Coffeeshop closures slash drugs tourism
29 April 2010
A sharp decline in the number of drugs tourists and a decrease in illegal drug dealing, together with all its associated unpleasantness. That, say two local councils in the southern province of West Brabant, is the result of closing all the coffeeshops in the towns of Bergen op Zoom and Roosendaal last September.
The two councils released the interim results of the closures on Thursday. They say they’ll produce the definitive results of the decision to close the coffeeshops at the end of the year.
In 2008, thousands of drugs tourists visited the two towns each week: 13,000 arrived in Roosendaal; 12,000 went to Bergen op Zoom. In the first months of 2010, according to the official surveys, such visits dropped to no more than a few hundred a week.
Police in both towns say the figures – collected during their investigation of what happened after the coffeeshop closures - also included people travelling to what they called ‘suspicious destinations’ to buy drugs. Roosendaal and Bergen op Zoom say they now receive 967 and 1072 drugs tourists a week respectively.
Under the Netherlands’ drug tolerance policy, cannabis remains illegal but the authorities turn a blind eye towards the sale of small amounts in so-called 'coffeeshops'. On the other hand, the law is still enforced against those growing marijuana and supplying the coffeeshops.
Roosendaal and Bergen op Zoom say stopping the tolerance policy has not led to more illegal drug trading. In fact, there is even talk of a small decrease in such trading. However, reports of drug-related disturbances in both towns have revealed that drugs tourists and dealers are now increasingly taking refuge in the suburbs.
The towns say they intend to continue their cooperation with police and justice officials to tackle drug crime and drug-related problems.
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Coffeeshop closures slash drugs tourism
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Ingwey Gooblebogger
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