What to expect in a coffee shop in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a real tourist attraction. The many museums, the canal houses and the Red Light District attract a large audience. But the coffee shops are also extremely popular. Are you planning to visit a coffee shop in Amsterdam, but have you never been to one? There are a number of things you should know before you visit a coffee shop for the first time. The atmosphere in a coffee shop is very chill, but there are certainly some rules to adhere to. We will give you 10 tips for your first coffee shop visit.

The 10 best tips for your visit

Although a coffee shop may not sound very high class, there certainly are some etiquettes. You are expected to behave according to the etiquettes when visiting a coffee shop in Amsterdam. Even when you are a tourist. If you have never visited a coffee shop, it can be quite exciting. After all, you want to make sure that you do not come across as inexperienced. Therefore, use our tips when visiting a coffee shop in Amsterdam for the first time.

Tip 1: Ask the staff members for advice

When you visit a coffee shop for the first time and you are not sure what the products mean, it is wise to ask the employees of the shop for advice. Sometimes it is not entirely clear on the menu what the effect of the products are. The staff can tell you all about the effects and how strong the different types of weed are. As a beginner, do not immediately opt for a heavy type, but ask for advice where you can start.

Tip 2: Know what you buy

When you see the menu in a coffee shop for the first time, the varieties may not mean anything to you. Let one of the employees advise you. If you have never smoked a joint, you probably don’t know how to roll it. Buying a ready-made joint is a good solution. Please note that tobacco is often used in a ready-made joint. If you don’t want to smoke that, ask someone from the group you’re with to roll a joint for you. Are you going on your own or can no one roll one for you? You can ask someone from the coffee shop to help you. That way you can be sure of what you smoke. Keep in mind that you can get into a bad trip. This can happen to anyone. Read in our blog about a bad trip and what to do if you end up in one.

Tip 3: Don’t fall for tourist traps

Some coffee shops in Amsterdam charge higher prices for tourists. There is a chance that you will pay much more for your weed here than at an honest coffee shop. In addition, some coffee shops sell weed of much lower quality, but for the same price. Therefore, make sure to read up in advance and carefully choose a coffee shop. Many well-known coffee shops have customer reviews. The reviews can tell you if you can trust the shop. Also read the websites of the coffee shops to get an idea of the atmosphere there. On many websites, including ours, you will find photos and sometimes even videos of what the shop looks like. Do you think the photos and text on the website suit your requirements and wishes? Then you know for sure that you are in the right place.

Tip 4: Stand out as little as possible

Even though you may be tense by the new situation, always try to act as relaxed as possible. In the coffee shop there are always a lot of people who want to stay private. You should respect this by not talking to everyone you see. That is also the reason why you would rather not make a phone call in a coffee shop. This causes nuisance to other visitors. Use earphones or headphones if you like to listen to music or watch videos.

Tip 5: Don’t buy too much

It is not wise to buy a lot of weed at once. Especially as a tourist. Maybe you will not smoke it and you have to throw it away before getting on the plane. You also don’t know how you react to certain types of weed. Always try a small bit first, before buying a larger quantity. Dutch weed is known for being very strong and therefore long lasting.

Tip 6: Also immerse yourself in other products

In addition to weed that you can roll a joint with, coffee shops sell other products that contain cannabis. For example, there are space cakes and vaporizers. You can rent a vaporizer at the coffee shop. This heats the weed until the cannabinoids are vaporized without burning the weed. The space cake is a brownie in which marijuana is baked. It is absorbed much better through the stomach than through the lungs, so you will notice the effects much more. Be careful with eating this. The cake takes about 45 minutes to be absorbed by your stomach. It takes a while before you feel anything. Therefore, never eat too much of it in a row.

Tip 7: You don’t have to buy weed

You are not obliged to buy weed in a coffee shop. For example, if you already bought this elsewhere, you can smoke it in another coffee shop. It can be nice to buy a drink or a snack in the coffee shop where you smoke it. It is quite rude to smoke your joint when you do not buy anything. Don’t expect to be able to drink a nice cold beer. Coffee shops are not allowed to serve alcohol. But you can drink a hot cup of coffee or a soft drink. Many coffee shops even have a lunch menu where you can buy tasty sandwiches. Do you know what food you can enjoy with us? Take a look at our menu.

Tip 8: Know the law

It may not seem like it, but using weed outside a coffee shop is illegal and therefore punishable by law. If you get caught doing this, you could be prosecuted for it. It is recommended to only smoke in a coffee shop or on the terrace of the coffee shop. You are not allowed to smoke in hotels. Especially international tourists run into problems because the regulations can be quite complicated. You are not allowed to visit the coffee shop if you are under 18 years old. You can buy a maximum of 5 grams per person. This is also the maximum amount which is allowed to have on you on the streets without being prosecuted. Therefore, make sure that you are well aware of the rules that apply to buying and using weed.

Tip 9: Never buy from a street dealer

As tempting as it may be: never buy your weed from a street dealer. These are often scammers who sell very poor quality weed. You don’t know what you’re buying. In addition, they often ask way too much money for it. Did you know that buying weed from a street dealer is illegal? Tourists are regularly scammed by such street dealers.

Tip 10: Keep an open mind

Despite all the rules and etiquettes that you have to adhere to in a coffee shop, it still is quite an attraction. Coffee shops are more than just places where people get high and stoned legally. For example, you can often play fun games, watch movies and listen to music. Did you know that there even is a cinema room in Prix d’Ami? And that there is a DJ performance every weekend?

If you behave in a relaxed manner and follow the rules neatly, there is nothing to worry about. And if you don’t want to buy drugs, that is okay too. Just having a drink or a bite is also fine! Make sure you always treat everyone with respect. Then you are certainly welcome in a coffee shop!