Happy New Year

[Otto]

I'm sure you haven't asked but as far as my "observations" (as a cabdriver)
on RLD's around here tell me there's still an increase in the sex-business
due to the many women from Eastern Europe who have come (or have been
brought) to Western countries since 1990. Compared to Germany the prices are
cheaper in the Netherlands.

Of course the windows are in a way dehumanizing. I guess the Dutch have
lower restrictions to RLD's than we have, according to their generally
greater tolerance. But even in my 150.000 people smalltown there's a "Club"
in a purely residential area with whorehouse-business from Monday to Friday
and Swinger-Club on Saturday. And the neighbourhood seems to be some kind of
proud to be so "tolerant".

Personally I prefer the smaller Dutch towns like Groningen or Haarlem (Frans
Hals Museum). A nice place is Otterloo at the "Dutch Mountains" (Hoge
Veluwe) where the Kröller-Müller Museum should be visited.

Otto

Jasper Fidget:
>
> Didn't have any trouble visiting the Netherlands last month, but noticed
> a disturbing trend in Amsterdam.  Has anybody else who has been there
> recently--or who lives there--noticed that the Red Light District is
> growing (some would say metastasizing)?  We walked through a mainly
> residential area near our hotel--east side of the Voorburgwal area, east
> of the RLD by at least 5 blocks--and encountered red windows displaying
> their wares, abruptly, almost surreally, where I would never have
> expected to find them.  I don't mind the existence the RLD (although I
> personally find the windows dehumanizing), but when I go to Amsterdam I
> expect to find it where it is, and not find it where it is not expected
> to be.  I find it strange that the residents of that area have allowed
> this--I couldn't imagine that ever happening in the US--but my knowledge
> of NL zoning restrictions is non-existent.
>
> Great city otherwise (though I was disappointed that most of the Van
> Goghs were on loan to Chicago at the time of our visit).
>
> Jasper Fidget
>
>