Everybody wants to know the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam. We get the question at breakfast, at the airport and at 1 a.m. on the Damrak. The honest answer is a little annoying. There is no single best shop. There is only the best shop for you, tonight, with the people you are with.
The good news is that picking one is not hard. You just need to know what to look for. A good coffeeshop smells like fresh weed and strong coffee, not stale smoke and spilled soda. The staff look you in the eye. The menu makes sense. Nobody on the door is shouting "Best weed in Amsterdam, my friend!" at you. That guy is a red flag with legs.
We are Oranje Umbrella. We have been walking people through this city since 2012. That is 14 years of watching shops rise, fall, get great and get lazy. This guide is everything we tell our own guests before their first coffeeshop visit. It covers how to spot a good shop, how to skip the traps, and how not to be the person the locals roll their eyes at.
What is a coffeeshop in Amsterdam, exactly?
First, the word itself. In Amsterdam a "coffeeshop" sells cannabis. A "café" or a koffiehuis (coffee house) sells coffee. If you want a flat white and a croissant, do not walk into a coffeeshop. You will get very confused looks and maybe a very relaxing afternoon.
Coffeeshops do serve coffee, tea and soft drinks. They do not serve alcohol. Not a beer, not a glass of wine, nothing. That is the law. If a place sells you weed and a pint, something is off.
Cannabis is not actually legal in the Netherlands. It is tolerated. The Dutch call this gedoogbeleid, which means "tolerance policy." Shops can sell small amounts under strict rules. You can buy up to 5 grams per person per day. For the full breakdown of the law, read our sibling guide, Is Weed Legal in Amsterdam?.
How do you spot a good coffeeshop in Amsterdam?
Here is the checklist we use in our own heads. Most of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam tick nearly every box.
- The menu is clear. You can read it. It lists names, prices per gram, and whether each item is weed, hash or a pre-roll. Good shops often say if a strain is sativa or indica.
- The staff are patient. The person behind the counter is called a budtender. A good one will ask what kind of night you want. A bad one just points at the most expensive jar.
- You can see and smell the product. Many shops let you look at buds in a jar or under a magnifier. Fresh weed smells bright, like pine, citrus or skunk. Old weed smells like hay in a barn.
- Locals are inside. If you hear Dutch at the tables, that is a good sign. Locals do not waste money on bad weed.
- It is clean. Clean tables, clean toilet, working vaporizers. Small things tell you how the place is run.
- Pure joints are an option. Many Europeans mix weed with tobacco. Most Americans hate that. A good shop sells pure pre-rolls and tells you which is which.
- Nobody is pushing you. You can sit, read the menu, sip a tea and leave without buying. Nobody chases you down.
If a shop hits five or more of these, you are probably in good hands.
What are the signs of a tourist trap coffeeshop?
Let us be blunt. Some shops near Centraal Station and the Damrak live off people who will never come back. They do not need you to return. They just need you to buy once. That changes how they treat you.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Someone on the street is hustling you in. Real coffeeshops cannot advertise. That is one of the core rules. A guy waving a flyer is breaking the spirit of it, and often working for the worst shop on the block.
- Prices are hidden. If you have to ask what everything costs, walk out.
- Every strain is "the strongest." Strength is not the same as quality. A shop that only sells high-THC bragging rights is selling to tourists, not to people who know.
- The weed looks brown and dusty. Good buds are green, sticky and have little sparkly crystals. Brown, crumbly buds are old.
- Pre-rolls with no info. You have no idea what is in them, how strong they are, or if there is tobacco. Ask. If the answer is a shrug, skip it.
- Overpriced "special" space cake. Edibles near the station can be wildly strong or wildly weak. You just do not know. Read our space cake guide before you touch one.
Here is a rule of thumb. Walk ten minutes away from Centraal Station before you choose. The shops get friendlier, the prices calm down, and the room starts to sound Dutch.
Where are the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam located?
We are not going to give you a ranked list. Rankings online are often paid for, or written by someone who visited once. Shops also change. A great place in 2019 can be tired today.
Instead, here is how the neighborhoods feel.
The Red Light District and Centraal Station
This is where you find the oldest names. The Bulldog opened in 1975 in the Red Light District and is still a famous brand. The area is fun to see once. It is also loud, crowded and full of stag parties. Since May 2023, smoking weed on the street in the Red Light District (De Wallen) is banned. You can get a fine. Smoke inside the shop or not at all. Our guide on smoking weed in Amsterdam's streets explains where you can and cannot light up.
The Jordaan and the Nine Streets
The Jordaan is an old working-class neighborhood west of the center. It is full of canals, brown cafés and small shops. Coffeeshops here are often calmer and more local. You can grab a joint, then walk along the Prinsengracht with the Westerkerk tower above you. That is a pretty good evening.
De Pijp, Oud-West and beyond
Head south to De Pijp or west to Oud-West and you are in real neighborhood territory. These shops serve people who live on the street. They are often cheaper and more relaxed. Long-running names like Barney's, Grey Area, Dampkring and Boerejongens are well known around the center and beyond. We will not tell you what to order there. Shops and menus change too fast.
Outside Amsterdam
Some of the friendliest shops are not in Amsterdam at all. Zaandam and Haarlem are a short train ride away and much quieter. We wrote a whole post about weed and vapes in Zaandam and Haarlem coffeeshops.
Coffeeshop etiquette: how to be a good guest
Coffeeshops are neighborhood businesses. People drink their coffee there every morning. You are a guest in their living room. Here is how to act like one.
Bring your ID
You must be 18 or older. Most shops check ID at the door. Bring a passport or a photo ID card. Back home in the US, a driver's license works for a bar. Here, some shops will want a passport, so bring it.
Buy something if you sit
If you take a table, buy a drink or something from the menu. This is the same as a bar in London or a diner in Philly. Sitting for an hour with nothing is rude.
Do not take photos of other people
Many locals do not want to be on your Instagram. Ask before you film. Some shops ban photos inside completely. Respect it.
Ask for help, not for "the strongest thing"
Tell the budtender how often you smoke. "Once a year at a party" is a real answer. So is "never." They hear it every day. Ask for something mild. You will have a better night.
Do not bring your own weed or alcohol
Do not roll something you bought somewhere else. And never bring a beer in. Shops can lose their license over alcohol.
Ask about tobacco
Indoor tobacco smoking has been banned in bars and cafés since 2008. That includes coffeeshops. So shops either sell pure joints or give you a vaporizer. If you buy a pre-roll to take away, ask if it has tobacco. Say "pure, please" if you want none.
Keep it calm
No yelling. No dancing on chairs. Coffeeshops can lose their license for causing a nuisance. A stoned stag party is the fastest way to get kicked out.
First time in a coffeeshop in Amsterdam? Here is what to do
Your first coffeeshop visit in Amsterdam can feel like walking into a bar in a country where you do not know the rules. Here is a simple step-by-step plan.
- Eat first. A real meal. Fries in a paper cone count, sort of. A full stomach makes everything gentler.
- Pick a calm shop away from the station. Use the checklist above.
- Show your ID at the door.
- Look at the menu. It is often on a screen or a board behind the counter. Our guide to the Amsterdam coffeeshop menu explained breaks down every word.
- Tell the budtender you are new. Ask for something mild and a pure pre-roll, or a small amount of flower and a vaporizer.
- Buy a drink and sit down. Fresh mint tea is the classic.
- Start small. Take two or three puffs. Wait 15 minutes. See how you feel.
- Drink water. Your mouth will dry out. Water helps.
- Do not mix with alcohol. Weed plus beer is the most common way people get sick in Amsterdam.
- Have a plan to get home. Know your hotel address. Walk or take a taxi. Never drive or cycle high.
How much does a good coffeeshop cost?
Prices vary by shop and by product. We will not list prices for named shops, because they change. In general, weed is sold by the gram. Hash is also by the gram. Pre-rolls are sold one at a time. Cheaper does not always mean worse, and pricey does not always mean better.
Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Amsterdam. Some coffeeshops are still cash-only, though. Bring some euros just in case. Many shops have an ATM nearby.
What about tipping? In the US you might tip 20% at a dispensary counter. Here, tipping is not expected. If the budtender spent ten minutes helping you, round up or leave a euro or two. They will appreciate it.
Remember the 5-gram limit. That is per person, per day. Shops are not allowed to sell you more. You also should not need more. Five grams is a lot of weed for a weekend.
Common mistakes first-timers make
We have seen every mistake at least a hundred times. Here are the big ones.
- Smoking on the street. It is banned in many areas, including the Red Light District. Fines are real.
- Eating a whole space cake. Start with a quarter. Wait two hours. We mean it.
- Ordering the strongest strain on the menu. You are on vacation, not in a contest.
- Mixing with beer or jenever. Jenever is Dutch gin. It does not play well with weed.
- Walking in bike lanes. Bike lanes are red. Cyclists will not stop. Stoned people forget this more than anyone.
- Smoking in your hotel room. Many hotels ban it and charge cleaning fees. Check before you go.
- Trying to take weed home. Taking cannabis out of the Netherlands is a crime. In the UK it is a Class B drug. In the US, federal law and US Customs apply, even if your home state is legal. Finish it, give it away or throw it out before the airport. That includes vapes and edibles.
Why a coffeeshop tour makes choosing easy
We will be honest. You can do all of this on your own. Lots of people do. But your first coffeeshop visit goes much better with someone who knows the rooms.
On our Cannabis Culture & Coffeeshop Etiquette tour, we take you to two or three licensed coffeeshops we trust. The tour is 2.5 hours. It meets at Beursplein, in front of the Beurs van Berlage on the Damrak, five minutes from Centraal Station. Look for the orange umbrella.
Along the way, we explain the law, the history and how to read a menu. We do not sell, supply or arrange cannabis. Products are not included. Nobody has to consume anything. Plenty of guests come just for the stories. The tour is strictly 18+, and we check photo ID.
Erik, our founder, moved here from Philadelphia. "I remember my first coffeeshop," he says. "I stood at the counter like I was ordering in a foreign language. Because I was. Now my job is making sure nobody else feels like that."
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. Group tours start at €27 per person. If you want the full picture first, read Weed Tours in Amsterdam: The Complete Guide or our original write-up of the Amsterdam cannabis tour.
What to do after the coffeeshop
Once you have had your session, do not just sit in your hotel. Amsterdam is great with a soft buzz. Walk the canals. The light on the water at dusk is unreal. Our story of the Amsterdam canal ring history will make that walk ten times better. You will notice the hooks on the gables and the houses leaning on their old wooden piles.
Hungry? Of course you are. Grab fries with mayo, bitterballen in a brown café, or a stroopwafel from a market. Want more? Our concierge desk can book a dinner, a canal cruise or live music for later.
If you would rather see the city in daylight, our Amsterdam walking tours cover the Golden Age center, the Nine Streets and the Begijnhof. The Golden Age City Center tour starts at Dam Square and is a lovely way to spend a morning before your coffeeshop afternoon.
Quick answers
What are the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam for beginners?
The best coffeeshops in Amsterdam for beginners are calm, clean and have patient staff. Look for clear menus, pure pre-rolls and locals at the tables. Walk at least ten minutes from Centraal Station before choosing.
Do I need ID for a coffeeshop in Amsterdam?
Yes. You must be 18 or older, and most shops check ID at the door. Bring your passport or an official photo ID card.
Can I drink alcohol in a coffeeshop?
No. Coffeeshops cannot sell or allow alcohol. They serve coffee, tea, juice and soft drinks. Mixing weed and alcohol is also the fastest way to feel sick.
Is it rude to sit in a coffeeshop without buying?
It is rude to take a table for a long time without buying anything. Order at least a drink if you sit. Think of it like any café or pub back home.
Do coffeeshops in Amsterdam take credit cards?
Many do, but not all. Some are still cash-only. Bring a little cash in euros just in case.
Can I smoke weed outside the coffeeshop?
Often, no. Smoking cannabis on the street is banned in the Red Light District since May 2023, and many other public spots restrict it too. The safest place is inside a coffeeshop that allows it.
Book your Amsterdam coffeeshop tour with Oranje Umbrella
Choosing a coffeeshop is easy once someone shows you how. We have done it for 14 years, for more than 4,000 reviewing guests, in English, Spanish, German and Dutch. Our tours have even been featured on Netflix. Come with us once, and you will walk into any shop in the city with confidence.
Want just your own group? Book a private tour at any date and time you like, from €295 excl. VAT for the whole group. You can also explore all our private Amsterdam tours on the homepage.
Questions? Email Erik@oranjeumbrella.com or find us on Instagram at @oranjeumbrella.