The Gedoogbeleid: How Amsterdam Became the Cannabis Capital
To understand Amsterdam's coffeeshops, you need to understand gedoogbeleid — the Dutch policy of tolerance that has shaped cannabis culture here since the 1970s. It's not legalization. It's something far more Dutch: a pragmatic decision to look the other way.
In 1976, the Netherlands revised its Opium Act to distinguish between "hard" and "soft" drugs. Cannabis fell into the soft category, and while technically still illegal, the government adopted a policy of non-enforcement for small quantities. This created space for coffeeshops — licensed establishments that could sell cannabis under strict conditions without fear of prosecution.
The system was born from harm reduction philosophy. By separating cannabis from the hard drug market, Dutch policymakers reasoned they could reduce exposure to heroin and cocaine. Whether it worked is debated, but the coffeeshop culture it created is undeniably unique.
Key moments in the timeline:
1972: Baba, one of Amsterdam's first proto-coffeeshops, opens in the Jordaan
1976: Opium Act revision creates the legal framework for tolerance
1980s: Coffeeshop culture explodes — at peak, Amsterdam had 700+ shops
1995: Official coffeeshop licensing criteria established (AHOJ-G rules)
2012: "Wietpas" (weed pass) introduced in southern provinces — tourists banned from coffeeshops
2013: Amsterdam refuses to implement the wietpas — tourists remain welcome
2023: Only about 160 coffeeshops remain in Amsterdam, down from the 1990s peak
2024: Regulated supply chain pilot ("wietexperiment") continues in other cities
The irony of gedoogbeleid is its famous "back door problem": selling cannabis to customers through the front door is tolerated, but supplying the coffeeshop through the back door remains illegal. This paradox has fueled organized crime for decades and is the primary motivation behind the current supply chain experiments.
For visitors, none of this legal ambiguity matters in practice. Walk into a licensed coffeeshop, show ID proving you're 18+, and you can buy up to 5 grams. It's that simple.
How Coffeeshops Actually Work
If you've never been to an Amsterdam coffeeshop, the process can feel intimidating. Here's exactly what to expect, step by step.
Entering:
Most coffeeshops have a relatively discreet exterior — no neon signs screaming "BUY WEED HERE" (well, some tourist traps do). Look for the official green-and-white coffeeshop license sticker. Walk in confidently. You'll usually see a bar area for drinks and a separate counter or menu board for cannabis.
The menu:
Coffeeshop menus typically list cannabis products by name, with THC/CBD percentages, origin (indoor/outdoor/greenhouse), and prices per gram. Expect to see:
Nederwiet (Dutch-grown flower): €8-15/gram
Import strains (Cali packs, etc.): €15-25/gram
Hash (Moroccan, Afghan, etc.): €8-20/gram
Pre-rolled joints: €4-8 each (often mixed with tobacco by default — ask for pure if you prefer)
Space cakes/edibles: €5-8 each (proceed with extreme caution)
Ordering:
Approach the cannabis counter. Staff — called budtenders — will walk you through options. Don't be shy about asking questions; they've heard everything. You can smell before you buy at most shops. Pay in cash (many shops are cash-only for cannabis, though some now accept cards for drinks).
Purchase limits:
Maximum 5 grams per visit per person
You can visit multiple coffeeshops in a day — there's no cross-shop tracking
Maximum 5 grams carry in public is the soft rule (police rarely weigh, but don't push it)
Consuming:
Most coffeeshops have a seating area where you're expected to consume. Buy a drink (coffee, juice, soda — usually €2-4) as a courtesy. Some shops provide free rolling papers and filter tips. Many now offer Volcano vaporizers or similar devices as tobacco-smoking bans have pushed consumption methods to evolve.
Leaving:
Take any unused cannabis with you. Don't litter. Be respectful of the neighborhood. Simple.
The OFFMAP 15: Our Handpicked Coffeeshop Guide
After years of research and hundreds of visits, here are our definitive picks across every category.
🏆 Best Overall:
Boerejongens (multiple locations) — The Apple Store of coffeeshops. Lab-tested products, immaculate displays, knowledgeable staff. Their Centrum location on Utrechtsestraat is the flagship.
Grey Area (Oude Leliestraat 2) — Tiny American-owned shop in the Jordaan with legendary genetics. Their Crystal Coma and Gray Haze strains win cups regularly. Cash only, long lines, worth every minute.
🌿 Best for Connoisseurs:
Amnesia (Herengracht 133) — Premium flower in an upscale canal-house setting. Their strain selection rotates frequently and always features cutting-edge Dutch genetics.
1e Hulp (Marnixstraat 194) — "First Aid" in Dutch, and their quality is indeed therapeutic. Excellent hash selection alongside top-tier flower.
De Supermarkt (Frederik Hendrikstraat 69) — Local favorite in Westerpark with consistently outstanding quality-to-price ratio.
🎨 Best Atmosphere:
Dampkring (Handboogstraat 29) — Famous from Ocean's Twelve. Ornate interior, artistic decor, genuinely pleasant vibe beyond the tourism factor.
Greenhouse Effect (Warmoesstraat 53) — Not to be confused with Greenhouse Centrum. Great people-watching spot near Centraal Station.
Paradox (1e Bloemdwarsstraat 2) — Jordaan gem with a health-food café vibe. Excellent fresh juices alongside quality cannabis. Feels like a local living room.
💰 Best Budget:
Katsu (1e van der Helststraat 70) — De Pijp neighborhood institution. No-frills, great prices (€7-8/gram for solid flower), and a loyal local crowd.
Popeye (Haarlemmerstraat 63) — Budget-friendly without sacrificing quality. Good pre-rolls and simple menu.
🔇 Best Quiet/Local Vibes:
Tweede Kamer (Heisteeg 6) — Steps from the flower market but feels miles from the tourist trail. Tiny, classy, exceptional quality.
Het Ballonnetje (Ruyschstraat 12) — East Amsterdam hideaway. Friendly owner, community atmosphere, like stepping into someone's living room.
De Republiek (Oosterpark neighborhood) — Off the beaten path with craft coffee and curated strains.
⚠️ Tourist Traps to Avoid:
The Bulldog (multiple) — Overpriced, mediocre quality, aggressive branding. Fine for a photo, terrible for actually buying cannabis.
Any shop on Damrak or directly on Dam Square — You're paying a location premium for inferior product.
Coffeeshop Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules
Coffeeshops are not coffee shops. They're not bars. They're not head shops. They're their own cultural institution with their own unwritten code. Violating these rules won't get you arrested, but it will mark you as a clueless tourist — and may get you asked to leave.
The cardinal rules:
1. Always buy from the shop you're sitting in.
Bringing outside cannabis into a coffeeshop is the single biggest faux pas. It's like bringing McDonald's into a restaurant. Even if your stuff is better, it's disrespectful to the establishment. If you want to smoke your own supply, do it outside or at your accommodation.
2. Buy a drink.
Most coffeeshops require a minimum drink purchase. Even where it's not strictly enforced, ordering a coffee or juice is basic courtesy. These establishments survive on thin margins — the drink purchase helps keep the lights on.
3. Don't photograph without asking.
This is huge. Many regulars and staff do not want to appear on your Instagram. Some shops have explicit no-photo policies. Always ask before snapping pictures of people or the interior. Product shots of the menu or your own joint are usually fine.
4. No tobacco mixing indoors.
Since the 2008 smoking ban, tobacco use is prohibited in all indoor spaces including coffeeshops. You can smoke a pure cannabis joint indoors, but mixing with tobacco violates the law. Most shops offer herbal tobacco alternatives or vaporizers.
5. Start low, go slow.
Dutch cannabis is potent — often 20-30% THC for top strains. If you're coming from a country where quality varies, Amsterdam flower may hit significantly harder than expected. Take two or three puffs, wait 15 minutes, and assess. Space cakes are an even bigger risk — effects take 45-90 minutes to onset.
6. Don't deal.
Don't sell, resell, or distribute cannabis from coffeeshops. Don't even joke about it. This is taken extremely seriously and can result in police involvement.
7. Be chill.
Coffeeshops are relaxation spaces. Keep your voice down. Don't FaceTime your friends back home at full volume. Don't block the counter. Treat it like a library with better snacks.
Tourist Traps vs Local Spots: Where the Amsterdammers Actually Go
There are two Amsterdams when it comes to coffeeshop culture: the one tourists see and the one locals actually inhabit. Here's how to cross over.
The tourist corridor:
Most visitors never leave a narrow band stretching from Centraal Station through the Red Light District, across Dam Square, and down Leidseplein to Rembrandtplein. This corridor contains the city's most visible (and most mediocre) coffeeshops. Shops here survive on foot traffic and name recognition, not quality.
Where locals go:
Jordaan (West): Amsterdam's most charming neighborhood hides several excellent shops in its narrow streets. Grey Area, Paradox, and La Tertulia (a mother-daughter operated shop with a greenhouse vibe) serve a loyal local clientele. The Jordaan feels like a village within the city — browse vintage shops and galleries between coffeeshop visits.
De Pijp (South): The "Latin Quarter of Amsterdam" centers on the Albert Cuypmarkt street market. Katsu and Yo-Yo are beloved neighborhood joints (pun intended). De Pijp offers the best food scene in the city, making it perfect for munchies management.
Oost (East): Amsterdam's most diverse neighborhood is also its most authentic coffeeshop territory. Het Ballonnetje on Ruyschstraat has been serving the Oost community for decades. The neighborhood around Oosterpark is increasingly trendy without being gentrified to the point of sterility.
Noord (North): Cross the free ferry behind Centraal Station and you enter a different world. Amsterdam Noord's industrial-turned-creative district (NDSM Werf) has a few coffeeshops serving the artist community. The ferry ride while stoned is one of Amsterdam's great free experiences.
Westerpark: The area around Westerpark is increasingly popular with young professionals and creative types. De Supermarkt on Frederik Hendrikstraat is a neighborhood institution, and the surrounding streets offer excellent Indonesian, Surinamese, and Middle Eastern food.
How to spot a local shop:
No English menu displayed in the window
Regulars greet the budtender by name
A chess set or newspaper on the table
Prices listed simply on a chalkboard, not a laminated menu with photos
No one is taking selfies
Understanding Dutch Cannabis: Strains, Hash & What to Try
The Netherlands has been at the forefront of cannabis genetics for decades. Understanding what's available — and what's genuinely worth trying — elevates your coffeeshop experience from recreational to educational.
Dutch-grown flower (Nederwiet):
The backbone of the coffeeshop menu. Dutch growers pioneered indoor hydroponic cultivation in the 1980s and 90s, creating strains that became global standards. Modern Nederwiet is typically grown in controlled indoor environments with meticulous attention to terpene profiles and cannabinoid content.
Classic strains to seek out:
Amnesia Haze — The quintessential Amsterdam sativa. Energetic, cerebral, with a citrus-pine nose. Originated at the Amnesia coffeeshop. 18-22% THC.
White Widow — Developed by Green House Seeds in the 1990s. Balanced hybrid with a frosty appearance and euphoric high. Still a benchmark strain.
Super Silver Haze — Three-time Cannabis Cup winner. Sativa-dominant with creative, uplifting effects. Pairs perfectly with museum visits.
Northern Lights — Indica classic, originally from the American Pacific Northwest but perfected in Holland. Deep relaxation without couch-lock.
Jack Herer — Named after the cannabis activist. Spicy, piney sativa that Dutch growers have refined to perfection.
Hash:
Amsterdam's hash scene is often overlooked in favor of flower, which is a mistake. Quality hash offers a different, often more nuanced experience.
Moroccan (blonde/brown): Traditional pressed hash, mild and social. €8-12/gram.
Afghan (dark/black): Heavier, more sedating. Great for evening use. €10-15/gram.
Ice-o-lator/Bubble hash: Made from trichome extraction. The premium option — melty, flavorful, potent. €15-25/gram.
Rosin: Solventless pressed hash. Increasingly available at quality shops. €20-35/gram.
Edibles — proceed with extreme caution:
Space cakes are an Amsterdam institution and a tourist pitfall. The THC dosing is wildly inconsistent between shops. Some space cakes contain 20mg THC, others contain 100mg+. There's no regulation requiring labeling. Start with half of whatever you buy, wait 90 full minutes, and only then consider more. Every budtender has a story about a tourist who ate two space cakes and ended up in a hospital having a panic attack.
Beyond Coffeeshops: Amsterdam's Broader Cannabis Culture
Coffeeshops are the headline act, but Amsterdam's cannabis culture extends into museums, events, seed shops, and experiences that deserve their own exploration.
Cannabis Museums:
Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 148) — Founded by cannabis pioneer Ben Dronkers, this is the world's most comprehensive cannabis museum. Two floors covering 10,000 years of cannabis history, from ancient Chinese medicine to modern genetics. The attached Hemp Gallery features rotating art exhibitions. €9 entry, allocate 1-2 hours.
420 Museum (near Dam Square) — Smaller, more tourist-oriented, but has some interesting exhibits on Dutch cannabis policy and culture.
Seed shops:
The Netherlands is the global hub for cannabis seed genetics, and buying seeds is completely legal.
Sensi Seeds (flagship near Dam Square) — Founded by the Dronkers family. Premium genetics with decades of history.
Dutch Passion — One of the oldest seed banks in the world. Their website and Amsterdam presence offer consultation for growers.
Barneys Farm (connected to Barney's Coffeeshop) — Award-winning genetics with a focus on flavor profiles.
Events and experiences:
Cannabis Cup (when held) — High Times' legendary competition has a complicated relationship with Amsterdam, but when it happens, it's the Super Bowl of weed
420 in Vondelpark — Every April 20th, hundreds gather in Amsterdam's most famous park for an unofficial celebration. Relaxed, communal, and very Dutch.
Cannabis walking tours — Several OFFMAP-verified operators offer 2-3 hour guided walks through coffeeshop history and culture. These are genuinely educational, not just pub crawls with joints.
Cannabis-friendly canal cruises:
This is the quintessential Amsterdam experience: gliding through 17th-century canals on a private boat while enjoying your coffeeshop purchases. Several operators specifically welcome cannabis consumption on board. Book a small-group or private boat through OFFMAP for curated options.
Hemp and CBD shops:
Amsterdam's legal hemp industry offers CBD oils, cosmetics, textiles, and food products. These shops are fully legal and often more interesting than you'd expect — the intersection of cannabis culture and Dutch design sensibility produces some genuinely beautiful products.
Common Mistakes: What First-Timers Get Wrong
After guiding thousands of visitors through Amsterdam's cannabis scene, we've identified the mistakes that ruin trips with depressing regularity. Avoid these and you're already ahead of 90% of tourists.
Mistake #1: Overconsumption on day one.
You've been dreaming about Amsterdam for months. You arrive, check in, and immediately visit three coffeeshops in two hours. By dinner, you're greened out in your hotel room watching Dutch television you can't understand. Solution: One coffeeshop on arrival, small purchase, gentle start. Save the deep dive for day two.
Mistake #2: Mixing cannabis and alcohol too early.
The infamous "crossfade" hits different in Amsterdam, especially with potent Dutch weed. Alcohol before cannabis dramatically increases THC absorption and the likelihood of nausea ("the spins"). Solution: Choose one or the other for your first night. If combining, cannabis first, alcohol second, and keep both moderate.
Mistake #3: Eating a whole space cake.
Every budtender's horror story involves a tourist who ate a full space cake, felt nothing after 30 minutes, ate another, and then spent 6 hours convinced they were dying. Solution: Half a cake. 90 minutes minimum wait. No exceptions.
Mistake #4: Smoking in the wrong places.
Cannabis on terraces, in hotel lobbies, near children, or on public transport is not acceptable. The Dutch tolerance has limits. Solution: Consume in coffeeshops, at home, or in designated outdoor areas. When in doubt, observe what locals do.
Mistake #5: Buying from street dealers.
Those guys whispering "coke, ecstasy, weed" in the Red Light District are selling bunk products at best and dangerous substances at worst. Undercover police operations are common. Solution: Coffeeshops exist precisely so you don't need street dealers.
Mistake #6: Planning too much.
Amsterdam is a city best experienced at wandering pace. Over-scheduling museum visits and restaurant reservations while also visiting coffeeshops is a recipe for stress. Solution: Plan one or two activities per day and let the city reveal itself. Some of the best coffeeshop experiences happen when you stumble into an unknown shop on a random side street.
Mistake #7: Ignoring the rest of the city.
Amsterdam is a world-class city with extraordinary museums, architecture, food, and culture. If all you see is the inside of coffeeshops, you're missing the point. The best cannabis experiences enhance exploration — they don't replace it.
Budget Tips: Maximum Amsterdam, Minimum Spend
Amsterdam is expensive by any measure, but smart planning can stretch your cannabis budget significantly. Here's how to get the most from your money.
Cannabis spending:
Budget tier (€15-20/day): Buy from value shops like Katsu or Popeye. Stick to Nederwiet (€8-10/gram) and avoid import strains. One gram per day is plenty for moderate consumers. Pre-rolls are convenient but poor value per gram — roll your own.
Mid-range (€25-40/day): Mix quality shops like Boerejongens for premium flower with budget shops for daily smoking. Try one hash selection per trip. Space cakes are cheap (€5-7) and extremely efficient per-milligram-of-THC.
Connoisseur (€50+/day): Sample high-end strains at Grey Area, Amnesia, and 1e Hulp. Buy hash across the quality spectrum. This is where Amsterdam truly shines.
Saving money on cannabis:
Buy grams, not pre-rolls. Pre-rolls cost €4-8 for 0.3-0.5g of cannabis mixed with filler. A €10 gram rolled into 2-3 pure joints is dramatically more cost-effective.
Visit local-neighborhood shops. Canal-side shops charge 20-30% more than shops in De Pijp, Oost, or Westerpark.
Ask for recommendations at your budget. Budtenders know which strains offer the best value. Don't be embarrassed to say "what's good for €8-10 per gram?"
Invest in a small vaporizer. Vaporizing extracts more THC per gram than combustion. A €30 dry-herb vape pays for itself within days.
Non-cannabis budget tips:
Accommodation: Stay in Amsterdam-Oost or Noord for 30-50% less than city center. The ferry to Noord is free and runs 24/7.
Food: Albert Cuyp market for cheap eats (stroopwafels, kibbeling, Surinamese roti). FEBO for iconic Dutch fast food from a vending machine wall. Indonesian rijsttafel in De Pijp is filling and affordable.
Transport: Buy an OV-chipkaart for public transit or rent a bike (€10-12/day). Amsterdam is small — most coffeeshops are within a 20-minute bike ride of each other.
Free activities: Vondelpark, NDSM Werf, canal walks, free ferry to Noord, street markets, and most church interiors are free. Many museums have free evenings or discounted hours.
I Amsterdam City Card: Dubious value if you're primarily coffeeshop-focused, but excellent if you want to combine museums with your cannabis exploration.
Author
Nyke Perényi
Head of Marketing, Weed.de
Nyke Perényi is Head of Marketing at Weed.de, overseeing strategic positioning and the brand's online and offline marketing. She develops creative campaigns, builds partnerships, and strengthens presence across digital and traditional media. She has been dedicated to cannabis education and destigmatization for years. In her spare time, she's active on Instagram and YouTube and is the creator of the cannabis card game Green Deal.
Published August 20, 2024 · 15 min read
