Last verified: April 2026

Coffeeshops Are a National Phenomenon

While Amsterdam dominates the global imagination, coffeeshops are not an Amsterdam-only institution. There are 563 licensed coffeeshops across the Netherlands, spread across cities and towns from Rotterdam to Groningen. The rules are the same everywhere — 5g maximum, 18+ ID check, no alcohol, no advertising — but the atmosphere, pricing, and tourist access vary dramatically by municipality.

The critical variable is the residency requirement. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and most major cities welcome all visitors. But some southern cities — most notably Maastricht — require proof of Dutch or EU residency. This is a legacy of the 2012 wietpas (cannabis pass) system, which Amsterdam famously refused to implement but which persists in border regions experiencing cross-border drug tourism from Belgium, Germany, and France.

Rotterdam — 39 Coffeeshops

Rotterdam is the Netherlands’ second-largest city, a 40-minute direct train from Amsterdam Centraal (€16–18 return). The city has 39 coffeeshops, a number that has been stable for years under Rotterdam’s pragmatic municipal government.

Rotterdam’s coffeeshops have a distinctly different character from Amsterdam’s. The city is architecturally modern (rebuilt after World War II bombing), younger, more diverse, and less tourist-oriented. Coffeeshop prices are €1–3 lower than Amsterdam across all tiers. The clientele is predominantly local. Some Rotterdam coffeeshops have invested heavily in interior design, reflecting the city’s design-forward identity.

Rotterdam coffeeshops welcome foreign tourists. No residency requirement.

• Train from Amsterdam: ~40 minutes, frequent service from Amsterdam Centraal
• Number of coffeeshops: 39
• Tourist access: Yes, no residency requirement
• Price advantage: €1–3 cheaper per gram than Amsterdam
• Character: Modern, design-forward, local clientele, less touristy

The Hague (Den Haag) — 36 Coffeeshops

The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government and home to the International Court of Justice, has 36 coffeeshops. The city is 50 minutes from Amsterdam by train and offers a strikingly different atmosphere: grand government buildings, embassy districts, and the beach resort of Scheveningen.

Coffeeshops in The Hague serve a mix of government workers, diplomats, international organization employees, and locals. The scene is mature and low-key. Prices are similar to Rotterdam and slightly below Amsterdam. The Hague’s proximity to the coast makes it possible to combine a coffeeshop visit with an afternoon at Scheveningen beach — one of the more unusual cannabis day-trip combinations in the Netherlands.

The Hague coffeeshops welcome foreign tourists. No residency requirement.

• Train from Amsterdam: ~50 minutes, frequent service
• Number of coffeeshops: 36
• Tourist access: Yes, no residency requirement
• Character: Government city, international, mature scene, beach access

Haarlem — 15-Minute Train

Haarlem is the easiest day trip from Amsterdam. The train takes 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal, and the medieval city center is a 10-minute walk from Haarlem station. The city has approximately 15 coffeeshops, concentrated around the Grote Markt (main square) and surrounding streets.

Haarlem coffeeshops are some of the most relaxed and affordable in the Randstad region. The city attracts significantly fewer tourists than Amsterdam, and coffeeshop prices reflect that. The city itself is beautiful — medieval architecture, canals, the Frans Hals Museum, and the Grote Kerk (Great Church) on the main square. A Haarlem day trip that includes a coffeeshop visit, museum, and lunch is one of the best uses of a spare day in the Amsterdam area.

• Train from Amsterdam: 15 minutes
• Number of coffeeshops: ~15
• Tourist access: Yes, no residency requirement
• Character: Medieval, charming, affordable, uncrowded

Utrecht

Utrecht is the Netherlands’ fourth-largest city, a 25-minute train ride from Amsterdam, and home to the country’s largest university. The student population gives the city a young, energetic atmosphere. Utrecht has a healthy coffeeshop scene with prices comparable to Rotterdam. The Oudegracht (Old Canal) with its unique sunken wharf-level cafés and restaurants is one of the most distinctive urban landscapes in the Netherlands.

Utrecht coffeeshops welcome foreign tourists.

• Train from Amsterdam: ~25 minutes
• Tourist access: Yes
• Character: University city, young, canal-side charm

Groningen

Groningen, in the far north of the Netherlands, is the country’s most prominent university city (roughly one-quarter of its 230,000 residents are students). The 2-hour train from Amsterdam is longer than other day trips, but Groningen rewards the effort with a vibrant, youthful city, a lively nightlife scene, and coffeeshops that cater to a student clientele. Prices are among the lowest in the country.

• Train from Amsterdam: ~2 hours
• Tourist access: Yes
• Character: Student city, cheap, vibrant nightlife

The Experiment Cities: Tilburg & Arnhem

Two cities are participating in the Dutch government’s landmark Closed Chain Experiment (see our full explainer) that will shape the future of Dutch cannabis regulation:

Tilburg (11 coffeeshops) and Arnhem (10 coffeeshops) are among the 11 municipalities in the experiment, which requires coffeeshops to source their cannabis exclusively from licensed, government-regulated growers rather than the traditional illegal supply chain. If you visit a coffeeshop in Tilburg or Arnhem, you may be smoking some of the first legally grown cannabis in Dutch history — a small but historically significant distinction.

Nijmegen, another university town near the German border, also has a notable coffeeshop scene and is a common day trip from Arnhem (15-minute train).

Maastricht — The Residency Wall

Maastricht is the most important exception to the tourist-friendly rule. The southernmost major city in the Netherlands, located at the convergence of the Belgian and German borders, Maastricht has enforced a residency requirement since 2012. Foreign tourists — including EU citizens who are not Dutch residents — are generally not welcome at Maastricht coffeeshops.

The residency requirement was introduced to combat “drug tourism” from Belgium, Germany, and France. At its peak, an estimated 1.5 million foreign visitors per year came to Maastricht solely to buy cannabis, overwhelming the city and its coffeeshops. The wietpas system — which required registration as a coffeeshop “member” — was the solution. Amsterdam’s mayor refused to implement it, but Maastricht and several other southern cities adopted it fully.

If you are a foreign tourist and attempt to enter a Maastricht coffeeshop, you will be turned away. This is not negotiable. Do not make the trip expecting an exception.

The Zero-Policy Municipalities

It is worth noting that 68% of Dutch municipalities have a “zero policy” — meaning they have decided to allow no coffeeshops at all within their borders. This is legal under Dutch law, which gives municipalities the discretion to set their own coffeeshop policy. The result is that coffeeshops are concentrated in cities. Most small towns and rural areas in the Netherlands have no coffeeshops.

This creates a patchwork: a city like Amsterdam has 167 licensed venues, while the next municipality over may have zero. If you are traveling outside major cities, do not assume coffeeshop access.

Quick Comparison

Should You Visit Coffeeshops Outside Amsterdam?

If you have more than two days in the Netherlands, absolutely. The coffeeshop experience outside Amsterdam is markedly different: calmer, cheaper, more local, and integrated into city life rather than segregated into a tourist zone. Haarlem (15 minutes), Utrecht (25 minutes), and Rotterdam (40 minutes) are all easy day trips that combine well with sightseeing. You will save money on cannabis and gain a much richer understanding of how the gedoogbeleid actually works across the country.