Welcome to the real independent Amsterdam Coffeeshop guide. This site will provide you some information needed when visiting Amsterdam and planning to smoke your way around and do like so many others who come to Amsterdam only because of the coffeeshop. Cannabis is available at many places but ID is required.
Due to new regulations smoking tobacco is not longer allowed in Dutch coffeeshops, restaurants and bars.
Within three to six years 26 coffee shops in town have to shut down. It's in the final plan of the municipality for the downtown, called Project 1012.
Most shops threatened with closure are located in and around the Red Light District. The owners of these coffeeshops will extend their license three years.
The regulation means a reduction of nearly forty percent. Further, twelve coffee shops will have to close down because they are too close to a school.
Closure of half of the coffee shops located in the red light district, could impair tourism. The researchers concluded in their report, University of Amsterdam Coffee Shops in the heart of the city.
In the sixties you have got twelve months imprisonment for twelve cigarettes with marijuana. But when early seventies the exhausts of cars sanded on the Amsterdam streets because the boots were full of hashish, drug use was also for the Amsterdam narcotics brigade (two-man) unstoppable.
In 1970 there was a massive festival in a forrest near Amsterdam "het Kralingse Bos".
One of the twelve undercover agents who was present at that festival, told how he saw a massive crowd "like Alice in Wonderland" walking, dancing and blowing. It was then, for the first time in history, police decided not to intervene: too dangerous in a crowd of 90,000. And thus was born the tolerance.
Recent research appeared that one third of the tourists in Amsterdam go to a coffeeshop. 12% of those specially choose Amsterdam for their trip, only because of the coffeeshops.
The Dutch government wants to maintain the tolerance of soft drugs. Coffee shops remain, but it may not longer attract tourists. The government wants small coffee shops serve the local market soon with a limited clientele. Foreign customers are no longer welcome. A new ID system should keep tourists out the door.
Insiders have reported this Tuesday following reports of the NOS Journal and RTL News. The Ministers will discuss Friday 9/11/09 the guidelines for the new drug policy.
Holland has a very liberal attitude towards coffeeshops and herbal's (smartshops). Although not al the members of the European Union agree, coffeeshops are still allowed in the Netherlands. A lot of tourists already found their way to Amsterdam.
Familiar names are the Bulldog or Greenhouse, but there are so many other coffeeshops. A little help might be welcome, but ordering softdrugs in a coffeeshop is just as normal as asking for a cup of tea. But because there are so many coffeeshops, some nice ones are listed on this site. This is a listing might be a helpful guideline when you want to visit a special coffeeshop.
Although it is not what they are famous for, coffeeshops actually do serve coffee most of the times. You can order soft-drugs here a la carte. You are allowed to use softdrugs in Amsterdam. Remember that it is illegal to deal, so only buy for your own personal use. Beware to avoid the combination of drugs and alcohol.
Cannabis is available at many places for adults (18+) but ID is required.
Two young Amsterdam guys -Wils Elian and Robbert Nieuwenhuijs- are in battle with the conservative American television FOXNews. The stakes: the image of our capital Amsterdam. FOXNews described Amsterdam as "a cesspool of corruption, crime and anarchy" in the O'Reilly show.
Wils Elian and Robbert Nieuwenhuijs were not on their side, and placed on YouTube a video in which they sweep the floor with the allegations of the popular American television host Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly recently responded in turn in its program with the words: "Amsterdam is just a Disney World for criminals."
Best Coffeeshop
This is the personal toplist. These shops all have to offer something special. Good stuff, or nice atmosphere. Feel free to check them out, and let me know if you agree...
Recent research appeared that one third of the tourists in Amsterdam go to a coffeeshop. 12% of those specially choose Amsterdam for their trip, only because of the coffeeshops... Don't think that you are the only one....
How it started... Since 1976 the Narcotics Act has distinguished between drugs that pose unacceptable risks to public health (hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine, XTC and amphetamines) and hemp products (soft drugs: hashish and marijuana). Possession, dealing, sales, production and so forth have been made punishable for all drugs, with the exception of medical, veterinary, instructional and scientific purposes, for which permission must be obtained. Offences against the Narcotics Act are punished severely, but the penalties for soft drug offences are less severe than those for hard drug offences. (Source: cannabis Policy, NDM, Trimbos Institute)