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PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:13 pm 
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AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - City officials said Thursday they are shutting down nearly a third of the 350 prostitution “windows” in Amsterdam’s famed Red Light District as part of a crackdown on crime.

The city said a 2003 law allowed it to deny or revoke brothels’ licenses when it suspected operators would use them for money-laundering, or other illegal financial activity, “which in concrete terms means that those involved won’t be able to continue their businesses” after Jan. 1.

“We’re not knights on a morality crusade, and this is intended to target financial crime, not prostitution per se,” said city spokesman Martien Maten. “But we do think this will change the face of the Red Light District.”

The Dutch government legalized prostitution in 2000 with an eye to making it easier to tax and regulate. Even before then, the Red Light District was tolerated by authorities and had become a major tourist attraction.

The narrow streets near Amsterdam’s center have been known for prostitution since the city was the hub of a global trading empire during the Netherlands’ 17th century Golden Age.

Scantily clad women stand in the windows, beckoning tourists now just as they did sailors then. The area is also home to numerous bars and sex clubs.

It is a magnet for human trafficking, drug dealers and petty crime, and the city’s largest political party called for the crackdown.

'Many other things to offer'
In response, several major sex clubs held an open house in February, hoping to improve relations and dispel the area’s negative reputation.

Many of the brothels say the financial screening is unfair, because banks and reputable accountants are often unwilling to work with them, making it difficult to keep correct books.

Critics of the crackdown predict it will merely lead to more street prostitution.

Maten said business in the area has been in a slump, and he suspected that many of the prostitutes affected — about 300, given that the 105 windows that will be shut are often occupied in shifts — will find work at the remaining legal brothels.

He added he didn’t expect the closures to hurt tourism revenue.

“Amsterdam has many other things to offer,” he said.

A number of brothels are still under review, and the city said it plans to extend the crackdown next year to related hotels and cafes suspected of money-laundering.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15969044/


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:44 pm 
PHD From Del Rey University!
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Ashford,

Does this only affect the Oudekirk RLD beahind the Kraznapolsky/near Centraal Station, or did the crackdown affect the Pijp and/or Singel RLD's?

This is of course a bunch of bullshit, IMHO. Bet tight-ass Georgie "King" Bush put pressure on the Netherlands to stop the "immorality" of prostitution.

A ten guilder bet: The coffee shops are next. And soon.

Grab it while it's still good, guys. These fake moralists who back up their Christian/Moslem humanity with incendiaries and fuel-air bombs are going to take away our fun.

Thanks for the heads-up, AJ.

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:08 pm 
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Hey El C-

I am not sure specifically what area this is affecting. I am at work now and the particular site where I get a lot of information is blocked by the Barracuda Firewall. I will check it out and let you know.

I sure hope it doesn't start a domino effect of some sort. That city has so much character and there are so many things you can do there that you can't legally do in the USA. At least the amazing architecture can't be messed with!

Man I can remember the days of the guilder! My first time there you could get a FS for about 20 dollars. Now its triple that and the service is more fast food restaurant like!

Hope all is well for you P-


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 Post subject: LAL vs. GFE in the RLD
PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:51 pm 
PHD From Del Rey University!
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AJ and everyone,

In my opinion, the window girls are only really good for the LAL (love and leave) type of monger. Being old, fat, blind and possessing neither a strong ego nor porn star prong, I need more of the GFE type of session.

That's not say GFE can't be had with a window girl, and in fact I enjoyed an incredibly pleasant hour with a girl from Barcelona who pampered me for over an hour and for around U.S.$120.00 at the time. When the Dutch converted from guilder to euro, local merchants of all types took the opportunity to double, and in some cases triple their prices. :evil: On my first trip to A'dam eight years ago, you could get a great hotel room (3-1/2 stars) for around U.S. $70.00 pp. I just checked the same hotel, and the rate is now nearly $160.00 pp for the same room. :mad:

And yes, I think we can count on a domino effect concerning the smoke, fungus, pollen and even sex clubs such as Casa Russo (yuck) and the YabYum (double yuck).

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:22 pm 
PHD From Del Rey University!
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Location: Referred to the OIG by Mucho Gusto after mysterious fire at his gay night club.
El Ciego wrote:
And yes, I think we can count on a domino effect concerning the smoke, fungus, pollen


I just got back from Amsterdam last month. While I can't speak of them closing the windows at the time, I can tell you about the smoke, pollen, and fungus. I make a trip every year and I can tell you prices have remained the same. You can easily get some lower grade smoke for 10-12 euro. Unless you are some uber weed smoker this will do the trick. If you are interested in the higher end strains you are looking at 18-30 euro depending on where you buy it. Same holds true for hash which tends to run a little cheaper then the weed. I am not a partaker in shrooms but from what I saw it ran around 12 euro. Considering the fact Amsterdam is one of the most expensive cities in Europe those prices aren't bad at all.

If you are looking for bargins on mind altering fun the best and worst time to go is Cannibus Cup. The Cup is nothing but a tourist trap where you can witness a bunch of tourist stoned out of their minds. Avoid the event itself like the plague. However, the coffee shops that enter the Cup tend to have great specials. I was finding deals where they would give you 2 grams of weed and 2 grams of hash for 14 euro.


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