'We are in a kind of war': row over viral Amsterdam chip shop lands in court
Neighbours say crowds drawn by TikTok to Fabel Friet are clogging the picturesque canal street and attracting litter, gulls and rats
TL;DR
- Nineteen neighbors have sued Amsterdam for licensing Fabel Friet, a chip shop popular on TikTok.
- Residents complain of crowded streets, litter, mayonnaise spills, gull infestations, and rat problems caused by the chip shop's queues and patrons eating on the street.
- The plaintiffs argue the shop's small size exacerbates the issue, and they want Fabel Friet relocated to a place with adequate indoor space for customers.
- The city council acknowledges that a license can be refused if a business negatively affects the residential environment, and will be guided by the court's ruling.
- The chip shop owners state they employ a cleaning service and have taken steps to mitigate nuisance, while their lawyer notes that while it can be busy, there are 'peaks and troughs'.
- The case touches upon 'performative tourism' and the conflict over the use of public space in narrow city streets.
- A councillor from the Christian Democratic Appeal party suggested Fabel Friet could be offered a 'flagship store' license elsewhere, emphasizing the economic importance of tourism to Amsterdam.