Destinations > Netherlands > Drugs in Amsterdam

The Straight Dope on Drugs in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a reputation as a free and easy place where everything is legal. In reality, things are much more complex than this, but it's generally no problem if you sit in a coffee shop across the road from the police station and have a quiet toke.

Hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, ecstacy, speed and LSD are forbidden in the Netherlands. Soft drugs like hashish and marijuana are also prohibited, although the authorities allow the sale of soft drugs at coffee shops as long as they stick to the following rules: no hard drugs, no advertising, no selling to people under 18, and no more than 5 grams per customer.

If you want to smoke, buy your dope at a coffee shop where you can be assured of the quality. Never buy from dealers on the street.

Don't try to take drugs across the border, trains from Amsterdam are often checked by police and customs officers.

For more information, check out the Hash and Marijuana Museum at Oudezijds Acterburgwal 148, the Wikipedia article on the Dutch Drug Policy (website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_the_Netherlands) or the drug pages on the Amsterdam City web site (website www.iamsterdam.com/introducing/government_politics/policies/drugs). You may also want to check out this list of coffee shops in Amsterdam (website www.coffeeshopsamsterdam.com).