Hip Guide to Amsterdam

You can go anywhere in Holland, and never be far from a canal. These waterways are as beautiful as they are practical. Holland canals serve a number of very important purposes. First they were used to drain the land so homes and farms could be established where once there was water.

Second they provide a means of transport for goods from inland regions to the sea. Third they are homesteads for thousands who live on houseboats. Houseboats are very trendy and can be seen on most canals in Amsterdam. Some are available for rent, however they have become very expensive due to their popularity.

Crime is an interesting social phenomena in Holland. In a society where few things are considered crimes, there are far fewer criminals. Makes sense, no? And criminals are treated very well in Holland. When someone gets arrested, they release a minimum amount of information. No name or just a partial name is issued to the public. When convicted a person can look forward to a very nice stay in one of Holland's jails which allows every convenience including a room for sex. It's truly a humane system and treats people like human beings, not animals.

The Dutch system of crime and punishment, that rarely makes a big deal out of petty crime (like theft), is responsible for a society amazingly free of violence. The Dutch are truly shocked when there is a violent crime or a murder. That's because there is little reason to commit violent acts. Indeed, often the law itself is to blame in other countries where violence is committed to commit or cover up lesser crimes. The Dutch have discovered the amazing truth that if you don't make criminals out of people for personal vices, they won't be compelled to break more serious laws or be violent to keep their vices secret .

Amsterdamse Bos

 

The Dutch are quite fond of their many parks and their long coastline. A Dutch park is a marvel of design. Most towns and cities in Holland have a large park making a border or buffer zone. The one south of Amsterdam is called the Amsterdamse Bos. These regional parks are a bit more wild than those found in the cities. Typically a large park will have various paths and roads, each one designed for a certain type of transport. You have your footpaths for pedestrians, usually dirt. Bicycle paths for bikes (fietspad), sometimes paved, sometimes dirt, horse trails with deep sand, and roads for automobiles. What's amazing is that they all go in different directions, allowing visitors a unique experience depending upon their chosen mode of transport. Only occasionally do the paths and roads cross or join up for a short distance.

by Skip Stone

Martin Trip and I recently had the pleasure of meeting Joop the Crystalman, whose incredible macro-photographs of cannabis THC tricomes adorn many a wall in the Cannabis College, grow shops, headshops and coffeeshops in Amsterdam. His work has also appeared in many cannabis magazines. Joop is a very engaging fellow, who approaches his advocation with great enthusiasm.

To view more of his wonderful work, please visit his website at http://www.crystalman.nl