Amsterdam & its Coffeeshop Culture

von Julia – in Europe, Netherlands, Traveldiary
By |2017-01-03T15:24:58+01:00March 30th, 2016|Europe, Netherlands, Traveldiary| 0

Amsterdam & its Coffeeshop Culture


This post is not supposed to encourage drug consumption, it’s just a source of information for Dutch Coffee-Shop Culture!!

Amsterdam is known for its coffee shops. It’s not the only thing. There are tons of thing you can do in Amsterdam, including lots of history and culture. You can read my blogpost below.

   »MY BLOGPOST: 10 Things To Do in Amsterdam

In this article, I will share my impression on Amsterdam’s Coffeeshops with you.

Amsterdam Coffeeshop

»What‘s a coffee shop?

A coffee shop is a place where soft drugs are sold legally. You’re allowed to buy and smoke cannabis. You can also consume space cookies or tea with a tiny amount of cannabis. Soft drugs are not legalized completely in the Netherlands, but the consumption is tolerated by the police. Hard drugs are forbidden! Every coffeeshop is allowed to store up to 500 grams of marijuana and sell up to 5g to adults. When entering, you have to show your ID. Asking yourself why these shops are called coffeeshops? You can also buy normal Drug free drinks and food, such as cappuccino, espresso, tea, cocoa and juices or soda.

»Which rules are to be followed in a coffee shop?

Alcohol is forbidden in coffee shops – they don’t sell it either. Normal cigarettes aren’t allowed either, but you can buy them to use the tobacco for the joints. You’re also forbidden to take pictures of other people. When I entered the shop, I asked them if I could take pictures. I was allowed if I wouldn’t take pictures of other people. When you’re in the shop, you have to consume something (drinks or snacks).

Where do you consume the weed or eat the food?
You can only consume the drugs in the coffee shop or in front of it. To stay safe I’d stay near the shop. You’re not allowed to consume on the street or anywhere else.

»Does that mean that Cannabis is legal in Amsterdam or the Netherlands?

That’s a really complicated topic. I hope I can explain it well. The short version: NO. It’s still illegal, but if you consume cannabis in a coffeeshop, it’s not punishable.

What are the requirements for a coffee shop:

  • They’re only allowed to sell tiny amounts – 5 grams per Person
  • A Coffeeshop is forbidden to advertise
  • Hard drugs are forbidden
  • The drugs are not to be sold to minors
  • A coffee shop isn’t allowed near schools or playgrounds.

Why did the Dutch legalize Cannabis?
The Government believes that by forbidding marijuana you’re creating more problems than solving them. And they are kind of right. By allowing to consume tiny amounts of weed the police is able to regulate and control. Statistics show that there are less drug problems in Amsterdam then elsewhere.

»Where can I find a Coffeeshop in Amsterdam?

Everywhere. On every corner of the street. It’s really to find one. Most of the signs are in Rasta colours and design. Every verified coffeeshop has a green-white labelling. You can find this label HERE.

 »INFO: Tourists are only allowed to go to coffeeshops in Amsterdam. In any other part of the Netherlands, you need a Dutch passport. Someone told me that you can also enter, if you live in the Netherlands. I’m not 100% sure though. This rule was set up to minimize the drug tourism.

»How does Cannabis smell?

Fun fact: Now I figured out how weed smells. If you’re in Amsterdam you will smell it instantly if there is a coffee shop nearby. It’s a little hard to describe it.

You can’t really compare it to something else. It smells earthy, a little damp. It’s rather sweet and depending on the THC-Content, it’s aggressive to your nose. It’s not unpleasant when breathing it in like Nicotine. It kind of reminds me of hay. You don’t start to cough, if you enter a Coffeeshop.

»What is the difference between Marijuana and Hash?

There are not many differences. We all know what marijuana is, it’s also called cannabis, weed, grass, pot, ganja and so on. Hash is from the same plant, but it’s cleaned, compressed and higher concentrated. Marihuana looks green and fluffy. Hash is a brown chunk. There are not many differences apart from the THC concentration, which is much higher in hash.

»My Experiences from the Coffeeshop

Some of you might ask yourself why I wanted to try this and the answer is pretty simple: Because it’s legal here. Let’s try it here! To start, I did some research to find a good coffee shop. I wanted to choose a place which is popular and which is monitored constantly. That’s why I chose the Abraxas. I want to remind you that I’m not advertising for this shop here.

Back to the topic – When I was in front of the shop I was nervous. But the people working there were really relaxed and they looked totally normal. After the doorman checked our passports, we were able to enter. We waited around 20-25 minutes until we ordered something from the weed bank. I waited to feel a effect from breathing it in, but everything was normal. Just like in a normal restaurant with smokers.

The look of the shops was great. The hippy-vibe was really relaxing although I don’t like this with clothes or in my apartment. There’s also cool and cozy music in the shop, which is unusal because most of the time you will hear techno. In all other coffee shops we saw (except Bulldog) there was loud music.

 »INFO: In most of the coffees hops there are only tourists. Not many Dutch people smoke week in coffeeshops.

Amsterdam Coffeeshop

Photo from abraxas.tv

When we arrived, we were advised by the weed vendor. There’s also a menu where you can see the different kinds of weed. You can buy a Joint or weed in a bag. You can also buy different supplies such as papers or some kind grinders. We were asked if we wanted to smoke or eat something. Since I never smoked before, I went for the Space-Cake. The cake is really tiny. If you share it, you will only get 3-4 bites.

The brownie was in front of me and I was really scared and I thought: “Oh Jesus, you’ll eat this and then you’ll be high! Oh Shit!” The Brownies are definitely for sharing. We were 4 people and we shared 2 Space-Cakes (one Brownie costs 6 Euro) and it was enough. The effect is more intense when you eat Cannabis. I was happy to eat a Brownie, because I like them anyway, but it tasted very different. The chocolate seemed a little bitter. And it was really sticky, like biting into a toffee. Do you know Milka Noissette chocolate? That stuff always sticks to your teeth. The brownie felt like this. I really hated this.

My friends liked the brownie a lot. Oh the taste – you could totally taste the weed. The taste is as hard to describe as the smell. As mentioned above this was the first time I ate a Space Cake. So I can’t tell you if my experience was normal.

I felt like this after half a brownie: 

  • I reacted in slow-motion.
  • It took a minute until I laughed at a joke, which was super funny either.
  • My senses were broadened. I heard every step and noise much more intensive.
  • I was really relaxed.
  • I talked a lot of nonsens!
  • The music was SO MUCH better!
  • I couldn’t say a sentence without laughing.
  • My cheeks already ached and I had to cry because I was laughing so much.
  • I was so hungry – I wanted to order everything on the menu.
  • I was freezing…

Amsterdam Coffeeshop

In Short: It was funny and we had fun. We didn’t have a hangover either.

 »Would I try again? No. It was fun and it had something exciting – and I want it to stay this way. That’s why I won’t do it again. I wanted to try and get it off my bucket list.

If you want to visit a coffeeshop in Amsterdam, you should read my helpful tips! Also, you should talk to the vendor. Everyone was very friendly and they will help you.

»Important Tips

  • Don’t underestimate!

Mark my words: If you eat Cannabis instead of smoking it, it’s much more intense. That means a Space Cake is more intense than a joint! The effect takes much longer if you eat it. It can take up to 40-60 Minutes until you notice something. Don’t eat the whole cake at once or smoke more weed.

Empty stomach: It can take up to 30-60 Minutes, until you can feel something.
Full Stomach: It can take 2 hours.

For me it took 30-40 Minutes until I noticed something. You won’t feel “high“ at once. It takes 2 hours more until you will laugh hysterically. Don’t drink alcohol on this day. This will be too much for your body.

  • Don’t buy too much!

It’s also very important that you don’t consume too much and only try tiny amounts. It doesn’t matter if you smoke it or eat it. We had 2 Brownies with 4 people. The package says “It’s made to share“. Take some time for this!

  • Don’t go alone

It’s much better if you go with your friends. Then you don’t feel uncomfortable and alone. It’s also Better if you have someone to share your experience with. Maybe some of your friends already tried – so you will be less scared. All this is not that awful and nothing will happen to you if you only eat a half brownie.

»MY SUMMARY 

t’s your decision if you want to try it or not. If you’re like me and want to try this before dying, then just do it in the best coffeeshop in Amsterdam. You don’t have to be ashamed. Know your Limits, and take care of yourself!

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