Amsterdam Coffeeshops: Guide for First-timers
“Do coffeeshops serve coffee?”
If you are a first time tourist in any part the world and you ask this question, its either you are joking, drunk or stupid.
But not when you are visiting Amsterdam or any part of the Netherlands for that matter.
The Doors Coffeeshop Singel 14
Amsterdam’s coffeeshop is definitely a misnomer. People do not flock to these coffeeshops for coffee.
These coffeeshops sell marijuana also called weed, grass, mary jane, dope, cannabis, skunk, reefer, splif, ganster, Don Juan, blonde , green tea, Cheeba, boom, rasta, leaf, hemp, fu, Columbian, loco, ganja, kif, aunt mary, kush, sensemilla, chronic, stash, shake, purple haze or vitamins (yes Virginia, no kidding).
Marijuana comes from the dried flowers and buds of the plant with the scientific name of cannabis sativa.
They also sell hashish or hash which is extracted resin from the same plant but with more concentration of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical that gives the ”high”. These are what the customers are going for.
Although coffee is also available, people who want to drink coffee together while engaging in some small casual talk would prefer to go to a cafe.
Since the 1970s coffeeshops and the use of soft drugs have been tolerated in the Netherlands, under an official policy known as gedogen. Its roughly translated as a policy of tolerating activities that are technically illegal.
Dampkring Coffeeshop Handboogstraat 29
Therefore, the selling or buying or smoking of these so called soft drugs inside the coffeeshops are illegal..but not illegal.
Sounds confusing? There are guidelines, strictly to be followed for the coffeeshop to keep its license, or for its operation to stay not illegal… but not legal… only tolerated. For example:
A customer can buy up to 5 grams of marijuana and that is not illegal. When a coffeeshop sells a customer more than 5 grams it becomes illegal.
The funny thing is a customer is allowed to make 5 grams purchases of these stuff in six different coffeeshops as long as he buys only 5 grams from each. Why six? Because there is a maximum of 30 grams per person allotment per a day.
But then, one may also visit the same coffeeshop six times in a day. A visit is defined as walking through the door (huh?). As long as he leaves the premises of the establishment, he can come back again for another visit, make another 5 grams purchase and go on up to six times, accordingly.
Free Adam Coffeeshop Oude hoogstraat 13
Ironically, in these state of affairs, the Dutch themselves added rules circumventing their own rules, the concept of which boggles the mind more than pure hashish can.
The coffeeshops are also refrained from advertising the sale or the availability of cannabis in their shops.
You wouldn’t find signboards or billboards that say: “Marijuana for Sale, Come Inside!” or
“Wanna Fry Your Brains? We Have all Kinds of Stuff to Choose From at Low, Low Prices!”
That would be replaced by “Shop Closed” the next day even if its not a holiday.
But in the incongruity of it all, these coffeeshops have existed and thrived for years. Without real advertising except for “word of mouth”, business had actually been good at all times, even in this economic slump. Apparently, the word coffeeshop is enough.
Bulldog Coffeeshop Oudezijds Voorburgwal 90 II
In the Netherlands and Europe in general, people are used to smoking marijuana or hashish mixed with tobacco, rolled into joints. (Americans prefer it pure.)
It is some kind of acculturation to habits relating to regional preferences.
Generally, people assimilate to a practice they had been introduced to, become comfortable with and stick to it.
Besides, it is economical. A 5 gram of marijuana or hashish when mixed with tobacco would produce more or less 15 joints, and depending on the frequency of use, these could last for days, even a week.
Since July 1st of 2008, a tobacco smoking ban in restaurants, cofeeshops and other
Kadinsky Coffeeshop Rosmarijnsteeg 9
enclosed public establishments had
been implemented. Even during its initial stages of formulation, this law had already met a lot of protests and oppositions from both the owners of the coffeeshops and their customers alike.
That is because, it means people could not smoke cigarettes inside coffee shops anymore. However, they can smoke marijuana or hashish inside these coffeeshops provided it is pure.
(Woot, woot.. hand it to the Dutch. They had elevated the formulation of contradictory and confusing laws to the highest level of art. No doubt about it.)
Considering that more people smoke joints that are a mixture of marijuana or hashish and tobacco, this law for all its good purposes and intents remains not only illogical, but also ridiculous and absurd.
Bushdoctor Coffeeshop Thorbeckeplein 28
In other countries authorities would check whether smokers have marijuana in their cigarettes.
In the Netherlands authorities are checking whether smokers have cigarette in their marijuana.
Don’t ask me, I really don’t know what stuff these law makers are smoking.
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I’m going over to Amsterdam next week for the first time in five years. I know things have changed, but thanks for giving me the heads up on what exactly has changed.
Also, I’ve been to The Bulldog, such a friendly place.
Hi Mizdi, very informative insight into the dutch, (Give it to the Dutch. They had elevated the formulation of contradictory and confusing laws to the highest level of art.) great comment and sums it up for me !
makes total sense.
smoke from cigarettes is dangerous, smoke from pure marijuana…not. what’s so funny about a law that actually makes perfect sense. and marijuana and/or hash can be “smoked” without tobacco, even without burning anything.
healthier. or less harmful if you want. but at least you avoid cigarettes. every coffeeshop has these available for use.
Wow, very interesting and informative. =)
I wonder why it happens to be so different in the US?
Gr8 !!
I can see bob marley’s pic on Free Adam Coffeeshop Oude hoogstraat 13
have anyone noticed that !!!!
Marijuana is also a medically proved relaxant !!!
Great article Mizdi! Now if we can only convince the US to legalize marijuana, with restrictions in place as with tobacco and nicotine, for medicinal as well as recreational use, and let our country’s problems go ‘up in smoke’, literally. The Netherlands are a great influence. I doubt they have any crime statistics.
Yes Paras, Bob Marley had become the unofficial “mascot” of the coffeeshops…kind of advertising subtly for people to know that the establishment is offering something that Bob Marley had been associated with.
holy cow, Holistic Lounge..i approved ur comment first but my reply came last..need to figure out this comment reply thing..
hope u have a wonderful time in Amsterdam!
Hi Steph.. u are very perceptive .. indeed… that is the gist of this article
i love it when i’m getting “quoted” .. thanks!
I never knew this. More people should get to know this.
You are right Dkcchieffan… its just a matter of control and giving guidelines, like no sale to minors.. the reality is people do it anyway, not openly…which leads to heavy abuse….as we all know, what is forbidden is what is most wanted….human nature.. actually there are more alcohol related violence reported here than “weed use” related incidents… stoned people tends to be just like that…stoned….literally.
thank you Multi, ironically.. according to statistics, the US is consuming double the amount of marijuana which is illegal there, than here in the Netherlands where it is illegal but not illegal, ( i need to emphasize that…lol) based on people/area population.
Something to be said here… If you legalize chances are it won’t be so “cool” anymore. Its juvenile thinking, doing approved activities is not so interesting.
While that’s all technically true and accurate, having lived with a Dutchman for a year – with another good Dutch friend i’ve picked up a few things.
Although cigarette smoke is illegal, and you would get in trouble for smoking a cigarette in a coffeeshop – the owners usually (99% of places) don’t mind if you put tobacco into your joints so long as you’re subtle about it. A pack of cigarettes on the table is a certain no-no. Don’t leave any tobacco on the table, or empty cigarette butts or the like.
Be sensible, be respectful, and you’ll be fine
Yes that is true, Mike. The implementation of the tobacco ban had somewhat affected the coffeeshops in a way¦ because the socializing inside had been lesser which was one attraction, because people would rather buy and smoke at home or the tourists on their hotel rooms¦ and because of that there had been leniency on the part of the coffeeshop owners after a few months..and as long as everything is done discreetly, there is nothing to worry about. Most coffeeshops, restaurants and pubs had also put up a separate smoking room for the convenience of every one.
This is a wild read! I’ve heard stories about this but never read about it. Astounding! I felt like I was on another planet as it’s so different from the USA. Very informative and well researched. I also felt like I’d traveled there. Your writing and photos are wonderful. I enjoyed your thoughts interspersed with the facts. A fast read! Thank you.
Thank you very much, dear lady. I sure am glad this article passed the test of your beautiful mind and good taste. Its nice to know you enjoyed reading this post and your comment is always welcome. Thanks for the visit. Cheers!
Good to know! I found a nice overview of the coffeeshops over here.
CU
quite mesmerizing…thumbs up!
Hey from America, Bulldog is my favorite joint there in the big ‘A’ can’t wait to go back. Have you visited Christiana in Copenhagen yet? Quite nice and along the same vibe as Amsterdam, except more hippyish.
I’ve read about it when i was researching for that article. Don’t get me wrong. The article is just a presentation of what foreigners who haven’t been to Amsterdam can expect of coffeeshops when they come here, the rules and regulations included. It doesnt mean i do weed, but i am neither scornful of those who do. To each his own has always been my philosophy. Thanks 4 stopping by. Cheers!
Usually it is hard to find a good blog with solid helpful information about this sensitive topic, but this is good. Keep it up