23 JUNE 2016, AMSTERDAM – This week Europe’s first fur-free shopping street became a fact in the midst of the historic center of Amsterdam. The public statement was a joint effort of Dutch animal protection organisation Bont voor Dieren and 19 store owners on the Hartenstraat. The official ‘Fur-free shopping street’ sign was unveiled this tuesday by Dutch actress Georgina Verbaan and Laurens Ivens, alderman of Animal Welfare in Amsterdam:

‘As the alderman of Animal Welfare of Amsterdam I am very proud to officially welcome you in the first fur-free shopping street in Europe. I am also proud of the 19 store owners that have decided to make a collective statement of the need to end the breeding and killing of animals solely for a fashion item. This action is completely in line with the ambition of the municipality of Amsterdam. Since several years Amsterdam has been calling for stores to adopt fur-free policies. It is wonderful to see that animal protection organisation Bont voor Dieren has taken the initiative together with 19 store owners to join efforts and make this compassionate statement. Hopefully this will bring us closer to the end of the exploitation of animals for fashion.’

Photos: Jamie Peters