Peeps, this is Charlie Geerts, “Porno-King”. Charlie Geerts, the Peeps.

In an effort to clean up Amsterdam’s Red Light District, the Dutch government has planned to eradicate the criminal activity it believes is the result of having sex and drug related establishments. This includes shutting down many of its sex theaters and coffeeshops all over the Red Light area by using tax dollars to push out property owners as well as their businesses. Charles Geerts has already been forced to sell 18 of his properties back to the government who will in turn rent out the space to fashion designers and art galleries. Although most people agree there are aspects of the Red Light District should be changed (like the rights of prostitutes), there are some who think the way the government is going about it the wrong way:

[Will Boef, local advocate] also thinks local ‘porno king” Charles Geerts didn’t sell his properties to the council on an entirely voluntary basis:

“They made it as difficult as possible for him, so that he ultimately caved in.”

The Amsterdam authorities purchased eighteen properties from Charles Geerts - a well-known figure in the local sex industry - and now plan to put fashion designers into them.
It’s a most welcome development for the two designers behind the ‘And Beyond’ label. One of them, Jolanda van de Broek, explains,

“We’re getting the space to do what we want in stimulating and creative surroundings.”

The And Beyond duo is part of a group of fifteen fashion designers who are taking part in the Red Light Fashion Amsterdam project, set up by the city council and fashion recruitment and ‘matchmakers’ HTNK. Under the scheme, the designers will get the use of the premises for a year, and only have to pay for gas, water and electricity; no rent.

Wim Boef reacts thus:
“Nice initiative, but still strange that these properties have been bought with taxpayers’ money and that the designers get to use them for a year for mere peanuts. While other business people in the Red Light district have to struggle to pay their rent.”

Come July, the smoking ban will take affect, making it illegal to smoke indoor at public establishments such as bars, cafés, and may even cover coffeeshops. There is still some confusion on whether or not places that create a separate smoking and buying area for marajuana will be able to keep their smoking customers, or if the ban will go so far as to disallow the drug (which is commonly mixed with tobacco to make a joint) to be smoked at all.

Magic Mushrooms were banned last year, but by the looks of things (as in I still see them in shops) the ban has not formally been put into use.

More information on the whole story here.