his condescending attitude to planokurs that this city became famous from the end of the last century. Long before individual advanced States of America and entire huge countries began to come to ligalization. But, as it turned out, residents of sleeping areas do not like tourists to puff under their windows. To do this, there are famous coffee shops in the old city center. And in many residential neighborhoods you can’t smoke weed.

Yes, God bless her, with weed then. Even ordinary alcohol cannot be drunk on the street! These bans also apply only in certain areas.

By the way, it was unusual for me, who came from America, to see prohibition signs in the form of a red circle. If something is forbidden in our country, it’s not just in a circle, but also crossed out - it’s immediately clear. But I did not immediately appreciate European standards in this regard, and on the first day I really thought that these were special signs encouraging smoking of grass and drinking strong drinks.
Although here you are! If you exit the residential quarter, then the ban on alcohol ceases to work. So this is a real drinking promotion sign.

"It is forbidden to write." I never would have thought that in a civilized city it is necessary to hang such a thing. Some believe that if they did not find the toilet, then it can be cast into the canal. Although in Amsterdam, in my opinion, there is no shortage of toilets, especially if you are a boy and want a little.

But the dogs in the city have a hard time. On almost every fence there is a sign prohibiting a person’s best friend from entering. Then some wit drew by hand why exactly the Ball should not be allowed.

Everything is clear on this sign. Interestingly, there are no bans on cats. In my opinion this is rabid racism.

Poor dogs!

Such a sign in the USA would definitely mean not "Dogs are not allowed!", But "Watch out, angry dog!" By the way, you see, there is a little scarlet sticker on the side that prohibits bike parking?

These hang in many places around Amsterdam. There are a huge number of bicycles in the city, and no one wants to be fastened near their house, otherwise it will simply be impossible to walk along the sidewalks.

These prohibitions, however, are often scored, and bicycles are left anywhere. I wonder if there is a service in Amsterdam that evacuates improperly parked bicycles, as, for example, exists in Kyoto?

In Kyoto, however, bicycles from all over the city are taken to one huge underground parking lot. I can’t even imagine how big the parking lot would be to be able to fit all Amsterdam’s incorrectly parked bicycles!

Cars, too, of course, can’t stand anywhere. “Do not block the drive, day or night,” the sticker reads sternly. These hang on many private garages.

And since Amsterdam is a city of canals, there are signs prohibiting parking for water vehicles. The sign "do not moor" is somewhat reminiscent of a chess piece.

There is a resolving equivalent: "It is only possible starting from here and in that direction."

Or, for example, this option: parking of boats and barges is prohibited. Do not think that this car breaks; car drivers in Amsterdam are just like silk. Understand that they are in the city on a bird’s rights.

And sometimes a parking ban is warned in advance on certain days.

Here's another: you can’t grill sausages on a portable grill. As for me, it’s a very specific ban.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of prohibitions and rules in Amsterdam. Someone can show it and say: "See, this is not a free city!" And I will answer that what else is free. All this is yet another manifestation of how people use their freedom to forbid.

Watch the video: What I wish I'd done in Amsterdam! (May 2024).