Tourism

Tourist Map

Tourism is a stronghold of Amsterdam's economy. 2.5 million foreign visitors a year travel to Amsterdam, bringing in the equivalent of $800 million dollars annually. There are 30,000 hotel beds in Amsterdam, and, according to some literature, 30 major attractions.

A large proportion of the tourism is related not to the typical attractions, but to the Netherlands' tolerant policy towards homosexuality and soft drugs.

The thriving gay nightlife attracts people from all over the world; in particular, many gay Londoners fly in for the weekend on a semi-regular basis. The gay tourism industry is distinct and extensive, with gay hotels, bars, shops, restaurants, and "coffeeshops." To the right is a photo of one of Amsterdam's gay districts.

The ready availability and tolerance for the usage of marijihauna attracts huge numbers of younger low-budget tourists. Most of the "coffeeshops" (euphemism for a cafe where marijhuana is sold) in the Centrum cater almost entirely to tourists, such as the one pictured below.

Education

Amsterdam is home to two major Universities, the publicly funded Universiteit van Amsterdam and the Calvinist Vrije Universiteit, making education and knowledge a component of Amsterdam's economy.

International Business

Amsterdam is ideally situated as a center for international business: Schipol Airport is a major European air hub, and the city is well-connected to sea, rail, and road transportation networks. Over 1,100 foreign companies are based in Amsterdam, many of which are located in the southeast developments of the city rather than the Centrum due to lack of space. The ING Bank headquarters, pictured to the right, is located in Bijlmer.

Amsterdam's RAI Convention Center, located in the southern part of the city, is a booming conference center.

Unemployment

Amsterdam's economy is not without its problems. The largest of these is unemployment: Amsterdam had an unemployment rate of 14% in 1994, down from a peak of 24% in 1988. The main reason for this lies in the Dutch in-migration/out-migration patterns. There is a large influx of lower-skilled immigrants (primarily Surinamese, Moroccan, and Turkish) to the Netherlands. The expanding service industry, however, requires more highly skilled employees than the older industry-based economy. Thus, there is a 'mismatch' between the skill level required by jobs and that of available workers. As a result, minorities bear the burden of unemployment.