In March, Amsterdam’s Red Light District held its second open day. Last weekend Gay Pride attracted over 500,000 people, in October the amazing pyrotechnic hard rock Robodock festival will be staged and in November �" the Cannabis cup.

Armed with a list of 25 establishments opening their doors and flinging back their red curtains, crowds of wide-eyed tourists and locals seized the opportunity of the “Red Light Open Day” to see a prostitute’s bedroom, watch a brief live peep-show or chat to a lap dancer.

RedLightOpenDay

“The open day is partly to promote the red light district but also to help change the image of the area because we think it is too negative” said organiser Mariska Majoor, a former prostitute who now runs an information centre on the district. “There are not just problems here”, she added.

Organisers of Amsterdam's 13th annual Gay Pride festival, which ended on Sunday, said the annual canal parade on Saturday drew a record crowd of more than 500,000. 80 boats full of partying homosexuals took part, including a police boat.

GayPrideAmsterdam

A government boat included Education Minister Ronald Plasterk, Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst and Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders as well as several deputy ministers. Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen also took part as a passenger on the council boat.

And, that’s not all �" the pyrotechnical hard rock Robodock is set to take place at end of October on NDSM Quay

Robodock


And to round off the year at the same venue, the Cannabis Cup is to be held in November

CannabisCup

Also on the NDSM Quay, Amsterdam’s other big addiction is being exploited. Did you know that there are more bikes than people in Holland?

A new promotional weekend has been launched by the AmstelBotel. Making use of their new berth on the hip NDSM Quay, they have arranged a series of trips to explore Old Holland’s Waterland, the Zuydersee and Amsterdam all in a weekend �" by cycle.

Further information: jolanda@amstelbotel.nl
AmstelBotel

It’s tourism in Amsterdam as usual, but will “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll” be as sustainable as “Clogs and Cheese and Windmills…and Cycling”? Or will Amsterdam’s answer be, as usual, getting the best of all worlds?

Valere Tjolle