In a nutshell
- Do you want to visit a coffee shop in Amsterdam, but don’t know what to look out for and which store is good? No problem.
- We’ll give you a coffee shop guide for beginners and answer all the questions that are important for your visit to the coffee shop.
- You also find a list of the 5 best coffee shops in Amsterdam here.
- Don’t want to go to a coffee shop at random? Then perhaps the guided coffee shop tour is for you.
What is a Coffee Shop?
If you walk through Amsterdam, you will find so-called coffee shops on many corners. Here, however, you won’t just find coffee and cake as usual, but actual cannabis. And in all processed forms.
This means that soft drugs can be legally sold, bought and consumed in the coffee shops.
And what is cannabis anyway?
Cannabis is a medicinal plant. And a really old one at that, which was used thousands of years ago.
At that time, however, it was mainly used to make clothing from hemp fibers. The intoxicating effect was only discovered later.
However, only the female cannabis plant has an intoxicating effect. This is because it contains a high concentration of the active ingredient THC. And this is what triggers the high.
The second active ingredient in cannabis is cannabidiol – CBD. This is the active ingredient that has a calming and relaxing effect and inhibits the strong effect of THC.
Cannabis with a high CBD content is also used in alternative medicine to treat physical pain, anxiety disorders or depression. However, research into this is still ongoing.
By the way: grass, hemp, ganja and weed are all synonyms for cannabis and basically mean the same soft drug.
Is cannabis safe in Amsterdam?
The cannabis in Amsterdam’s coffee shops is as safe as cannabis can be. You should always bear in mind that everyone’s body reacts differently to the effects.
If you want to give it a try, then you are on the “safest side” with the products and the care in the coffee shop.
You should avoid buying and consuming street drugs. They could be diluted and contain harmful additives. Not to mention the fact that buying, possessing and consuming them on the street is illegal.
Opening Hours of Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
Coffee shops in Amsterdam have the same opening hours as normal cafés, bistros and bars.
Most coffee shops open between 9 am and 12 noon and close their doors between 7 pm and 1 am.
Amsterdam Coffee Shop Prices
Quick price check? The coffee shops are no different from normal cafés in terms of prices.
Our tip: pay a little more for really good quality.
How much does a joint cost in the Amsterdam coffee shops?
You pay between 7 and 15 euros per gram of cannabis in a coffee shop. How much the joint costs depends entirely on how much cannabis is rolled up and whether tobacco is also included.
How much does a hash brownie cost in Amsterdam?
For a hash brownie – a brownie with cannabis in it – you pay an average of 5 euros in Amsterdam.
Coffee Shop Rules: What's Legal and What's Not?
To be on the safe side and feel comfortable when you enter a coffee shop, you should follow a few rules:
How old do I have to be to enter a coffee shop?
To enter a coffee shop in Amsterdam, you must be at least 18 years old.
Can I really just consume?
Yes, you are allowed to consume in the coffee shops. But only the products sold there, of course.
Cannabis is prohibited on the street. Even if the Amsterdam police often turn a blind eye.
How Does a Coffee Shop in Amsterdam Work?
Your first visit to a coffee shop? Then let us explain how it all works:
#1 Prepare for the coffee shop
Prepare for the coffee shop by eating in advance and drinking lots of water. Fats and proteins are particularly good. For example, a hearty lasagna, salmon dishes or anything with potatoes.
You should avoid chocolate. This can intensify the effect of the THC in cannabis. This is why hash brownies often have such an intense effect.
#2 Can I go to coffee shops as a foreigner?
Yes, the coffee shops are open to tourists.
#3 What can I buy in coffee shops?
In Amsterdam’s coffee shops you can buy cannabis directly as a flower, as a joint or in the form of brownies, cookies or other cakes. Hard drugs are not sold.
#4 Get advice!
When you visit a coffee shop, make sure you get advice from an employee. They not only know the products and their composition exactly, but also their effects.
They are best placed to assess which cannabis product is right for you and which you should probably steer clear of.
#5 Do cannabis and alcohol mix?
No. Consuming cannabis and alcohol at the same time is not a good idea. Firstly, because cannabis enhances the effects of alcohol and secondly because the consequences of mixed consumption are difficult to assess.
It is even an unwritten law among the Dutch: either, or.
#6 What if I suddenly feel bad?
If you feel unwell during or after using cannabis, it is very important to stay calm. Remember: no one has ever died from cannabis.
Either ask for help in the coffee shop or put your feet up and relax in your hotel room, for example.
Orange juice, bananas and plenty of water can also help to reduce the effects and break down the THC more quickly.
#7 How long can I stay in the coffee shop?
You can stay as long as you like – provided you keep to the opening hours.
We would even advise you to stay a little longer and only leave when the buzz has worn off.
Coffee Shop Dos and Don'ts Summarized
For a better overview, we have listed all the dos and don’ts for your coffee shop visit:
- Choose a reputable, relaxed coffee shop
- Eat well before your coffee shop visit and have plenty of water with you
- Do not combine cannabis with alcohol
- Get advice
- Take less rather than too much
- Do not consume cannabis on the street
- Do not take cannabis or similar with you
- Do not drive afterwards!
Top 5 Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
There are almost 170 coffee shops in Amsterdam. These are the 5 best:
#1 Barney’s Coffeeshop
Barney’s Coffeeshop is part of Barney’s Farm. They grow high-quality, award-winning cannabis in the Netherlands. In the coffeeshop, you not only get first-class cannabis, but also really good – normal – food.
Address: Haarlemmerstraat 102
#2 Grey Area Coffeeshop
Grey Area is the absolute VIP coffeeshop in Amsterdam. Celebrities often come here. Even Snoop Dog has smoked here. And how funny is the idea of walking into a celebrity right here?
Address: Oude Leliestraat 2
#3 The Bulldog The First
The Bulldog is a whole chain of coffee shops in Amsterdam. But the most famous store is The Bulldog The First. This was the very first coffeeshop in Amsterdam in 1975. So here you can find cannabis with cult status.
Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 90
#4 Boerejongens Coffeeshop
Boerejongens is particularly popular with tourists because of its excellent value for money. Here you can get really good quality cannabis at really fair prices.
Address: Utrechtsestraat 21
#5 Paradox
Paradox gives you the coolest combination of the typical Amsterdam vibe and cannabis. There are no colorful neon lights here, but lots of relaxed nature and the Bloemgracht just a few meters away.
Address: Eerste Bloemdwarsstraat 2R
By the way: There are also coffee shops in Rotterdam and The Hague. However, there are only around 30 in each city.
Guided Coffee Shop Tour in Amsterdam
Would you like a little more security for your visit to an Amsterdam coffee shop? Then we recommend a guided coffee shop tour.
On the tour, a local and knowledgeable guide takes you in a small group for 2 or 2.5 hours through Amsterdam and to 3 really good coffee shops.
You’ll also be able to try something there and have the opportunity to ask questions throughout the tour.
You’ll also kill two birds with one stone: a short sightseeing tour in Amsterdam and a visit to a coffee shop.
Book a guided coffee shop tour online
These were our Amsterdam coffee shop tips
Do you have any tips for the coffee shops in Amsterdam or any unanswered questions? Then write us a comment. We look forward to hearing from you!