Amsterdam, Netherlands
Basic facts about Amsterdam
Although the seat of Netherlands government is in The Hague, Amsterdam is the nominal capital. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of more than 750,000, and the most visited, with over 3,5 million foreign visitors a year.
The Netherlands is a country situated in Western Europe, bordering Belgium to the south and Germany to the east. To its north and west is the North Sea. Although the Netherlands is the country's official name, people often call it Holland. The provinces of North Holland and South Holland form only part of the Netherlands.
The history
In 1976, the Netherlands decriminalized possession of soft drugs such as cannabis. To cater for demand, outlets quickly cropped up in around the country, specifically in the capital, Amsterdam. These establishments are known as 'coffee shops', but most patrons don't hang out there for a caffeine fix. It's dope that floats their boat.
Technically, the sale of cannabis remains an offense in Holland, and dealing in the streets remains illegal. Even so, possession of less than 30 grams for personal use carries only a minor punishment, and coffee shops are restricted to flogging no more than five grams per person. The catch is you have to be 18 or over. Smoking in public is tolerated, too, but many Brit tokers report that such a laid back attitude takes some getting used to. As a result, they prefer to remain free from all risk of coming into conflict with the law by only smoking in the coffee shop.
Coffee Shop Protocol
The Custom
As coffeeshops are not allowed to advertise, some travellers find it confusing and are unsure what to do upon entering one for the first time. Most coffeeshops will have a weed menu, often in the form of a book on the bar, from which customers can make a selection. You will then be presented with a plastic bag with your marijuana or hash inside and are free to leave with it or smoke it on the premises. Customers are welcome to smoke their own weed in coffeeshops too, though in this case you will be expected to purchase a drink or something as a courtesy.
Keep Your Head
One very important thing to remember is that hash and marijuana available in Amsterdam's coffeeshops is likely to be much stronger than most visitors to the city are used to. It's advisable not to choose the strongest thing on the menu, as what is good for inveterate smokers could prove too much for those new to the city, and may even ruin your night.
For the same reason, it is a good idea to stay clear of pre-rolled joints and 'space cakes' if you are unsure as to your tolerance. The amount of cannabis they contain varies and can often be quite a lot. A good rule of thumb is: if you're unsure, ask the staff - they will usually be happy to offer advice and recommend something that will suit.
Coffeeshops
There are many coffeeshops in Amsterdam, and they differ as wildly in style, approach and atmosphere as any other type of establishment. Below is a sample of some of the more popular, unique or influential coffeeshops to be found in Amsterdam.
Currency
The currency in the Netherlands is the Euro ( € , EUR), which is used in almost all countries within the European Union
Climate in the Netherlands
The warmest weather is from June to August, with temperatures between 21 - 26 degrees Celsius. There are rarely extreme temperatures. The air is relatively humid and fog is common in autumn and spring. There are stronger winds from October to March.
Although the seat of Netherlands government is in The Hague, Amsterdam is the nominal capital. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of more than 750,000, and the most visited, with over 3,5 million foreign visitors a year.
The Netherlands is a country situated in Western Europe, bordering Belgium to the south and Germany to the east. To its north and west is the North Sea. Although the Netherlands is the country's official name, people often call it Holland. The provinces of North Holland and South Holland form only part of the Netherlands.
The history
In 1976, the Netherlands decriminalized possession of soft drugs such as cannabis. To cater for demand, outlets quickly cropped up in around the country, specifically in the capital, Amsterdam. These establishments are known as 'coffee shops', but most patrons don't hang out there for a caffeine fix. It's dope that floats their boat.
Technically, the sale of cannabis remains an offense in Holland, and dealing in the streets remains illegal. Even so, possession of less than 30 grams for personal use carries only a minor punishment, and coffee shops are restricted to flogging no more than five grams per person. The catch is you have to be 18 or over. Smoking in public is tolerated, too, but many Brit tokers report that such a laid back attitude takes some getting used to. As a result, they prefer to remain free from all risk of coming into conflict with the law by only smoking in the coffee shop.
Coffee Shop Protocol
The Custom
As coffeeshops are not allowed to advertise, some travellers find it confusing and are unsure what to do upon entering one for the first time. Most coffeeshops will have a weed menu, often in the form of a book on the bar, from which customers can make a selection. You will then be presented with a plastic bag with your marijuana or hash inside and are free to leave with it or smoke it on the premises. Customers are welcome to smoke their own weed in coffeeshops too, though in this case you will be expected to purchase a drink or something as a courtesy.
Keep Your Head
One very important thing to remember is that hash and marijuana available in Amsterdam's coffeeshops is likely to be much stronger than most visitors to the city are used to. It's advisable not to choose the strongest thing on the menu, as what is good for inveterate smokers could prove too much for those new to the city, and may even ruin your night.
For the same reason, it is a good idea to stay clear of pre-rolled joints and 'space cakes' if you are unsure as to your tolerance. The amount of cannabis they contain varies and can often be quite a lot. A good rule of thumb is: if you're unsure, ask the staff - they will usually be happy to offer advice and recommend something that will suit.
Coffeeshops
There are many coffeeshops in Amsterdam, and they differ as wildly in style, approach and atmosphere as any other type of establishment. Below is a sample of some of the more popular, unique or influential coffeeshops to be found in Amsterdam.
Currency
The currency in the Netherlands is the Euro ( € , EUR), which is used in almost all countries within the European Union
Climate in the Netherlands
The warmest weather is from June to August, with temperatures between 21 - 26 degrees Celsius. There are rarely extreme temperatures. The air is relatively humid and fog is common in autumn and spring. There are stronger winds from October to March.
Canni-Events or Festivals
- The Annual Cannabis Cup (High Times 20 Years Strong)
- Amsterdam Pride
- Music in the Canals of Holland or the Grachtenfestival:
- Holland Flowers Festival
Stats
- Number of CofeeShops: 50+
- Population: 16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)
- Density of population: The Netherlands is he most densely populated country in the world, 477 people per sq.km. of the land (393 per sq km including internal waters as territory).
- Age structure : 0-14 years: 18.2% (male 1,501,127; female 1,436,453), 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,576,141; female 5,389,764), 65 years and over: 13.9% (male 929,087; female 1,317,939) (2003 est.)
- Median age : total - 38.6 years, male - 37.7 years, female - 39.5 years (2002)
- Population growth rate: 0.5% (2003 est.)
- Ethnic groups: Over 81,7% of the population are Dutch (Germanic and Gallo-Celtic stock), other 18,3% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
- Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40%
- Literacy: (definition: age 15 and over can read and write) 99%
