Dutch council officials will permit gay sex in public areas but fine dog owners who let their pets off the leash in Amsterdam's Vondelpark.
Paul van Grieken, an Alderman in the Oud-Zuid district of the city, has startled many Amsterdammers, despite their famously liberal attitudes, with plans to allow public sex as part of this summer's new rules of conduct for the country's best-known park.
"Why should we try to impose something that is actually impossible to impose, which also causes little bother for others and for a certain group actually means much pleasure?", he said.
Amsterdam's beautiful Vondelpark in the centre of city draws hordes of summer visitors, families, skaters and joggers.
But the park's rose garden has become famous as a trysting spot for gay men looking for uncomplicated sexual encounters.
Mr van Grieken stresses that tolerance to "cruising" gays, aimed at protecting homosexuals from violence, will have "strict rules attached".
"Thus, condoms must always be cleared away, it must never take place in the neighbourhood of children's playgrounds and the sex must be restricted to the evening and night-time," he said.
The new park rules have the blessing of the Dutch police, who have urged all Dutch parks to follow Amsterdam's lead.
But Amsterdam's dog owners are less impressed. The new park code of conduct will set out stiff fines for dogs that are allowed to run around the Vondelpark off the leash.
"Research showed that many people find this disturbing," said Mr van Grieken.
One dog owner protested: "As long as the park has existed, we've been allowed to let our dogs run freely. It's outrageous that we will be punished from now on but public sex won't. If they can drop their trousers, why can't I let my dog loose?"
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What do you mean? I find these news nasty, shocking. I don't care who has sex in this park.... I just don't think sex should be allowed in a public park regardless if there is no playground around and intimate time is restricted to the evening/night hours only. And in the same breath it's forbidden to let dogs run off the leash. Kind of strange to comprehend this all, don't you think so??
Kleobatra Member # 14882
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First of all, I happen to live near the Vondelpark. So I’d be one of the first to know these “new rules”. Second, it’s almost April fools day, isn’t it? Don’t believe this “news”. Our city council is making great efforts for the last few years in clearing the name of Amsterdam as the city “where everything is possible”.
posted ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)