Dutch coffeeshops 'on strike' on election day Dutch coffeeshops 'on strike' on election day | Radio Netherlands Worldwide Published on : 12 March 2010 - 8:40pm | By Johan van Slooten Dutch "coffee shops", a euphemism for outlets selling soft-drugs, have announced they are going on strike on 9 June, the day the country will hold parliamentary elections. The idea behind closing for the day is to encourage all those who like to smoke a joint to get out and vote for the parties which will ensure that coffee shops will not be banned in the Netherlands. Nol van Schaik <http://nolvanschaik.info/index.html>, who owns a coffee shop in Haarlem, launched the campaign because he feels the current government is biased against "shops" like his. “We have been under a lot of pressure in recent years because of a very conservative governmentâ€, he says. “The pressure on us is mounting and with the possibility of a new right-wing cabinet, I think we should mobilize people to vote for parties that are cannabis-friendlyâ€. Restrictions The last Dutch coalition cabinet – comprising Labour, Christian Democrats and a small Christian party – introduced tighter restrictions<http://www.wereldomroep.nl/english/article/dutch-soft-drugs-advocates-critical-new-cabinet-policy> on coffee shops. It wanted to ban them within 250 meters of schools and restrict the sale of cannabis and other soft drugs to local residents only. If approved, the latter measure would be a major blow for coffee shops in tourist areas such as Amsterdam, where their customers include many foreign visitors. Conservative parties Mr. Van Schaik fears that the pressure on his trade will increase if centre-right party CDA (Christian Democrats) or the populist Freedom Party of Geert Wilders – not known for their cannabis-friendly policies - will dominate the new coalition cabinet after the 9 June elections. “We can only wait and see whether more coffeeshops will be forced to closeâ€, he writes on his website. “Maybe you and me are next, maybe all of usâ€, he warns other coffee shop owners. The strike is not just about closing for a day. It's also a call for coffeeshop clientele to go out and vote on that day. “We're putting up posters in our coffeeshops to warn our customers of the consequences of a new right-wing cabinetâ€, Mr. Van Schaik says. “They're people who normally don't vote, saying for them politics is just one big mess. But it's better to have a big mess and be allowed to smoke a joint than to have a mess with the coffeeshops closed. I hope that's enough encouragement to at least go out and voteâ€. Make a difference Mr. Van Schaik thinks that the pro-cannabis vote by Dutch coffee shop customers can make a difference on 9 June. “There are a million people who regularly smoke cannabis and who are eligible to vote. That's 18 seats in parliament. If Labour wins four or five seats more, just because of our votes, they'll be bigger than other parties and they're very much pro-coffeeshopâ€. Job Cohen Mr. Van Schaik therefore welcomes Friday's political upheaval<http://www.wereldomroep.nl/english/article/labour-leader-wouter-bos-steps-down> over the announcement by Labour party leader Wouter Bos that he's leaving politics, with Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen almost certain to take his place. “Mr. Cohen has been very good for Amsterdam's coffee shops, especially when it comes to regulating the supply chain. He will have a major impact on Dutch politics and we can only be hopeful about thatâ€.
Sounds like a good idea. Even though its the easiest place to find weed on the planet, their still facing prejudice against the coffeeshops. Go Dutch people!
yeah im from Holland I live about 12 kilometres from amsterdam in Purmerend! proud to be dutch, trots om hollands te zijn! Stem Groenlinks! (vote green-leftswing!)
I'll have to make sure my stash doesn't run out on that day then lol. Let's hope this strike makes a difference.
I'll be in Amsterdam on June 9th. Actually wait, I should be in Noordwijk on the beach. I hope to god the Netherlands doesn't regress into the realm of prohibition again.
wow, the strike day is an awesome idea. go Netherlands and Dutch people! the Netherlands has been one of the most forward, progressive countries so far, let's hope they don't slip backwards.
That is realy cool they are doing that. I hope that measure doesn't pass. Though if it does it just means that coffee shops wil have to relocate, possibly farther away from the middle of the city. Who knows mabye this will inspire coffee shops out in the woods, or overlooking windmills.
Someone always has to fuck with a good thing. Look as gas prices, they were fine 10yrs ago at a dollar a gallon, then someone had to start fucking with shit. See any correlation..prolly not just some random shit I type. I took a trip there and Amsterdam wasn't all that great but I feel I couldve set up shot in Deventer. Please don't let them ruin any future trips I may take to there one day. It doesn't sound all that bad for the locals, and I guess tourists would have to do like I did when I was 15 trying to score cigarettes by asking someone outside the store to go in for you. WTH does it matter if you're within a football field's distance of a school (or more). Lets also shut down bars, corner stores, bookstores(nudie mags), and whateever else the hell you feel good about.