Amsterdam to ban cannabis in its red light district

Restaurants and bars will also be forced to shut their doors by 2am on Fridays and Saturdays

The red light district in Amsterdam (iStock/Getty Images)

It will soon be illegal to smoke cannabis on the street in Amsterdam’s red light district.

The new regulations unveiled in the Dutch capital will come into effect from mid-May. It is hoped the measures will make living in the city more hospitable to residents who have long bemoaned tourists’ anti-social behaviour.

As well as banning use of cannabis on the street – a popular attraction for tourists visiting the city – sex workers will need to close their venues by 3am.