In the entertainment venues on and around Leidseplein, the ‘black list’ of people who have misbehaved – and are therefore no longer welcome – is back. This concerns, for example, pickpockets, fighters or guys who have a knack for breaking things. If it is known who that is, he or she can be added to the list. This should ensure that the nightlife crowd will take care, but not every entrepreneur has the same confidence in it.
The concept of the blacklist is not new, the collective catering denial (CHO), as the list is officially called, has been around for some time. Arjan de Waard, owner of café de Waard and café Mokum, is the initiator on Leidseplein. More than 35 catering establishments are already connected in the area.
“I don’t understand why other catering establishments wouldn’t be happy with this approach. I have no doubt, we have had a blacklist here before. In the beginning, a lot of people quickly get on the list, but this is already taking quickly.” Entrepreneurs must set up the blacklist themselves per neighborhood, they are still working on such a blacklist on Rembrandtplein and Reguliersdwarsstraat. list.
Not everyone understands the reintroduction of the blacklist. “It is so nice that you can walk into a café anonymously. A blacklist only works if everyone in the city participates. Now you are no longer welcome on Leidseplein, but you are welcome on Rembrandtplein, which is very strange. It is it is the job of the police to ensure that it is safe, not us as catering staff,” says Nik Poldervaart, owner of café de Kroegtijger on the Zeedijk.
There is no such list yet in the area around his pub, and he would not readily cooperate if there was such a list in the future. “No, you can always come into my own Vatican. You can drink ten beers here without your doctor or wife finding out.”
The Dutch Data Protection Authority states that a blacklist may not be drawn up without conditions. For example, someone from the police, the municipality or the Public Prosecution Service must always be involved. Furthermore, the privacy of those involved must be sufficiently guaranteed.
The blacklist must be introduced at Leidseplein within one month.