Last verified: April 2026

What Is a Coffeeshop?

In Amsterdam, a coffeeshop (one word, no space) is a licensed establishment where cannabis can be legally purchased and consumed on the premises. This is not a café that happens to sell weed — it is a regulated category under Dutch gedoogbeleid (tolerance policy) that has operated continuously since 1976. Amsterdam currently has 167 licensed coffeeshops, down from a peak of over 350 in the 1990s. Each one holds a specific municipal permit and operates under strict rules set by the city government.

A “coffee shop” (two words) is just a place that sells coffee. The single-word spelling is the cannabis venue. If you see a green-and-white sticker in the window, you are in the right place.

Walking In: Step by Step

1. Show Your ID

Every coffeeshop is required to check identification at the door. You must be 18 or older (not 21, as in the United States). Accepted forms of ID include a passport, a European national ID card, or a government-issued driving license. Some venues check at the entrance, others at the counter when you order. Either way, no ID, no entry. This is not negotiable and is enforced more strictly than it was a decade ago.

2. Read the Menu

Most coffeeshops display their cannabis menu on a board behind the counter, a printed laminated card, or a digital screen. Menus list strains by name with prices per gram, usually ranging from €7 to €20. Hash is listed separately. Pre-rolled joints, space cakes, and other products may appear on a separate section. Take your time — there is no rush, and the staff expect you to study the options.

Many menus include basic information about each strain: indica or sativa classification, THC percentage if tested, and flavor notes. If the menu does not, ask the budtender. They are generally knowledgeable and accustomed to helping tourists who have never bought cannabis before.

3. Order at the Counter

Walk to the counter and tell the budtender what you want. You can order as little as one gram. The legal maximum per transaction (and per person per day) is 5 grams. Your cannabis will be weighed in front of you on a digital scale — a practice pioneered by the coffeeshop Tweede Kamer in the 1980s and now standard everywhere.

Cash is king. Many coffeeshops are cash-only. Some accept debit cards (PIN), but credit cards are rarely accepted. Carry euros. ATMs are never more than a few minutes’ walk in central Amsterdam.

4. Buy a Drink

It is customary — and expected — to order at least one drink if you plan to sit and consume. Coffeeshops are businesses, and your drink purchase is a significant part of their revenue. Expect to pay €2–4 for coffee, tea, fresh juice, or a milkshake. Some venues also serve sandwiches, brownies, or snacks.

Alcohol is absolutely prohibited in all coffeeshops. This is a condition of the coffeeshop license. If a venue serves alcohol, it is a bar or café and cannot sell cannabis. The two licenses are mutually exclusive.

5. Find a Seat and Consume

Sit down, roll up (or use a pre-roll), and enjoy. Most coffeeshops provide rolling papers, filters, and grinders free of charge. Many offer Volcano vaporizers or other tabletop vaporizers for communal use — ask the staff. The atmosphere ranges from quiet living rooms to loud party venues depending on where you are.

The No-Tobacco Rule

Since July 2008, smoking tobacco indoors is banned in all Dutch hospitality venues — and that includes coffeeshops. You cannot mix tobacco with your cannabis inside a coffeeshop. This was a seismic change in a country where the European-style “spliff” (cannabis mixed with tobacco) was the default for decades.

Your options:

• Smoke pure cannabis — roll a joint with nothing but flower. This is the most common approach now.
• Use a tobacco substitute — Greengo and Real Leaf (damiana) are herbal blends sold at most coffeeshop counters for €2–3. They burn like tobacco without the nicotine or the fine.
• Use a vaporizer — many shops provide Volcano or Mighty vaporizers. Some allow you to bring your own portable vape.
• Step outside — some coffeeshops have a designated outdoor area where tobacco smoking is permitted, though this is increasingly rare in Centrum.

The fine for smoking tobacco indoors is €600 for the coffeeshop owner, so staff will intervene if they see you mixing. This is not a suggestion — it is actively enforced.

Etiquette & Unwritten Rules

• Tipping — not required but appreciated. Rounding up to the nearest euro or leaving €1–2 on a larger purchase is standard.
• Photography — always ask before taking photos. Many coffeeshops prohibit photography entirely, and other customers may not want their picture taken. Some will ask you to leave if you film without permission.
• Sharing — sharing a joint with a friend is fine. Sharing with strangers or selling cannabis you bought is illegal.
• Duration — you can stay as long as you like, provided you continue to buy drinks. Camping at a table for hours with a single espresso is frowned upon during busy periods.
• Food from outside — bringing outside food or drinks is generally not welcome. Buy from the coffeeshop menu.
• Behavior — coffeeshops are not nightclubs. Keep your voice at a reasonable level. If you are in a group, be aware that you are sharing the space with other customers who may want a quiet experience.

Assessing Quality

Unlike US dispensaries, Dutch coffeeshops do not display lab test results with precise THC percentages. Quality assessment is more traditional:

• Smell — the budtender will usually let you smell a strain before buying. Fresh, aromatic flower with a strong terpene profile is a good sign.
• Appearance — look for trichome coverage (crystals), dense bud structure, and no visible mold or brown spots.
• Moisture — quality flower should not be bone-dry or damp. It should have a slight give when squeezed.
• Price — generally, you get what you pay for. The €7/gram budget tier is not the same experience as the €14–20 premium tier.
• Reputation — coffeeshops that have won Cannabis Cup awards or appear consistently in local guides tend to maintain quality standards.

Common First-Timer Mistakes

1. Mixing tobacco inside — the most common tourist mistake. Use Greengo or smoke pure.
2. Eating a full space cake — space cakes have no standardized dosing. Start with one-third and wait 90 minutes. See our Space Cake Survival Guide.
3. Not bringing cash — many shops are cash-only. Carry euros.
4. Treating it like a bar — coffeeshops are chill spaces. Getting loud, rowdy, or visibly wasted is the fastest way to get asked to leave.
5. Ignoring the drink purchase — buy a drink. It is expected.
6. Taking cannabis to Schiphol — amnesty bins exist before security for a reason. Zero tolerance at the airport. See our tourist rules guide.

Hours & Access

Most Amsterdam coffeeshops open between 8 AM and 11 AM and close at 1 AM. A few open as early as 7 AM (Barney’s) and some close earlier (Grey Area closes at 8 PM). Sunday hours may be shortened at some smaller venues. There is no centralized database of hours — check individual coffeeshop websites or Google Maps for current hours.

There is no residency requirement for coffeeshops in Amsterdam. Foreign tourists are welcome at all 167 venues. This is not the case in every Dutch city — Maastricht and some southern cities enforce a residency pass (wietpas) system. See our Other Cities guide for details.