The Columnist Manifesto

Amsterdam has been an international merchant city for over four hundred years, so I would have expected the Dutch merchants here to be industrious and clever business people. Why, then, in a city studded with so-called "coffee" houses selling marijuana to patrons for on-premises consumption, there aren't dozens of all-night delis and bakeries at hand?

Here is a is typical situation. This bakery, located right across the alley from a "coffee" shop, closes at 5 p.m. Come on, people, where's your business sense?



My great idea: buy up half a dozen store-fronts within a couple of doors from half a dozen "coffee" shops to sell takeout delicacies 24/7.

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