The smoking cafes of Amsterdam

Yes, weed is (sort of) legal in Amsterdam—in some places and in some cases

A menu of hash, joints, and marijuana at a smoking cafe in Amsterdam.There's a special kind of "coffeehouse" or "coffee shop" in Amsterdam, where the drug of choice decidedly ain't caffeine.

Under increasing pressure from the European Union, the Netherlands is cracking down on drugs both soft and hard, but the country is still pretty lenient when it comes to marijuana.

Last call for Mary Jane
In May, 2011, the Dutch government announced plans to ban foreigners from toking on marijuana in these famous smoking cafes. They will instead be turned into membership-only clubs, and only the Dutch will be eligible to become members.

A ban on sales of cannabis to foreigners has already taken effect in the border towns of Maastricht and Terneuzen. The new law will be rolled out in the southern Dutch provinces in 2011, and across the rest of the Netherlands—Amsterdam included—in 2012.

Toke 'em while you got 'em.

Contrary to popular belief, weed is illegal here, though the police unofficially tolerate possession of a small amount for personal use—less than 5 grams (it used to be 30).

There are now some 220 of these venerable establishments in Amsterdam, all currently allowed to sell you small amounts of grass and hash—they even have marijuana menus—along with joints (rolled with tobacco) and various hash products, coffee, tea, and juice. Oddly, food is not allowed, so for the munchies you'll have to head elsewhere.

However, if certain members of the Dutch government have their way, all of this may soon change and selling weed to tourists will become illegal, perhaps as early as 2012 (see the box to the right).

A branch of The Bulldog, a chain of smoking cafes in Amsterdam. (Photo by Stevethethief)The most famous smoking coffee shop is Bulldog, whose main branch is at Leidseplein 15 (tel. +31-(0)20-627-1908; www.thebulldog.com), with another in the Red Light District at Oudesijds Voorburgwal 132.

Tips

Just remember: This is the age of the cellphone camera and Facebook, so anyone who wouldn't want to be caught toking shouldn't inhale. "But I was in Amsterdam!" does not usually cut it as an excuse to your boss/spouse/Congressional ethics committee.
Take a tour: Prefer someone else to take care of the logistics and provide a professional guide? Try an Amsterdam tour via our partners at Viator.com:
- Amsterdam Cannabis Walking Tour

Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs © the Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board

This article was last updated in May 2011. All information was accurate at the time.

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Copyright © 1998–2012 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett.