News of: Monday, July 18 2005,
The business owners and the city authorities have reached a new agreement about how many souvenirs they can sell.
In the old rules it was laid down that at least 85 percent of goods on offer must be flowers. This will now become 75 percent.
Amsterdam-Centrum undertook action a few years ago, after they found out that the merchants sold far too many t-shirts, wooden shoes etc, than allowed.
Both Amsterdam-Centrum and the flower market merchants want to maintain the 'flower character' of the flower market.
The show owners say they need the souvenir turnover to have a profitable business. Almost 80 percent of the passers-by are tourists, and they normally don't buy many flowers.
The merchants fear that even the 75 percent may not be enough.
