Coffeeshop Guide

Amsterdam counts about 250 coffeeshops and most of them are located in the Red Light District. From psychedelic to hipster-ish but also from very local ones to more touristic places, each of Amsterdam coffeeshops has its own atmosphere. You will surely find one that suits you perfectly. They are not only to smoke weed. They are real social places where you can easily meet people and spend some good times with friends. Watching TV, playing chess or card games and much more can be done here. And always in a very relaxing way. Due to the allowance of cannabis consumption, the Netherlands are very well reputed to be a very liberal country. This is true but you should be aware of the Dutch law and the rules inside a coffee shop.

When you enter a coffee shop there are few rules you should be aware of: - You must be 18 or older (21 years old in some establishment) and always have your passport or ID with you. - You are allowed to come twice a day maximum to the same coffee shop - You can buy maximum 5 grams per day - Alcohol and cigarettes are forbidden - You must not cause any nuisance - The use of hard drugs is strictly forbidden

Under the drug policy of the Netherlands, the sale of cannabis products in small quantities is allowed by licensed coffeeshops. The majority of these also serve drinks and food. Coffeeshops are not allowed to serve alcohol or other drugs, and risk closure if they are found to be selling soft drugs to minors, hard drugs or selling alcohol. The idea of licensing the sale of cannabis was introduced in the 1970s for the explicit purpose of keeping hard and soft drugs separated.