There are many shops around the square, but a panel member says that he no longer wants to shop by drug users and the homeless. “I would like to shop there, but it is so bad with intimidating behavior and pushy people.” Several local residents told last July intimidating behavior to have experienced. “Nasty comments are made every day and I am called after,” said one of them.
For years, drug users have been in the area, something that is partly due to the presence of a care of HVO-Querido and a shelter of Jellinek near the square. 38 residents with addiction problems live in the care of HVO-Querido. There are too many, according to local residents, and also HVO querido itself actually thinks that. The care organization wants some of the clients to move to other and small -scale places, but that is not easy.
The way to and from IJburg
Two other places that many panel members mentioned were the two roads that are often used to cycle from IJburg, via the Nesciobrug, or from Diemen to the center of the city. The Ooster Ringdijk and the Western Merwedekanaaldijk in Oost. “I think it’s far too quiet in the dark there. Then rather a bit around and via the Amsterdamsebrug.”