To curb soft-drug tourism in Maastricht a ban on smoking/buying cannabis in coffee shops has been placed on foreign tourists. Tourists’ passports will be scrutinized and only those from the neighbouring countries Germany and Belgium will be accepted.
There are about 14 coffee shops located in the centre of the capital of Limburg which is visited by around 1.2 million coffee shop tourists per year, of which 70% come from abroad. This influx of tourists attracts drugrunners, dealers and other criminals as a consequence of which the locals and other tourists feel unsafe.
It is hoped that this ban will improve the traffic congestion: Germans and Belgians often use public transport. ‘This form of legal discrimination is allowed’ says Marc Josemans, Chairman of the Vereniging Officiële Coffeeshops Maastricht.
Drug tourism is expected to drop by 20% but whether the problem will be solved remains to be seen. Foreigners are still welcome in towns around Maastricht.
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