Coffee Shops

Amsterdam is, due to its liberal soft drugs policies, known worldwide as the capital of the cannabis culture. The city is notorious and famous for the outright sale, and the free use, of cannabis products. While some experience the coffee shops as an annoying side effect of the Dutch drug policies, others will praise it as an open and tolerant characteristic of the city.

Research by the municipality of Amsterdam shows that about 23% of the tourists who come to Amsterdam will visit a coffee shop during their stay.

Coffee Shops

Coffee shops are alcohol free places where soft drugs (marijuana, hashish and cannabis) is allowed to be sold and consumed. There are over 190 coffee shops in Amsterdam. Most of them are located in the center of the city.

Top 10 best and most famous coffee shops

1. DampKring, Handboogstraat 29
2. Barney's, Haarlemmerstraat 10
3. Abraxas, Jonge Roelensteeg 12
4. Bulldog Palace, Leidseplein 17
5. Grey Area, Oude Leliestraat 2
6. Greenhouse, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 191
7. Smokey, Rembrandtplein 24
8. Blue Bird, Sint Antoniesbreestraat 71
9. Amnesia, Herengracht 133
10. Easy Times, Prinsengracht 476

Buying soft drugs

Most coffee shops have a menu. This is often like a book on the bar from which customers can choose from a variety of weed, hash, marijuana or cannabis. Here you'll find an overview of the assortment, such as prepared joints, 'space cakes', pure weed and various water pipes. Furthermore, the taste of the product is indicated and how strong it is.

The following rules apply to coffee shops in Amsterdam:

• Anyone who is at least 18 years of age is allowed to buy and consume cannabis in coffee shops in Amsterdam. Sale of cannabis to persons under 18 is prohibited. To even step inside a coffee shop you must be at least 18 years of age. Also tourists can still visit coffee shops in Amsterdam (even after January 1, 2013). You have to be able to show I.D.
• Sales of large quantities of cannabis to coffee shop customers is prohibited. People may buy up to 5 grams per day.

It is only allowed to buy soft drugs in coffee shops. It is illegal to buy drugs on the street.

Consumption sites

You may smoke your purchased soft drugs both inside and outside the coffee shop. However, inside the coffee shop is the most common - and acceptable place - to smoke cannabis.

Coffee shops should not be confused with the regular catering industry. In hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants it's prohibited to use drugs. Although it is very uncommon, the owner of a cafe, bar or restaurant may allow the use of soft drugs in his/her establishment.

Facts and figures

List of coffee shops in Amsterdam

There's a over 100 coffee shops located in Amsterdam. About a third of the total number in the Netherlands. Below is a small selection of coffee shops in the center of Amsterdam.

Know your limits

It is very important to keep in mind that the weed, hashish, marijuana and cannabis in the coffee shops of Amsterdam may be much stronger than most visitors to the city are used to. Therefore it's better not to choose the strongest one the menu right away. After all, what is normal for an everyday user, may be too much for a beginner. This could really ruin an evening.

For the same reason, it is better not to consume already prepared joints and 'space cakes' if you are not sure whether you can handle it. The amount of cannabis that these products contain varies, and sometimes this can be quite a lot. If you are unsure, please ask the staff. They will often have no problems to give you advice about this.

Hard drugs

Coffee shops may not sell hard drugs. Coffee shops who get involved in hard drugs (permit the use of hard drugs), will irreversibly lose their license. That's the reason why hard drugs cannot to be found in the coffee shops of Amsterdam.

Sometimes hard drugs is sold on the street. All hard drugs and the sale of soft drugs on the street is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. Moreover, it can be very dangerous because these drugs are often of poor quality.

More Information

In our forum you will find a list of answers to the frequently asked questions about coffee shops in Amsterdam.

Page last updated: Thursday 1 June 2017