Amsterdam
Amsterdam used to be known as a historic city that has seen its fair share of empirical struggles and political upheavals. Rich merchants quickly saw Amsterdam as a profitable location for their warehouses and subsequently also their residences, and the 17th century brought so much wealth to Amsterdam, that artisans, and those who are supported by the rich as patrons soon followed. What ensued was the kind of enlightenment and artistic expression that soon made Amsterdam the crown jewel of the Netherlands. If you hire an Amsterdam guide or take part in one of the many historic tours, you will see proof of the fortune that befell Amsterdam in that time.

Sadly, these days the culture of the city has deteriorated, and what once was a progressive city has now devolved into a collection of Amsterdam brothels, Amsterdam hotels that rent rooms by the hour, the Amsterdam red light district, and Amsterdam prostitutes that openly peddle their wares in bright daylight. While first time visitors think it is fun to check out the Amsterdam map and visit the Amsterdam red light district, and perhaps even want to take a furtive picture of the Amsterdam prostitutes, the job of being a prostitute is actually legal, it soon turns into an exercise of avoidance when being solicited for the 10th time is no longer fun but instead quite a bit of a nuisance.

Some hotels in Amsterdam have attempted to take back the Amsterdam nightlife, yet since so many cheap hotels in Amsterdam cater to the sex travel and covertly hint at the fact that the three Xs on the flag are most aptly placed, the maps you will find at the Amsterdam airport which speak of things to do in Amsterdam usually point to x-rated activities. It is sad that those who might come to visit and enjoy the temperamental Amsterdam weather will have to run the gauntlet of sexual vice and drug use, all in the name of a newfound form of permissiveness that is a far cry from the city’s golden age.

One a side note, artists still hold court in Amsterdam, and De Rietveldacademie as well as other art schools are always very coveted in Europe by those who want to study the fine arts in earnest. Their masterpieces may be seen on sidewalks, and hung in one of the many sidewalk cafes that are placed almost everywhere.