CARP

Amsterdam equals sex, drugs and rock & roll. Yeah, I know, it's a worn out topic and, besides, it's not true and doesn't do this city any justice. But for the past few weeks Amsterdam's prostitution has been in the national news after Rob Oudkerk, alderman for PvdA in Amsterdam, had to resign after it became evident he had visited these ladies of the night.

I simply don't understand what the fuss is all about. Prostitution is legal in Holland. So Oudkerk has done nothing against the law. Visiting a brothel is just as legal here as buying half a loaf of wholewheat bread. Or gambling a few Euros at Holland Casino for that matter. It's all perfectly legal for you and me, so it also should be for politicians. In theory it shouldn't have caused a fuss. If anything, it should've caused a flaming row between Oudkerk and his wife. A survey showed that one in four men visit prostitutes. So it just means that Oudkerk is human.

The newspapers and current affairs programmes had a field day and were still devoting many column inches and airtime to this saucy scandal, when another prostitution story broke. Karina Schaapman, also a PvdA council member, wrote a book about her troubled youth, her friendship with Herman Brood and her days as former prostitute for two Red Light District places, the (now defunct) Church of Satan and the Banana Bar. Her past was catching up with her and Karina didn't want her kids to find out from other sources. Ironical it was Rob Oudkerk who advised her, way before his downfall, that she should 'come out' before she got 'outed'.

The other day I was in the city centre and saw that H&M is selling clothes for dogs. No kidding. On sale are much-needed items as plastic raincoats and sweatshirts. Uhm, I thought this was only possible in the US. I heard a spoke person for H&M on the radio saying it was a one-off and that it's one season only. So... take stock!

More animal news comes in the form of mice that roam the city's cinemas – Pathé cinemas to be precise. Something to do with these large portions of popcorn they sell, but end up on the floor instead of in people's mouths. Which of course has everything to do with cinemagoers that throw popcorn during the screenings. Very irritating, just as is the use of mobile phones, but you don't dare say anything about it incase you end up in a fight.

Pathé is known for attracting aggressive customers and from February 1st the company has started a campaign to prevent aggressive behaviour. During the past few years Pathé has increased security and has also installed CCTV cameras, but now it really wants to put an end to it. Customers will have to show an ID when they misbehave and then get banned for a period of time. If they don't carry an ID, the police will be called to establish the culprit's identity. Now, if only Pathé would show more interesting films and I would almost consider going there...

Finally, gourmet lovers, and those carrying wallets full of Euros, will no doubt be happy to hear that 'Naked Chef' Jamie Oliver will open a restaurant on Oostelijke Handelskade, near IJburg, in the near future. What with Brad Pitt, David Bowie and Madonna having a pied-a-terre here - or rumoured to be interested in buying one - I might start a 'celeb city tour'...