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Discos on the decline

Friday 30 July 2010

The smoking ban, economic crisis and rise of social media are taking their toll on the traditional discotheque, according to news agency ANP.

In 1995 there were 453 discos in the Netherlands, but by 2006 the total had fallen to 323 and now there are just 271, ANP says, quoting figures from the Dutch hospitality industry association KHN.

'Traditional discotheques are dying a slow death,' a spokesman said.

Ton Poppes of the Escape club in Amsterdam told ANP owners have to be creative. 'Of course the smoking ban has not done us any good but it exists and you have to cope with it,' he said.

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Readers' comments

The number of existing clubs were already on a steady decline long before the smoking ban took effect. A poor economy means less new clubs open every year, so when one club closes, there is not necessarily one to replace it. Thus it seems rather silly to even attempt to link the situation to tightened rules on cigarettes.

By Zack | July 30, 2010 4:17 PM

"discotheques"? and who will miss them? ABBA? Not that there's anything wrong with that.

By kc | July 31, 2010 2:55 AM

People taste for music changes with the times. I thought disco musice went out 40 years ago. Or was it in the 70s??

By howard de barfield | July 31, 2010 4:29 PM

"it seems rather silly to even attempt to link the situation to tightened rules on cigarettes."

Of course, the person who made the comment about the effect of the smoklng ban is only the owner of one of the biggest and most popular discos in the country, so what would he know?

By Bill Crompton | August 1, 2010 12:53 AM