Amsterdam has found a new idea to get tourists to interact with locals and vice versa. The city has launched a new campaign called “Marry an Amsterdammer for a day”.
Starting at €100, tourists bid for a listed bride or groom and perform a mock wedding ceremony at Wed&Walk. The shop works as a chapel in the De Pijp district of Amsterdam. You get a bride or groom for a day with fake flowers and inexpensive rings. The couple seals the deal with a hug, not a kiss like in real weddings.
The honeymoon takes place right after the wedding which includes exploring quieter nooks of Amsterdam together. The friends and family of the couple can also be part of the honeymoon as long as the expenses are covered. Part of the money is also donated for charity.
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This campaign is part of the Untourist Movement where over 200 social entrepreneurs, non-profits, hotels and hostels are collaborating to change the face of tourism in Amsterdam.
They are tackling issues like social isolation, sustainability and reduction of plastic waste. Basically, visitors meet at a farm where they make conversation with strangers while they weed an assigned patch of soil. ‘Plastic fishing’ is another alternative, where you fish for plastic in the canal that is upcycled into furniture. These new ways help tourists interact with locals as well as work on the issues.
These methods ensure that the influx of tourists has a positive impact on the environment. The number of tourists visiting the Netherlands is expected to rise by 50% in the next decade. Red light district tours in Central Amsterdam will also be banned by January 2020, announced the government.