The summit of empty-headed terrace policy in Amsterdam
Yesterday I had a great day with a great girl. After dinner we decided to do a little kroegentocht. First stop was a bar near the Magere Brug. We sat down on the terrace and next to us a group of people was celebrating a birthday party. They had fun, standing there, having conversations, drinking beer and wine.
And of course: up came the reinigingspolitie, police officers trying to maintain the ridiculous terrace rules in Amsterdam. You can't stand on a terrace drinking. You need to sit down, or put your glass away. The bar didn't get a fine this time, only a warning. Oh, and there was one other thing: the chalkboard with the menu had to go inside. Illegal advertising...
The officers had a point here, because when you think about it - your product is still the best promotion. By putting the menu on the street the bar promotes their product, namely food and drinks. As if to say: please come in and join us. And when all bars and restaurants in Amsterdam start doing that, it's gonna be serious mayhem in the city.
One block further we ran into a group of vibrant guys and girls dancing out on the street in front of a little shop in the Utrechtsestraat. It turned out to be a gallery (Galerie Schaap) celebrating their last night at that spot. They have to move because the place is going to be rebuilded. We joined them for a glass of wine and stood there on the sidewalk drinking and talking. They even had a chalkboard on the front wall that explicitely said "This is an advertising message". The police drove by a couple of times and didn't do anything but friendly waving.
I love this town.
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