Coffeeshops in Amsterdam: rules, tips & well-known addresses
The following page is solely intended for informational purposes. It is in no way intended to encourage the use of cannabis, marijuana or any other narcotic substance.
Coffeeshops occupy a peculiar position in the Netherlands, one that often confuses visitors from abroad.
Not a café: a coffeeshop is an alcohol-free establishment where soft drugs such as weed, hash and marijuana may be sold and consumed. If you are after a coffee or a beer, this is precisely where not to go.
Tolerated, not legalised: cannabis is formally still prohibited in the Netherlands, but the sale of small quantities in licensed coffeeshops is tolerated. That policy dates from the 1970s and was meant to keep the soft drugs market separate from the market for hard drugs.
More than a hundred and sixty establishments: Amsterdam has around 165 coffeeshops, roughly a third of the national total. In the 1990s there were more than 350, but the city has gradually reduced the number of licences.
Divided opinion: where some regard the coffeeshops as an irksome side effect of Dutch drug policy, others praise them as a hallmark of the city’s open and tolerant character.
Cannabis and coffeeshop guided tours
If what you mainly want is the story behind Dutch policy, you can hear it from a guide.
Policy and history: on a guided tour you learn more about how the tolerance policy came about and the part cannabis plays in the culture of the city.
Walking tour with a guide: a coffeeshop walking tour takes you past the best-known establishments and cultural highlights, from €24.00.
Extended tour: a coffeeshop tour goes into greater depth on the different varieties and their quality, from €26.50.
The rules at a glance
Strict conditions apply to coffeeshops in Amsterdam, and they are firmly enforced.
Minimum age of 18: you must be at least 18 to enter a coffeeshop and to buy there. Selling to minors is prohibited and identification is compulsory, so always carry a valid passport or ID card.
Tourists are welcome: Amsterdam applies no residency criterion, which means visitors from abroad may enter coffeeshops and buy cannabis there.
A maximum of 5 grammes a day: selling larger quantities to a single customer is prohibited. Nor may you carry more than 5 grammes on you.
Buy only in a coffeeshop: buying on the street is illegal and punishable. Street dealers frequently sell fakes or something altogether different from what they claim, so never take them up on it.
Never across the border: taking cannabis abroad is an offence, including within Europe. Checks are carried out at Schiphol Airport and on international trains towards Germany and Belgium.
Where may you smoke?
Since 2023 stricter rules apply in the city centre for smoking cannabis in public.
Smoking ban in the city centre: smoking on the street is prohibited throughout the Red Light District and on Dam Square, the Damrak and the Nieuwmarkt. Offenders risk a fine of 100 euros, issued by police or municipal enforcement officers.
Inside the coffeeshop: this is the usual and accepted place to smoke, and most establishments have a comfortable lounge area for the purpose. Coffeeshop terraces are exempt from the ban.
Not in ordinary hospitality venues:hotels, cafés, bars and restaurants do not permit cannabis use as a rule. A blanket smoking ban often applies in your hotel room or holiday accommodation too, so always check the house rules.
Outside the restricted area: smoking on the street is not prohibited there, but the smell of a joint is by no means always appreciated. Be considerate towards residents, particularly in residential streets and parks.
Never behind the wheel or handlebars: taking part in traffic while under the influence is an offence and carries hefty fines, on a bicycle as much as in a car.
Well-known coffeeshops in Amsterdam
The establishments below are among the best known and most visited in the city, each with a character entirely its own.
Boerejongens, Utrechtsestraat 21; a luxurious apothecary-style interior and staff who take their time to advise you, which is why it is the most frequently recommended choice for anyone visiting a coffeeshop for the first time.
Grey Area, Oude Leliestraat 2; a tiny place near the Jordaan that has been winning one Cannabis Cup after another since the 1990s.
Dampkring, Handboogstraat 29; an atmospheric, artistic interior, made famous by an appearance in the film Ocean’s Twelve.
Tweede Kamer, Heisteeg 6; a classic dating from the 1970s near the Spui, small but with a warm sitting-room feel.
Barney’s, Haarlemmerstraat 102; an old-school atmosphere on a lively shopping street, popular with regulars and visitors alike.
Abraxas, Jonge Roelensteeg 12; spread over several floors and within walking distance of Dam Square.
Greenhouse, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 191; one of the best-known names in the city, with mosaic work and a long cabinet of awards.
Bulldog Palace, Leidseplein 17; the city’s most famous chain, in a prominent spot on the Leidseplein.
Siberië, Brouwersgracht 11; quietly situated on the canal, with wooden floors, rotating artwork and a proper barista behind the bar.
Anyone stepping into a coffeeshop for the first time often has little idea how the buying works.
The menu: most coffeeshops have a menu, often in the form of a book on the bar. It lists the full range, from pure weed and hash to ready-rolled joints and space cakes.
Flavour and strength: each product states its flavour and how strong it is. Take the time to read that before you order.
Ask for advice: the staff are used to inexperienced visitors and are generally happy to advise on what is mild and what decidedly is not. Do not hesitate to ask.
Cash or card: by no means all coffeeshops accept credit cards and some deal in cash only. Bear that in mind.
Amsterdam has more than 160 licensed coffeeshops, roughly a third of the national total. Below you will find a selection of those in the centre of the city.
This is perhaps the most important part of this page, because it is precisely here that things regularly go wrong for visitors.
Stronger than expected: the cannabis in Amsterdam coffeeshops is often far more potent than what most visitors are used to. Do not pick the strongest item on the menu, because what is normal for a daily user can be far too much for a beginner.
Take care with edibles: with space cakes and other edible varieties the effect only sets in after an hour or more, which leads people to take more too soon. The quantity also varies considerably from one product to the next.
Do not combine with alcohol: mixing with drink intensifies the effects and is one of the most common causes of nausea and feeling faint.
Start low and wait: take a little, give it time and preferably stay in or near the coffeeshop. If you feel unwell, tell the staff; they see it regularly and will help you.
Hard drugs
Where soft drugs are tolerated, a wholly different and far stricter regime applies to hard drugs.
Strictly prohibited: substances such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and magic mushrooms count as hard drugs and are entirely illegal in the Netherlands, including for personal use.
Not in coffeeshops: coffeeshops may not sell hard drugs. Establishments that get involved with them lose their licence irrevocably, so you will not come across them there.
Street dealing is highly dangerous: what is offered on the street is often of poor quality or contains something quite different from what was promised. Every year there are casualties among tourists who take up such offers.
The distinction in law: the Dutch Opium Act draws the distinction between hard drugs and soft drugs, and the government determines which substances fall into which category.
Page last updated: Tuesday 8 September 2026
Veelgestelde vragen over coffeeshops & drugs in Amsterdam
Hieronder een overzicht van veel gestelde vragen over coffeeshops en drugsgebruik in Amsterdam.
What is a coffeeshop?
Coffeeshops are alcohol-free establishments where soft drugs (including hash and marijuana) may be sold and consumed.
Are (international) tourists allowed to enter coffeeshops?
Yes. Amsterdam applies no residency criterion, so anyone aged 18 and over may enter coffeeshops and buy cannabis there. A valid passport or ID card is compulsory.
How much cannabis may be sold or bought in a coffeeshop?
Selling large quantities of cannabis to coffeeshop customers is prohibited. Individuals may buy a maximum of 5 grammes a day.
How old do you have to be to buy and smoke cannabis in the Netherlands?
At least 18 years old. Identification is compulsory.
How old do you have to be to enter a coffeeshop?
At least 18 years old. Selling cannabis to those under 18 is prohibited, which also means entering a coffeeshop under the age of 18 is not permitted. Identification is compulsory.
Where is it permitted to buy cannabis?
Buying cannabis is permitted in coffeeshops only.
Is it illegal to buy cannabis on the street?
Yes, cannabis may only be bought in coffeeshops.
Is it permitted to smoke cannabis anywhere other than in coffeeshops?
Inside a coffeeshop is the usual and accepted place to smoke cannabis. Restaurants, cafés and bars do not allow it, and the smell of a joint is generally not appreciated there. Although unusual, the owner of a café, bar or restaurant may permit its use on the premises.
Is it permitted to smoke cannabis on the street (in public places)?
Not everywhere. Since 25 May 2023 a smoking ban has applied on the street throughout the Red Light District and on Dam Square, the Damrak and the Nieuwmarkt, carrying a fine of 100 euros. Coffeeshop terraces are exempt. Outside this area smoking on the street is not prohibited, but the smell of a joint is often not appreciated.
What percentage of tourists visit a coffeeshop during their stay in Amsterdam?
Research by the City of Amsterdam shows that around 23% of tourists coming to Amsterdam also visit a coffeeshop during their stay.
What are soft drugs?
The Dutch Opium Act distinguishes between hard drugs and soft drugs. The Dutch government determines which products fall into each category. Soft drugs include hash, marijuana, sleeping tablets and sedatives.
May coffeeshops sell hard drugs as well?
No. Coffeeshops that get involved with hard drugs, or allow their use or trade, lose their licence irrevocably. Hard drugs are therefore not to be found in Amsterdam coffeeshops.
Are the coffeeshops open at Christmas (24 to 25 December)?
Most coffeeshops in the centre of Amsterdam are open all year round, including over the Christmas period.
Are dogs allowed in coffeeshops in Amsterdam?
Dogs are allowed in some coffeeshops in Amsterdam. The policy on dogs varies from one coffeeshop to another. Unfortunately we do not have a list of coffeeshops where dogs are admitted.
May I take cannabis abroad?
No. Taking cannabis across the border is an offence, including within the European Union. Checks are carried out at Schiphol Airport and on international trains towards Germany and Belgium.
May I smoke in my hotel room or holiday accommodation?
That depends on the house rules. Many places in the centre operate a blanket smoking ban, often with a substantial cleaning charge. Check with your accommodation in advance.
May I cycle or drive after visiting a coffeeshop?
No. Taking part in traffic under the influence of cannabis is an offence, whether behind the wheel or on a bicycle, and carries a hefty fine.
Where in Amsterdam is Mike Tyson’s coffeeshop?
The Tyson 2.0 coffeeshop owned by the legendary American boxer Mike Tyson is located at Spuistraat 222, in the centre of Amsterdam: https://coffeeshoptyson.com/
The following page is solely intended for informational purposes. It is in no way intended to encourage the use of cannabis, marijuana or any other narcotic substance.
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