Hotels in Amsterdam

'Coffeeshops' have an entirely different meaning in Amsterdam

Compared to other cities of the world, Amsterdam has relatively relaxed policy towards the legal availability of high quality weed and hash. The word ‘Coffeshop’ in Amsterdam has an entirely different meaning for Dutch people as these places though meant for sale of coffee have the primary purpose of selling of cannabis & hash.

All of them are licensed by the Amsterdam city council and subject to numerous regulations. Some laws include that a coffee shop cannot advertise nor can it have a website. To gain entry to a coffeeshop one must be a minimum 18 years old and must produce ID. There can be no exporting / Mail Order outside of the Netherlands. There should be no sale of hard drugs on premises (Cocaine, Etc) and only a maximum sale of 5 grams may be made to each customer.

While visiting a coffeeshop in Amsterdam, just walk up to the counter and ask for a menu which will include a variety of cannabis buds and hash. Rolling papers and filter tips are available as well, usually at the counter. Smoking grass in other bars and places is strictly not allowed and the staff will quickly ask you to put the joint out.

Most shops sell by weight, in others by the bag. A maximum of 5 grams per sale is allowed.

There are over coffeeshops in Amsterdam and to keep them stocked, a lot of plants are required to be grown here but ironically, growing is still totally illegal. So, the places where it’s grown is top secret and the police are always on the look out for growing rooms or plant farms.