Amsterdam sets aside €6m to tackle drug nuisance in two neighbourhoods

Amsterdam is giving the Oosterparkbuurt in Oost and the H-buurt in Zuidoost priority in a new approach to nuisance from homeless drug users, the city government said in a letter on Tuesday. It says years of drug nuisance have put great pressure on quality of life in both areas. If the measures work, they will be rolled out across the rest of the city.

A special team will clear drug waste and tent camps in the two neighbourhoods. The city will deploy more mental health nurses, enforcement officers and field workers, and may add extra public toilets. It has set aside €6m.

The city plans one or two permanent drug consumption rooms near the Oosterpark and will announce the locations soon. Once they open, a temporary facility in the park will guide homeless people to them. In the longer term, the city wants drug consumption rooms across Amsterdam.

The city will create overnight accommodation at the drug consumption room (gebruikersruimte) in the H-buurt. Many homeless people with addictions avoid the regular winter shelter, where drug use is banned. The city hopes that sleeping places next to the drug consumption room will bring more of them into care and cut nuisance on the street.

Across the city, Amsterdam is building a new registration system for people causing nuisance. It will trial extra care and day activities at two hostels so that fewer people stay on the street. Every user of an existing drug consumption room, such as Blaka Watra near Amsterdam Centraal, will get their own care plan.

The city also wants tougher action against repeat offenders. It is examining whether they can be declared “undesirable” sooner after several offences, which would mean they must leave the Netherlands. It also wants to clear tent camps more efficiently and stop them being set up.