Amsterdam News

Amsterdam - Amsterdam, the constitutional capital of Holland, may be viewed as a liberal city, due to its previously lax laws on pot-smoking, but like so many other European countries, Holland is tightening its rules regarding migrant workers.

Amsterdam - Pop icon Miley Cyrus, who raised eyebrows earlier this year after a raunchy performance at the American MTV Video Music Awards, has done something else to draw the ire of parent groups. Cyrus allegedly smoked marijuana at an MTV event in Amsterdam.

The Netherlands is unique in its policy on marijuana possession. While it is considered an illegal drug, having 5 grams or less on your person is not a criminal offense. Visitors to Amsterdam's coffee shops may find this law doesn't apply to them anymore.

The International Documentary Film Festival, held in Amsterdam, opened Nov. 20th for its 26th run. With almost 300 entries from around the world, films often tell poignant and powerful stories. One of those stories this year is titled "Putin's Games."

Amsterdam - In what might seem at first glance to be a little counteractive, the Rainbow Foundation in Amsterdam is now paying local chronic alcoholics with beer for keeping the streets of the city clean.

Amsterdam - The Amsterdam flea market takes place once a month across the IJ in Amsterdam Noord, where private (non-commercial) sellers rent a stand and put up for sale everything from clothes to junk to hidden treasures.

Almere - Dramatic video footage shows the moment that a hot air balloon carrying 11 people crashes into a lake near Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Two people were injured.

Amsterdam - Unlike Hongkong, Montreal and a few other cities, Amsterdam does not have an internationally known and recognized skyline. Instead, the Dutch capital is more like a tapestry where sometimes the architecture is very modern, then again charmingly old.

Amsterdam - Christine Lagarde barely got a chance to open her mouth when giving a lecture at the University of Amsterdam, when student hecklers rose up and started a typical Occupy mic check.

Amsterdam - Whilst in the Netherlands, Justin Bieber visited The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and left behind a controversial message in the visitor's book.