AFP,The Hague :
Some 17 million visitors flock to Amsterdam every year, but the tide of tourists is now threatening to swamp the historic city famous the world over for its picturesque canals.
Many residents and politicians have decided enough is enough, and are seeking creative ways to control the deluge. With the number of visitors set to reach 30 million by 2030, it’s a flood that threatens to overwhelm the Dutch city known as the Venice of the North.
“It’s Tuesday and it’s raining. There shouldn’t be so many people here,” sighed Matheus Risso, a 25-year-old Brazilian, sheltering under the arches of the world-famous Rijksmuseum.
But he already had a plan-B up his sleeve, to visit one of the more unusual attractions such as the Sex Museum or the Torture Museum. They are among the lesser known places which city authorities hope could help absorb the overflow from the millions drawn by the red light district or the ‘coffee shops’ where smoking marijuana is legal.
Some 17 million visitors flock to Amsterdam every year, but the tide of tourists is now threatening to swamp the historic city famous the world over for its picturesque canals.
Many residents and politicians have decided enough is enough, and are seeking creative ways to control the deluge. With the number of visitors set to reach 30 million by 2030, it’s a flood that threatens to overwhelm the Dutch city known as the Venice of the North.
“It’s Tuesday and it’s raining. There shouldn’t be so many people here,” sighed Matheus Risso, a 25-year-old Brazilian, sheltering under the arches of the world-famous Rijksmuseum.
But he already had a plan-B up his sleeve, to visit one of the more unusual attractions such as the Sex Museum or the Torture Museum. They are among the lesser known places which city authorities hope could help absorb the overflow from the millions drawn by the red light district or the ‘coffee shops’ where smoking marijuana is legal.
