A 2025 Antenne-monitor study reveals that young adults in Amsterdam are drinking less alcohol while the usage of drugs like 3-MMC and ketamine is increasing. This trend marks a significant shift in the nightlife habits of the younger generation.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
Jouke de Jong, a 24-year-old student at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, has founded the WeCARE platform to provide support and community for students who are also caregivers. By sharing personal experiences and offering resources, the initiative aims to reduce the loneliness often felt by students balancing family care duties with their academic studies.
Business leaders in Amsterdam are urging the city council to pause and reconsider a planned hike in tourist tax that could reach 20 percent by 2031. They warn that the combined effect of this tax and a national VAT increase will place a 41 percent burden on hotel stays, threatening the viability of the city's hospitality and events sectors.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has warned the Dutch government against diverting cultural subsidies away from the capital, citing the risk of damaging the city's significant creative labor market. She also defended the autonomy of the arts sector, emphasizing that cultural institutions must remain free from political pressure and secure for all visitors.
Chef Ron Blaauw is closing his Michelin-starred Ron Gastrobar in Amsterdam-Zuid after fourteen years to pursue a new, more flexible dining concept. The restaurant will cease operations in February, with a new project to be announced in December, while his other business locations across the Netherlands will remain open.
As the Dutch retail chain Hema celebrates its 100th anniversary, residents of Amsterdam are sharing nostalgic stories about the store's iconic products and their personal history with the brand. Since its founding in 1926, the company has become a cultural staple, with customers reflecting on childhood memories of snacks, toys, and long-lasting household items.
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