You walk up to the counter. The room smells like pine, lemon and old wood. Bob Marley is playing low. Behind the glass, there's a menu with forty names on it. Lemon Haze. Amnesia. Something called Ice-O-Lator. There's a guy behind you waiting. And you have no idea what any of it means.
Relax. Everybody has been there. This guide explains the Amsterdam coffeeshop menu in plain English. Weed, hash, pre-rolls, edibles, sativa vs indica, rough prices, and exactly what to say when it's your turn.
We are Oranje Umbrella. We've been running private Amsterdam tours and cannabis culture tours since 2012. Our founder, Erik, came here from Philadelphia, where weed was a whisper, not a menu. He's spent 14 years helping first-timers order without panic. Here's what he teaches.
What's on an Amsterdam coffeeshop menu?
Most coffeeshop menus have the same basic sections. The names change. The layout changes. But the groups stay the same.
- Weed (flower). The dried buds of the cannabis plant. In Dutch, wiet.
- Hash. Pressed resin from the plant. In Dutch, hasj.
- Pre-rolls. Ready-made joints. Sometimes pure, sometimes mixed with tobacco.
- Edibles. Space cake, brownies, cookies, sometimes sweets.
- Drinks and snacks. Coffee, tea, juice, soda, sometimes fresh mint tea. No alcohol, ever.
Some shops have a printed menu on the counter. Some have a screen on the wall. Some have a binder you flip through. A few have jars you can look at and smell. Either way, the menu is your map. Let's read it.
Sativa vs indica in Amsterdam: what's the difference?
You'll see these two words all over the weed side of the menu. Here's the classic way people describe them.
Sativa
Sativa is often called the "head high." People say it feels more energetic, giggly, creative and chatty. Good for daytime. Good for walking around and staring at canal houses. Some people find strong sativas make them anxious or racy.
Amsterdam is famous for its Haze strains. Haze is usually on the sativa side. Names like Amnesia Haze, Lemon Haze and Super Silver Haze are classics here.
Indica
Indica is often called the "body high." People say it feels heavier, calmer and more relaxing. Good for the evening. Good for sitting still. Also good for falling asleep in your hotel at 9 p.m. and missing dinner.
Kush strains are often on the indica side. Names with "Kush" in them are common.
Hybrid
Most modern weed is a mix of both. Menus call this a hybrid. Some menus say "sativa dominant" or "indica dominant."
The honest truth
Here's what a good budtender will tell you. The sativa vs indica split is a handy shortcut, not a science. How you feel depends on the plant's full makeup, how strong it is, how much you take, how much you slept and what you ate. Use the labels as a rough guide. Then start small.
How strong is the weed on an Amsterdam coffeeshop menu?
This is where Americans need to pay attention.
In legal US states, the label lists THC. That's the part of the plant that gets you high. It's lab-tested. You know what you're getting. In Amsterdam, menus often don't list exact THC numbers. Some shops do. Many describe strength with words, stars or a simple scale instead.
Dutch weed can be very strong. Some is stronger than what many US visitors are used to. And for British visitors, who may only know street weed back home, it can be a shock.
So here's the rule. Tell the budtender it's your first time, or that you want something mild. They hear it ten times a day. Nobody will laugh. A good shop will point you to something gentle.
Words you might see
- Pure: no tobacco. Always ask for this if you don't smoke cigarettes.
- Mix: contains tobacco. Common in European joints.
- Strong / heavy: be careful.
- Light / mild / mellow: good for beginners.
- Top shelf / premium: usually stronger and more expensive.
What is hash, and how do you order it?
Hash is the old-school side of the menu. And for many visitors, it's a mystery.
Hash is made from trichomes. Those are the tiny sticky crystals on the cannabis flower. They're full of THC. Makers collect them and press them into a soft or hard block. In Dutch it's spelled hasj. It's been part of Amsterdam's coffeeshop culture since the very beginning, back in the 1970s.
Types of hash you'll see
- Imported hash. Often named after the region it comes from. Moroccan and other styles are common names on menus. Usually milder, earthy, a bit spicy.
- Nederhasj / Dutch hash. Made from Dutch-grown plants. Often stronger.
- Ice-O-Lator or "ice hash." Made with ice water to separate the crystals. Usually very strong.
- Charas. A hand-rubbed style from South Asian traditions. Soft and sticky.
How do you smoke hash?
Hash is usually crumbled into a joint. Here's the catch. Hash usually needs something else in the joint to burn well. In Europe, people often use tobacco. Inside a Dutch coffeeshop, tobacco is not allowed. Since 2008, you can't smoke tobacco indoors in bars, cafés and coffeeshops. So people mix hash with herbal tobacco-free blends or with weed, or use a vaporizer if the shop has one.
If that sounds like a lot, it is. For your first visit, hash is optional. Ask the staff to explain. Or skip it and stick with a mild pre-roll.
Pre-rolls: the easy choice for first-timers
A pre-roll is a ready-made joint. You buy it, you light it, done. No rolling skills needed. For most first-timers, this is the easiest option on the menu.
Pure vs mixed pre-rolls
This is the big one. In many European shops, a standard joint has tobacco mixed in. If you don't smoke cigarettes, tobacco can make you dizzy, sick and coughing. And it's not what most Americans expect.
So always ask: "Is this pure?" If not, ask for a pure one. Most Amsterdam coffeeshops have pure pre-rolls on the menu now. Some list "pure" and "mix" side by side.
Size and sharing
Pre-rolls can be big. One pre-roll is often enough for two or three beginners to share. Don't feel you need to finish it. Take a few puffs, put it out, wait. You can always light it again later.
Can you roll your own?
Yes. Shops sell papers, filters (called tips) and grinders. Many have a little tray on the table. If you've never rolled one, ask. Staff often help, or someone at the next table will show you. That's half the fun.
Edibles and space cake: read this twice
Edibles are where tourists get into trouble. Every week, somewhere in Amsterdam, a visitor eats a whole space cake, feels nothing after 30 minutes, eats another one, and then… well. They see the inside of their hotel ceiling for a very long time.
Don't be that person. Here's how edibles work.
- They take a long time to start. Often 1 to 2 hours, sometimes more.
- They last a long time. Effects can go 6 hours or more.
- Strength varies a lot. One shop's cake is not the same as another's.
- You can't undo it. Once it's in, it's in.
Our simple rule
- Eat a real meal first.
- Take a quarter or half of a piece.
- Wait at least 1.5 to 2 hours. Seriously. Set a timer.
- Drink water.
- Do not take more just because you "don't feel anything."
- Don't mix with alcohol.
If someone feels bad, find a calm place. Sit down. Sip water. Eat or drink something sugary. Rest. It will pass. In a real emergency, call 112. Our space cake guide has much more on this.
How much does weed cost in Amsterdam coffeeshops?
Prices change by shop, by product and by year. So treat these as rough numbers only, at the time of writing.
- Weed per gram: often somewhere in the €10–€20 range. Top-shelf strains can cost more.
- Hash per gram: similar to weed, with strong ice hash costing more.
- Pre-rolls: priced each. Usually a bit more than the same weight in loose weed, since someone rolled it for you.
- Space cake: priced per piece.
- Drinks: coffee, tea and soda at normal café prices.
Most shops sell by the gram. Some sell set bags, like 1 gram or 2 grams. You can't buy more than 5 grams per person per day. That's the law. For more on limits and rules, read Is Weed Legal in Amsterdam? Rules for American and British Tourists.
Money tips
Most coffeeshops take cards now. Some still prefer cash, and a few are cash-only. Bring a little of both. Tipping isn't required in the Netherlands. If the budtender was great, rounding up or a euro or two is a nice thank-you. In the US you might tip 20%. Here, nobody expects that.
How to order at an Amsterdam coffeeshop, step by step
Okay. Here's the whole thing, start to finish. Read this on the tram and you'll walk in like a regular.
- Bring photo ID. Passport or photo driver's license. Staff check at the door or the counter. Strictly 18+.
- Look at the menu first. Take your time. Step aside if there's a line.
- Say it's your first time. Or say you want something mild. This is the magic sentence.
- Pick a type. Flower, pre-roll, hash or edible. For a first visit, a mild pure pre-roll is the easy win.
- Say "pure, no tobacco." Unless you smoke cigarettes.
- Buy small. One gram or one pre-roll is plenty to start.
- Order a drink. If you'll sit, buy a drink or snack. It's good manners.
- Find a seat. Smoke inside if the shop allows it. Not on the street.
- Go slow. A couple of puffs. Wait 15 minutes. Then decide.
- Say thanks. Seriously. They'll remember you next time.
Coffeeshop manners
- Don't take photos of other people without asking.
- Keep your voice down.
- Don't bring alcohol. Coffeeshops don't sell it, and you can't bring it.
- Don't bring your own weed from elsewhere and skip buying anything.
- Leave the table clean.
These little things matter. Coffeeshops are local businesses with regulars. Be a good guest.
Common mistakes on your first coffeeshop visit
After 14 years, we've seen every mistake. Here are the big ones.
- Walking into a café and asking for weed. A café or koffiehuis sells coffee. A coffeeshop sells cannabis. Different places.
- Going on an empty stomach. Eat first. Always.
- Smoking tobacco mix by accident. Ask for pure.
- Buying the strongest thing on the menu. You're not here to win a prize.
- Eating a whole space cake. See above. Then see above again.
- Mixing with beer. The fastest road to the spins.
- Smoking on the street in the Red Light District. Banned since May 2023. You can get a fine. Read our guide to smoking weed in Amsterdam streets.
- Buying from street dealers. Never. Fake drugs, scams or worse. Licensed shops only.
- Taking it to the airport. Exporting cannabis from the Netherlands is a crime. The UK treats it as a Class B drug. US federal law and US Customs apply even if your state is legal. Finish it or give it away before you leave.
- Mixing with smartshop products. Smartshops sell things like magic truffles. Don't combine them with weed.
Learn the coffeeshop menu with a local
Reading about a menu is good. Standing at the counter with someone who knows it is better.
On our Cannabis Culture & Coffeeshop Etiquette tour, your host walks you through two to three licensed coffeeshops in about 2.5 hours. We meet at Beursplein, in front of the Beurs van Berlage on the Damrak, about five minutes from Centraal Station. We explain the menu, the history and the law. We show you how to ask for something mild without feeling silly.
To be clear: we do not sell, supply or arrange cannabis. Products are not included. Nobody has to consume. Plenty of guests just come for the stories. We ask everyone to eat first, stay hydrated and skip alcohol. For the full rundown, read our complete guide to weed tours in Amsterdam, or our deep dive on the Amsterdam cannabis tour.
Any of our tours can be private — just your group, your date, your pace. Private tours start at €295 excl. VAT for the whole group.
After the tour, you'll be hungry. Get fries in a paper cone with mayo. Or a hot kroket from a FEBO wall. Or walk it off along the canals at dusk and read up on the Amsterdam canal ring history while you go. If you want more of the old city, our Golden Age City Center walking tour shows you Dam Square, the canals, the Nine Streets and the hidden Begijnhof.
Quick answers
What should a first-timer order at an Amsterdam coffeeshop?
A mild, pure pre-roll is the easiest choice. Tell the budtender it's your first time and ask for something light. Share it and go slow.
Is sativa or indica better for beginners in Amsterdam?
Neither is "safer" on its own. Many people find a mild hybrid or a gentle indica more relaxed, while strong sativas can feel racy. Strength and amount matter more than the label.
What does "pure" mean on an Amsterdam coffeeshop menu?
Pure means no tobacco. Many European joints mix weed with tobacco, so if you don't smoke cigarettes, always ask for pure.
Is hash stronger than weed?
It can be. Some hash, like ice hash, is very strong. Imported hash is often milder. Ask staff and start with a small amount.
Do Amsterdam coffeeshops list THC on the menu?
Some do, many don't. Strength is often described with words or a simple scale. Ask the budtender if you're not sure.
Can I buy edibles at any coffeeshop?
Many coffeeshops sell space cake or other edibles, but not all. Take a quarter or half, wait at least 1.5 to 2 hours, and never take more just because you feel nothing yet.
Book your Amsterdam coffeeshop tour with Oranje Umbrella
The menu is easier with a friend. Walk in with a local who's guided this city for 14 years, with 4,000+ verified reviews behind us, and leave knowing exactly what you're looking at.
Want it just for your group? Book a private tour on your own date and time. Or explore all our Amsterdam walking tours.
Questions? Email Erik@oranjeumbrella.com or follow us on Instagram at @oranjeumbrella.