Attracting over 18 million tourists a year, Amsterdam has become the hot spot for travellers across the globe. Filled with tree-lined streets, picturesque canals and some of the finest culinary creations and art, the Dutch city has something for everyone – despite the stereotypes of being strictly sex and weed. Now, we can't speak about Dam without addressing the elephant in the room: Marijuana. You could be a foodie; an art enthusiast; a world traveller, or simply passing through the city on a connecting flight – but you'll inevitably be given the side eye from friends, family and peers asking: Oh, you smoke? Yes, pot and sex work are legal. But they certainly aren't the be-all, end-all. In fact, tourists who have had the pleasure of visiting Amsterdam recently would have noticed the absence of smoke in the air, which is down to a newly enforced rule last month. After years of complaints from residents, the city started its crackdown with a "stay away" campaign that initially saw a ban on weekend alcohol sales and earlier closing times for brothels and bars. People around the city now face a €100 (£87) fine if they smoke cannabis in public in the red light district, with an aim to "reduce crowding and nuisance in the area." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Nestled in the Museum Quarter of the city resides Jan Luyken, a townhouse surrounded by depths of culture and an elegant shopping street. Think, the Bond Street of Amsterdam. There's no wonder art lovers immediately fall for the place, with its eclectic decor woven through the newly-renovated hotel. The impressive attention to detail in every corner gives off rich colours and fringed lampshades, complete with reading areas and a help-yourself bar. There are also plenty of open spaces across the ground floor to wind down in, including the library and the dining room, which are designed to make guests feel comfortable and at ease. A true home away from home – especially for a solo traveller. Travellers can also enjoy the sun in the private garden, located next to an aesthetically pleasing gym that makes working out feel that little bit easier. With a hotel so impressive, it can sometimes be tempting to stay in and around it – but with 48 hours in the city, I went off to discover whether there was more to Amsterdam than the stereotypes. Museums Amsterdam does many things well, museums being one of them. The city is jam-packed with cultural experiences, from fine art to photography and history. Two days certainly won't get you through the array of galleries across the city, but there are two in particular that should not be missed. Moco Museum: Founded in 2016, the independent museum boasts a variety of modern, contemporary, and street art. Here, you will find pieces from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, Icy & Sot, JR, KAWS, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Yayoi Kusama, THE KID, Andy Warhol, Studio Irma, among many more. The Museum of Prostitution: While Amsterdam's sex industry remains open, there's still an air of mystery surrounding it. At the world's first prostitution museum, you will learn about the Red Lights Secrets through an interactive experience. Without giving too much away, the museum delves into the history of sex work in the city, what a typical room looks like and positive testimonials. It also does not shy away from the darker truths of the industry, such as trafficking and unsolved murder cases. Parks Vondelpark: Considered one of the city's most famous parks, this charming area makes the perfect destination to wind down from walking around the city after a long day. During the summer months, there's a host of activities, bandstands – and it even has its own Picasso sculpture hidden along the path. Food Dinner in the Pulitzer Garden: For the foodies, this al-fresco dining experience is a must. Inspired by modern-Dutch cuisine, it offers a wide range of impressive culinary creations and beautifully crafted cocktails. This gem is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with an idyllic view of the tranquil gardens. Still, for some, smoking in Dam remains a bucket list goal – and there's certainly no judgement here. The Dutch are some of the friendliest people and are happy to help – especially when an inexperienced tourist steps into a coffee shop. It simply comes down to asking. Coffee shops are filled with different strengths, and you can often purchase pre-rolled joints to avoid awkwardly trying to figure it out for the first time. For more information about Jan Luyken, click here. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

LVMH, the world's top luxury group, said Tuesday it enjoyed an excellent first half with net profits soaring by 30 percent to 8.48 billion euros ($9.34 billion) thanks...

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Stop ordering pizzas on Uber Eats and get into the kitchen to make your own. These spicy feta, pepper and courgette pizzas from Cooks&Co will be hot and ready to eat long before a delivery driver gets there with your cold, soggy takeaway. Swap meat for vegetables and mozzarella for feta and you can call it a healthy win, too. Spicy feta, pepper and courgette pizzas Serves: 4 Prep time: 15 mins, plus defrosting | Cooking time: 12-15 mins Ingredients: 2 x 220g frozen pizza dough balls, defrosted 100g pizza sauce 200g grated mozzarella 1 courgette, cut into ribbons 150g Cooks&Co Roasted Red and Yellow Peppers, quartered 25g Cooks&Co Tri-colour Jalapeno Slices 100g feta To serve: Drizzle extra virgin olive oil Basil leaves Method: Preheat the oven to 240C/gas mark 9. On a floured surface, roll out each dough ball into a rough 30cm round and place on 2 large lightly floured baking trays. Spread with the pizza sauce leaving a 2cm border. Sprinkle with cheese and top with courgette ribbons, peppers and jalapenos. Crumble over the feta and drizzle with a little olive oil. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Drizzle with extra oil and scatter over a few basil leaves to serve. Cooks tip: Add spoonfuls of mascarpone instead of feta. For more recipes, visit cooksandco.co.uk Read More Three quick and easy vegan fakeaway recipes The dish that defines me: Eddie Huang’s Taiwanese beef noodle soup Nutritionist explains how women can eat to help balance hormones The only three recipes you need to seize the summer How to shop at Borough Market in the summer Budget Bites: Three light recipes that sing of summer

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A coalition of Thai pro-democracy parties, which swept Sunday’s election, is on course to form the next government,

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 12, 2023--

In a viral TikTok video, Benji Smith demonstrated how he makes sure his friends don't get absolutely sloshed

In our series Salary Stories, women with long-term career experience open up about the most intimate details of their jobs: compensation. It’s an honest look at how real people navigate the complicated world of negotiating, raises, promotions and job loss, with the hope it will give young people more insight into how to advocate for themselves — and maybe take a few risks along the way.

French fashion house Chanel will hold its next Métiers d’Art collection in Manchester. Métiers d’Art collections take place outside of the normal fashion week schedule, and choose a new city for every show. Past collections have been held in Tokyo, Shanghai, Rome and Dakar. The aim of these shows is to put the spotlight on the specialist ateliers acquired by Chanel, showing off the craftsmanship involved. Chanel’s creative director, Virginie Viard – who took over from Karl Lagerfeld when he died in 2019 – will host the show in Manchester on December 7. It wouldn’t be the first time Chanel has picked a UK city – in December 2012, the show was held at the ruins of Linlithgow Palace, near Edinburgh, Scotland. Chanel said in a statement: “Presented in cities and places that inspire the house, from Tokyo to New York, via Dakar last year, this collection bears witness to the historic commitment of Chanel to this exceptional artisanal heritage and its influence around the world.” While London is predominantly seen as the fashion capital of the UK, Manchester has a long relationship with clothes. The city was dubbed ‘Cottonopolis’ in the 19th century – it was home to over 100 cotton mills and was seen as the global centre of the cotton trade. Nowadays, fashion trends in Manchester tend to stem from the city’s thriving music scene – past musical trendsetters include The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Oasis. Chanel has a busy fashion show calendar before it lands in Manchester: it will debut its spring/summer 2025 collection at Paris Fashion Week in September, followed by a repeat showing of its Cruise 2024 collection in Shenzhen, China in November. Blockbuster fashion exhibition ‘Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto’ – dedicated to the designer who established the luxury fashion house – is set to open on September 16 at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. In May, celebrities including Barbie actor Margot Robbie, reality show star Paris Hilton and Spencer actor Kristen Stewart attended Chanel’s Cruise collection in Los Angeles, so it will likely be another star-studded front row in Manchester.

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There’s something about a good perfume that instantly brightens up your mood and gives you a burst of confidence. You can never have too many — a true enthusiast can curate perfumes to match different moods, seasons, or events. Date-night perfumes, mood-specific ones, and everyday kinds, you name it. There is no shortage of ways to sort and shop for perfumes, but sometimes the best way to discover a new scent is directly from devoted users. If you’ve been in a rut searching for a new scent, the R29 shopping team is here to share with you a plethora of must-haves that every fragrance lover should know. Our editors’ favorite perfumes include everything from trendy Le Labo scents to luxe Chanel ones and subtle, elegant Jo Malone London fragrances.