Many Chinese who started a new life in the Netherlands were illegally. The Chinese opened their own pleasure houses: gambling houses, opium dens and clubhouses. In the 1960s, Dutch people discovered Chinese opium and added this new spice to their favourite drugs: hash and speed. Ten years later heroine arrived. Brought by Chinese mob from Hong Kong and Singapore, it was cheap and highly addictive. Chinatown Amsterdam became a place where junkies and dealers met. Over 10,000 people in Amsterdam were addicted to heroine. Many died of overdoses. Later in 1985, HIV and Aids arrived and the sharing of needles to inject heroine caused even more deaths. Amsterdam realised something had to change. Soon the area around Zeedijk and Chinatown was swept clean to end the illegal street trade in drugs.
The Chinese neighbourhood started to flourish. Nowadays Amsterdam is proud to host Chinatown. The Chinese new is celebrated here with a festive parade of dragons and fireworks.
The Chinese neighbourhood started to flourish. Nowadays Amsterdam is proud to host Chinatown. The Chinese new is celebrated here with a festive parade of dragons and fireworks.
