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Amsterdam
There are over 18 million tourist crowding the streets of Amsterdam every year. The numbers have increased exponentially over time, threatening the everyday life of the 850,000 residents in this iconic town.
Those in charge of city zoning have been exploring various methods of preserving Amsterdam while still accommodating all those who come to indulge in its red-light district.
Between the swarms of rented bikes and eager foreigners funneling into the Damrak shopping area to enjoy a beer on the canal or buy a token piece of memorabilia, there is simply not enough space to kick back and enjoy the city unadulterated.
One longtime resident of Amsterdam, Stephen Hodes, feels the city has become, “A consumption ghetto,” and “a city on the verge of collapse“, according to Spiegel.
Hodes’ love for this popular city is what drove him to create the think-tank ‘Amsterdam in Progress’, which focuses on practical measures of preservation.
The main approach is to decrease the number of flights going in and out of Amsterdam, and limiting the number of nights a tourist can stay in the city.
So what does this mean for your plans to check the Rijksmuseum off your bucket list?
Schedule your trip in advance, and purchase your site-seeing tickets in advance too. This way you won’t have to wait in long lines and navigate through hordes of unprepared tourists.
Peak months for the museums are April, May, and August. Consider going during off-season to get cheaper accommodations—and to catch the locals in a less agitated mood.
