This city's love affair with cannabis is well-documented, so settle in at one of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam
Amsterdam might be trying to abandon its party girl image, but that doesn’t mean all the fun stuff has stopped. Far from it. Amsterdam’s best bars are open late, its best clubs are poppin’ as ever, and its notorious coffeeshops? Thriving. But lets get one thing out the way first: when we talk about coffeeshops, we mean licenced cannabis cafés (not normal cafés), where you can choose from extensive marijuana menus. And they’re more than that, too – these joints are social hubs, creative spaces, and they’re intrinsic to Amsterdam’s identity.
You might have guessed it – but just as raucous behaviour is not encouraged in Amsterdam, coffeeshops do not stay open until the early hours either. Coffeeshops here are designed to be chill, sociable venues, as appropriate for solo moments in the daytime as they are for a smoke with friends at nighttime. If you want coffeeshops open latest, head to the Red Light District, where you’ll find they might stay open until around 1am. Elsewhere, they might close at 10pm or so, or when things naturally quieten down. Remember, coffeeshops don’t sell alcohol, so if you’re looking for late-night drinks, you’re looking for a bar – and yes, those are open much, much later.
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In short, yes – tourists can still visit and purchase cannabis in Amsterdam’s coffeeshops. A locals-only system was implemented in Maastricht, with a few other cities following suit, but while there have been discussions about restricting coffeeshop access to residents only, current government policy is to allow individual cities to decide for themselves. As these measures have not been implemented in Amsterdam – nor is it likely any time soon – tourists are still welcome in the city’s coffeeshops.
The Netherlands applies a tolerance policy (‘gedoogbeleid’) towards soft drugs like cannabis, allowing the sale and possession of up to five grams per person for personal use. To enter a coffeeshop, you must be at least 18 years old and present valid identification. However, it’s important to note that as of May 25, 2023, using soft drugs in public areas of Amsterdam’s old city center, including the Red Light District, Nieuwmarkt, and Dam Square, is prohibited with violations resulting in fines of up to €100.
🏨 Ready to book? Check out the best hotels in Amsterdam and the best Airbnbs in Amsterdam
Callum Booth and Derek Robertson are writers based in Amsterdam. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
This is Amsterdam’s most iconic coffeeshop, largely owed to welcoming some seriously star-studded guests over the years (notorious cannabis lovers Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg, to name a few). Grey Area was founded by two guys from the US who are passionate about all things marijuana, and its selection is extensive. This is a small, intimate, and a must-try experience in Amsterdam.
Address: Oude Leliestraat 2, 1015 AW Amsterdam, Netherlands
Opening hours: Daily from 12pm-8pm
One of the big trends in recent years in Amsterdam coffeeshops is the emergence of Cali weed. These strains, often imported from the US, are stronger and more expensive than traditional Dutch flowers. While there are a range of coffeeshops pushing things forward on this front, one the flavour-seeker’s favourites is The Plug. Based on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in the centre of the city, The Plug is an ideal place for people looking to smoke the best weed available in the Netherlands.
Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 132, 1012 SH Amsterdam, Netherlands
Opening hours: Daily 9am-1am
Recently refurbished and housed in an old stable with ties to Amsterdam’s fire department, this down-to-earth coffeeshop could easily be mistaken for a neighbourhood café, given its welcoming ambience and unassuming location. Catering to stoners who prefer quality over quantity, Paradox usually stocks around seven strains of weed alongside six types of hashish. The coffeeshop is well-known for its space cakes, too: they’re laced with a full gram of weed.
Address: Eerste Bloemdwarsstraat 2R, 1016 KS Amsterdam, Netherlands
Opening hours: Daily 11am-8pm
Tha Dogg House was previously named S.W.E.D (and Funky Munkey before that), which stands for ‘smoke weed every day,’ and – if you hadn’t guessed it by that lyric – it’s Snoop Dogg’s first Amsterdam coffeeshop. The Dogg House itself is spacious and modern, with a gorgeous view of the canals on its rear side. In all honesty, there are much better places in the city to buy your herb, but it’s hard to look entirely past the novelty of hanging out in Snoop Dogg’s coffeeshop. There’s even a giant dog you can take a selfie with. While S.W.E.D. isn’t the best place to spend hours in, it is a fun detour on your smoking journey, and can be visited for the novelty alone.
🤫 Insider tip: Across the road from S.W.E.D. is Soundgarden, Amsterdam’s premier rock bar. Having one of Amsterdam’s best terraces, it’s a great spot for a drink after your smoke.
Address: Marnixstraat 333, 1016 TC Amsterdam
Opening hours: Open daily from 7am-1am
Family First sits just off Rembrandtplein, meaning it attracts a fair number of tourists – but don’t let that dissuade you: this place sells some of the best weed in Amsterdam. The inside isn’t much to write home about – there are plenty of other, more vibe-y coffeeshops on this list you can hit up – but that isn’t really the point. Family First is all about flavours, and it has those in abundance. So, if you’re hunting for the strongest and most delicious strains in the city, you should spend a little bit of time at Family First.
Address: Amstel 36, 1017 AB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Opening hours: Daily 9am-1am
Located in the heart of the city, but tucked away in a quiet street, Siberië is one of Amsterdam’s most relaxed coffeeshops. It’s unpretentious, featuring a mix of locals and tourists, and is a perfect place to kick back and take a breather from the hectic parts of the city. There’s a down-to-earth wholesomeness in spending time at Siberië, with the walls hung with the work of local artists and people eager to have a chat with you.
Address: Brouwersgracht 11, 1015 GA Amsterdam, Netherlands
Opening hours: Daily 9am-12am
One of the most well-respected cannabis dispensaries in Amsterdam, this award-winning coffeeshop balances quirky aesthetics with first-rate weed and service. Set inside the ground floor of a 16th-century building, Barney’s Coffeeshop is a picture-perfect backdrop for smoking sessions. With Barney’s Uptown – a smoker-friendly bar – just across the street, this is an ideal location to visit if you’d like a beer with your joint.
Address: Haarlemmerstraat 102, 1013 EW Amsterdam, Netherlands
Opening hours: Daily 7am-1am
Don’t be put off by the super-central location or their garish website, for this coffeeshop – ‘the largest coffeeshop in the world’ – is a great place to lose a few hours. Boasting three floors, five separate smoking areas, a ridiculously good food and drinks menu and a cinema room complete with multiple screens and sofas, it’s easy to see why Prix D’Ami’s USP is to ‘make you feel at home’.
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