Last verified: April 2026

Step by Step: Walking Into a Coffeeshop

If you have never been to an Amsterdam coffeeshop, the experience can feel unfamiliar. Here is exactly what to expect, from the moment you walk in:

1. Enter and show ID. A staff member near the door will check your identification. You must be 18 or older. Bring your passport or a government-issued ID — a driver’s license from your home country usually works, but a passport is always accepted
2. Find a seat or head to the counter. Some coffeeshops have a bar-style counter where you order. Others have a separate cannabis menu you pick up from your table. Look around — the format becomes obvious quickly
3. Read the menu. Menus list cannabis products by name, with prices per gram. Many include brief descriptions of effects (relaxing, energetic, creative). Do not be afraid to ask staff for recommendations — they are usually knowledgeable and helpful
4. Place your order. Tell the budtender what you want. If you are unsure, say so. “I have never done this before — what do you recommend for a beginner?” is a perfectly normal question. They hear it every day
5. Your cannabis is weighed in front of you. The budtender weighs your order on a scale. Maximum purchase is 5 grams per visit. A typical single-session amount for a first-timer is 1 gram or less
6. Buy a drink. Most coffeeshops expect you to purchase at least one beverage. Coffee, tea, juice, and soft drinks are standard. Alcohol is never sold in coffeeshops — that is a legal requirement
7. Sit down and enjoy. Roll a joint, use a vaporizer, or ask if the shop has equipment to borrow. Take your time. There is no rush. Coffeeshops are designed for lingering

The Tobacco Rule

This catches many European visitors off guard: you cannot smoke tobacco inside a Dutch coffeeshop. The Netherlands’ indoor smoking ban applies to tobacco, not cannabis. That means:

• No mixing tobacco with cannabis in a joint (the traditional European “spliff” is not allowed indoors)
• Smoke pure cannabis, or mix with a tobacco-free herbal blend like Greengo or damiana — both are sold at most coffeeshop counters
• Use a vaporizer — many coffeeshops have house vaporizers (Volcanos are common) available for customer use

Some coffeeshops with outdoor terraces allow tobacco smoking there, but never inside.

What Is on the Menu

A typical Amsterdam coffeeshop menu includes:

• Flower (weed): Sold by the gram, typically €8–15/g. Strains range from mellow indica to energetic sativa. Dutch flower often tests at 20–30% THC — significantly stronger than what many visitors are used to
• Hash: Pressed resin, usually Moroccan or Dutch-made. Sold by the gram, starting around €8/g. Milder onset than flower for many users, but potent in higher quantities
• Pre-rolled joints: €4–8 each. Convenient but you cannot choose the strain as precisely. Good for beginners who do not want to roll
• Space cakes and edibles: €5–8. Approach with extreme caution. There is no standardized dosing in the Netherlands. See our space cakes survival guide before trying any edible

Coffeeshop Etiquette

• Buy something. A coffeeshop is a business, not a public park. Purchase cannabis or at least a drink
• Do not bring outside cannabis. Most coffeeshops prohibit consuming cannabis purchased elsewhere. Buy from the shop you are sitting in
• Keep your voice down. Coffeeshops are chill spaces. Loud groups attract unwanted attention and annoy regulars
• Tipping is appreciated but not expected. Rounding up or leaving a euro or two is a kind gesture
• Do not photograph other customers. Discretion is part of coffeeshop culture. Ask before taking photos of the space, and never photograph other patrons
• Clean up after yourself. Dispose of rolling debris and empty cups. Leave the table as you found it

After Your Visit

You may carry up to 5 grams on your person in public. Consume only in permitted areas — not in the Red Light District, Dam Square, Damrak, or Nieuwmarkt (since the May 2023 public smoking ban). Parks, canal-side benches away from the tourist center, and your accommodation (if it permits smoking) are common alternatives. When in doubt, ask your coffeeshop staff where nearby smoking is tolerated.