“On a human level, the garbage man is just as important as the teacher or a rock star or a president, because you have to have them. The world would have been dead a long time ago without garbage men.” ~ Herbie Hancock
This is not the best time to visit Amsterdam. Piles of uncollected garbage are everywhere because the garbage collectors and the street cleaners are on strike for more than a month now.
Leidsegracht
Prinsengracht
When the strike took longer than expected and the piles of garbage became an eyesore and started to smell, the city council advised the people “not to throw out too much garbage“ (huh?). They even went to the extent of covering or fencing off garbage bins to refrain the residents from throwing out more garbage.
Rembrandtplein
Kalvestraat
Noordestraat
But that only aggravated the problem. Now people are throwing out their garbage including their self-discipline, anywhere.
Leidseplein
It started at the Central Train Station when the station cleaners went on a boycott. A few weeks after, even before an agreement was reached, they were joined by the garbage collectors and street cleaners outside, affecting the whole of Amsterdam area.
Waterlooplein
Muntplein
Koningsplein
Keizergracht
The Dutch called them the “bin men”. A bin man gets a salary between €1,350 to €1,550 a month. They are requesting a net pay increase of 37 to 44 euros a month, a measly 24 cents an hour. But they were offered a 1% bonus instead.
the bin man
Officials say there is still no danger to public health from the piles of rubbish in the streets due to the low temperatures (so they will wait til the temperature gets higher and an epidemic breaks out).
Spiegelgracht
Talks are on a standstill and so are the garbage.
Leidsewarsstraat
Meanwhile the whole of Amsterdam stinks.
Leidsekruisstraat
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Yikes. I think I’ll postpone the trip I was thinking of making until this gets resolved. I used to live on the Langeliedsedwaarsstrat, and just one day of garbage made walking up to the Leidsestraat less than pleasant.
I hope they get this settled soon, for everyone’s sake.
Its okay now Kathy, you can come. Just after I published my post they started cleaning up and collecting the garbage although it took a week before everything was really cleaned.
An agreement between the employers and the striking civil servants was forged before the garbage problem became unbearable. thanks for stopping by
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