Sorry...to little, to late. One example, no smoking in bars. Regardlesss of what the anti smoking cultists say, most people, gay or straight want to have a drink and a smoke....as they do in all bars in Berlin...and please don't write and say you can't in Berlin because you can. Another example...being harassed by the police and bar staff not to stand and drink outside the bar. Amsterdam is becoming unfriendly to alot of groups...the coffee shop crowd...yea lets have cards for the dutch so others can't enjoy them if they want....Ja, that will get the tourists.....and of course the destruction of the red light district...ja, that will bring the tourists. One writer here said you don't need the red light district because most tourists don't use them....yes your right, but they want TO SEE THEM.....its called a tourist attraction.

By alanposting | September 10, 2009 12:36 PM

well alan, and i'm gonna take a stab that you're not dutch, i really hope you don't live here cos it sounds like this place annoys the hell out of you...

By mike berry | September 10, 2009 2:12 PM

There are two issues Amsterdam needs to address if it is to bring gay tourists back.

1. It needs to decide what its policy is. Is it still a city of tolerance where everything goes provided it is properly run and discreet? Or is it now more conservative? I know they closed a well-known bar because it had naked parties - but the bar was very well-run, no trouble, the windows were blacked out and they were very strict about who they let in. Nobody passing would have known what went on inside. A But of course, female prostitutes can still openly sell themselves in the windows and straight sex shows are fine! Why is that? It sends a message to gay people that Amsterdam is not so tolerant as they thought.

2. Secondly, the simple fact is that the recent attacks on gay people have come from particular sections of the community, ie. immigrants. Native Dutch people are very rarely involved in gay-bashing. I am sorry if this is not politically correct, but it is the truth and pretending it is not so is pointless. Immigrants deserve complete tolerance and respect, but they need to be told that they have to give the same to other groups, whether or not they approve of them.

By angrypuss | September 10, 2009 3:05 PM

There are two issues Amsterdam needs to address if it is to bring gay tourists back.

1. It needs to decide what its policy is. Is it still a city of tolerance where everything goes provided it is properly run and discreet? Or is it now more conservative? I know they closed a well-known bar because it had naked parties - but the bar was very well-run, no trouble, the windows were blacked out and they were very strict about who they let in. Nobody passing would have known what went on inside. A But of course, female prostitutes can still openly sell themselves in the windows and straight sex shows are fine! Why is that? It sends a message to gay people that Amsterdam is not so tolerant as they thought.

2. Secondly, the simple fact is that the recent attacks on gay people have come from particular sections of the community, ie. immigrants. Native Dutch people are very rarely involved in gay-bashing. I am sorry if this is not politically correct, but it is the truth and pretending it is not so is pointless. Immigrants deserve complete tolerance and respect, but they need to be told that they have to give the same to other groups, whether or not they approve of them.

By angrypuss | September 10, 2009 3:05 PM

as a straight person with numerous gay friends the homophobia is still prevalent. Most homophobe are in a way homosexual. Read what Kinsey found out and see the truth behind "gay bashing", the perpetrators are gay to a point. It just frightens them to admit they have homosexual desires. Who cares if your neighbor is gay, how is it effecting your life.

By Paul Martin | September 10, 2009 11:48 PM

Fascinating angrypuss. A recent gaybashing in my hometown in Canada was explained away by one who said, "It couldn't have been a local. It must have been somebody new in town." Wake UP. Or provide statistical proof.

By CW | September 11, 2009 9:49 AM

I lived in Amsterdam from 1980-84, and even then it wasn't especially great for a gay man. There were occasional bashings, and homophobic comments towards the more obvious members of the community were pretty common. Dutch tolerance was just that - tolerance - as one explained it to me, "We all live close together, so we tolerate lots of things, like dogshit on the streets, but that doesn't mean we like it." Tolerance was as far as it went - acceptance was minimal, and to suggest gay people should be celebrated and embraced provoked laughter. Sounds like the old grudging tolerance has broken down somewhat - but it WAS only ever grudging, and not generous.

By Doug Pollard | September 11, 2009 9:57 AM

Mike, I do live here and I love Amsterdam and the Dutch, just hate your ever growing christian government.

By alanposting | September 11, 2009 10:19 AM

NL is sending out serious mixed messages. Are you still tolerant or are you not? I find the recent drive to ban formerly-accepted behavior exhibits intolerance and is only going to wreck the economy in the long run. The main reason people come here is because they feel more free than where they live. They don't come for the cheese. No sense in trying to lure the gay crowd back until you sort what tolerance really means and take a consistent stand on it.

By J. | September 11, 2009 11:04 AM

It'll take a lot more than safety and tolerance to make Amsterdam a gay capital. Many capital cities around the world have better gay nightlife, community support, visibility and security.

@alan - Netherlands is one of the last western countries to ban smoking and there is still plenty of fun to be had in these countries

By mark | September 11, 2009 2:49 PM