I want to conclude my column at this time with a shout-out to Amsterdam, for being one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Like both Madrid and Tufts, Amsterdam has much to teach the rest of the world. It is physically attractive for a variety of reasons, but it is also culturally appealing: in Amsterdam, you can feed your soul and bask in rich economic history, interesting religious affiliations and unique enclaves. And for environmentalists, it's a dream.
The first captivating aspect of Amsterdam is the art that appears everywhere in the city, both in the countless museums and on the streets - on clothes, in shops, in ornate graffiti. You will have trouble not finding at least one piece of art or art history that fascinates, perplexes or satisfies you. Ever since Jews and Catholics were allowed to freely practice their religions in Amsterdam, there has been a "live and let live" mentality, leading to an outgrowth of free personal expression. I couldn't help but think of the Unitarian Universalists who founded Tufts and their similar ideology.
Although some of you may already know this (perhaps because you've already traveled to what some call "Weedland"), it bears repeating here: in Amsterdam, marijuana is, for some tourists, the city's main attraction. Some come to Amsterdam simply to smoke every day - it is their primary activity while visiting. While I would argue that participating in the legal phenomenon is indeed a cultural experience, it is just one part of what makes Amsterdam so attractive. For this reason, the locals seem to be over it. You're more likely to see people drinking wine or local beers than getting high in one of the coffee shop-turned-smoke-lounges (the latter are often populated instead with tourists and younger visitors). One local explained the rationale behind legalization, noting that it creates a bigger distance between soft drugs like marijuana and hard ones like heroin - a drug that Amsterdam had a serious issue with in previous years. So far, it seems to be going well. After working for a non-profit that deals with anti-drug campaigns, I find Amsterdam's approach to the drug abuse issue seems to be a better way to regulate the problem.
The other attractiveness I want to highlight is the environmentally friendly mentality that so many Amsterdam inhabitants have. Bicycles are not only a way of life here, but also an incredible convenience. The city is flat, and the canals are a beautiful place to let your mind wander while you ride along them. So, it is no wonder that bikes became so popular, and Amsterdam could teach New York and other major cities trying to start their own bike programs a thing or two about how to do it right.
Although New York has started the CitiBike bike share program, it has not been received particularly well, as the streets are often filled with traffic and bike lanes are not always well marked. Tourists (and natives) who do use the bikes cannot effectively navigate the city due to the confusing and crowded streets. This could be fixed with clear, consistent bike lanes, like those found in Amsterdam: the Dutch city has red bike lanes that are separated from main roads. It even has traffic lights just for bikes on all city streets, making sure there is no confusion and allowing bicycles and cars to coexist peacefully. How nice!
The way I see it, Amsterdam represents an array of Tufts-like vibes - the environmentally conscious and bike-friendly attitude, the economic and international history and the many different educational and cultural offerings. You can watch videos of Otto Frank talking about his daughter at the Anne Frank House or feast your eyes on the works of Vincent Van Gogh. I felt at home walking along the canals and talking to the locals and was reminded of the values that we hold at our own wonderful university.
Dani Bennett is a junior who is majoring in English and spending this semester abroad in Spain. She can be reached at Danielle.Bennett@tufts.edu.
