Coffeeshops / Drugs, Amsterdam

Favorite thing: Coffeeshops in Holland are joints licensed to sell weed. These coffeeshops can sell weed but not alcoholic drinks.
Warning!! Dutch coffee shops are licenced to sell small quantities of cannabis to adults over 18 ! In case of doubt you will be asked for your ID to check it.
It is funny to see guys puffing away on their joints while sipping cocacola/fanta :o)

The myth that drugs are legal in the Netherlands is just that, myth. Soft drugs are tolerated, and that's all. This means you can buy weed or hash without risking arrest, that you can carry a small amount of soft drugs with you, that you can grow a small number of plants at your place for personal use, that you are free to roll one and enjoy it inside a coffeeshop or at your place, but this does not mean you can behave like a teenager on his first booze run and behave like a jerk.
Smoking dope in public places is not ok, and even some nightlife locales will discourage you from rolling and lighting up a phat one. Smoking on the street is also not regarded in a good way by the honest hardworking folks, so do not do it unless you are alone. If you think you won't bother anyone with your joint, then smoke it, otherwise find a suitable place for the recreational break. This is sane advice, it's meant to help you avoid trouble with your neighbours or with the police. Also, some hotels are not too fond of smoking guests, so better ask beforehand in case there are no ashtrays in your room.

Here more about the COFFEESHOPS! The Netherlands Coffeeshop Guide, the home for Coffeeshops information on the Net.
www.coffeeshop-guide.com

Fondest memory: SOME COFFEESHOPS IN AMSTERDAM:

Amnesia
Herengracht 133
It's not well known to tourists, but the friendly staff and cozy interior, along with a full bar, make this coffeeshop with the unforgettable name one of the local favourites.

Greenhouse Effect
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 191
One of three sister shops, the others are located at Tolstraat 91, and the Waterlooplein 345. They grow their own here, in their own greenhouse, and the hybrids and mutations that they develop rank consistently high in various categories in the yearly Cannabis Cup.

De Tweede Kamer
Heisteeg 6
A small and friendly coffeeshop just around the corner from Cafe Luxembourg, off the Spui.

De Rokerij II
Singel 8
Now this is a cool place, probably one of our favourite places in Amsterdam. The music, mainly chill-out sounds, is tasteful.

Two sister coffeeshops, one on the Amstel close to Rembrandtsplein and the other off Leidseplein.

Abraxas
Jonge Roelensteeg 12-14, off Nieuwe Zijds Voorburgwal
A small, nice, conveniently located place.

Paradox
Bloemdwarsstraat 1e

Dutch Flowers
Singel 387
Simple small interior, no bar, excellent coffee.

Siberië
Brouwersgracht 11
Around the corner from the Doors, Bulldog and Rokerij II,

Grasshopper
Oudebrugsteed 16
Just off the Damrak, a short stroll away from Centraal Station and the RLD.Another is located on the Spui, near Hotel Cok City.

Bulldog
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 90
They claim this is the original coffeeshop of Amsterdam, dating back to the 70s. Like Amsterdam's Hard Rock Cafe.

Favorite thing: buy the smokers guide to amsterdam available in most coffeeshops, this will be the only guide for marijuana and hash you will need. it gives lot's of information on everything you'll need to know about coffeeshopping or smartshopping ( mushrooms,peyote,etc...)

Fondest memory: good book to own, it helped us out at times.

Favorite thing: My fascination with mushrooms goes back to seventh grade when I read 'The Purple Pileus' by H.G. Wells. In Brussels, one of the Irish boys at my hostel advised me to try mushrooms in Amsterdam and my seventh-grade craze was reawakened. In Amsterdam, Jill introduced me to mushrooms formally. 'shrooms, shall we say. Mexican, Thai - take your pic. I had Thai the first night - which the guy at the Smart Shop said are supposed to make you contemplative and observant. My contemplation and observation that night comprised mostly of thinking up ways to harass the Japanese tourists that seemed to be walking round in circles.

We pretended to have deep philosophical conversations and make meaningful observations. Lol. The only remotely observational aspect of the evening was noticing that there are two types of people at Dam Sqaure: weird people and normal people acting weird. I don't know how meaningful this observation was, but we sought comfort in putting ourselves in the latter category.

Favorite thing: Jill and myself outside one of Amsterdam's gazillions of 'smart shops' Okay, it was the tackiest, most touristic things to have done, but I would go back and do it everytime. Mushrooms did for me what no joint ever did.

My last afternoon in Amsterdam, we had a picnic in the park outside the Van Gogh Museum, mushroomed ourselves for one last time and got caught in the rain - stranded under a bridge with dozens of other tourists, with the buskers playing all sorts of exotic music and the mushroom effect kicked in making everything totally surreal.

Favorite thing: Need I say more? This dude signifies the Amsterdam experience for most tourists. Jill and I were luckily able to scratch beneath Amsterdam's sex, drugs and booze veneer and it will take another day to write all of what we experienced in Amsterdam. Not that we overlooked the sex, drugs and booze bit, that is. :)

The last night in Amsterdam, there were no beds in any of the hostels, but I stuck around instead of catching a train back to Brussels where there will always be a bed. I wonder why. Hehehe. I knew something would work out and it did. Haley and Paul from Jill's dorm decided to spend the night in Paul's bed and I got to sleep in Haley's. Thankyou Amsterdam.

Jill and I walked around the city doing pretty much nothing that day. Nothing but taking in the sights, the sounds and the smells. We stumbled upon a flower market and a book market later on. We found ourselves in a tiny little Christmas decoration shop, that was just so beautiful. We spent ages sifting through the little curios. Just enough time to get the shopping done: 185 more days till Christmas!

Fondest memory: There are many coffeeshops in Amsterdam. The signs are usually neon lights with a coconut tree and very colourful. These are not places that only sell coffee, but more than that. They have menu for different types of "herbs", such as Cannabis, for you to smoke.
I am a non-smoker, so I did not enter any of the coffeeshop cos the smell from outside already puts me off. I will never forget that strong stench.

Favorite thing: Okay I do not advocate drug use. In fact I have not been a regular user of marijuana in quite some years. But when in Rome....
Anyway visiting a smoking coffeeshop is something that you should give a try if you are open minded towards such activities. Besides pot, beer, coffee or tea are also served.

Fondest memory: My only trip to a smoking coffee was to a place just one block Northeast the Leidseplien. It had an Indian motif(always a draw for me) but I cannot remember. I got so high I think that it might have been just a dream. All I can remember was that it was across the street from a really good Mexican restaurant. I cannot remember the name of that place either. Thank God my hotel was nearby or I would have never have found my way back.

Favorite thing: This place has odd hours so don't go early or late or it will surely be closed! Hours are 2-8 and it is closed on a weekday, seems to change sometimes but usually it is Wednesdays. As for their rather eclectic hours of operation well, just chalk it up to the rights of the self employed:))

The gear here is what makes them popular. The "grey mist crystals" or trichromes as they first called them is top notch smoke. The Grey Area is not really a place to hang out mainly because it is very small and usually crowded anyway so it is better to just score and head somewhere else to chill and burn. The seats at the tables are pretty uncomfortable which alse makes it not so inviting to stay.

Now it depends on who you find working that makes the impression when it comes to service. If you you get the American guy the experience should be a pleasant one because I have met him several times and only had positive vibes from him, his name is John. If the other guy is working however the experience could very well be negative and I have heard many comments about him in that way from others. I too have had negative responses from him, his name is Steve.

Fondest memory: They do have real strange hours but if you are lucky enough to catch them open the crystals are most definitely worth sampling. I also very highly recommend the Yellow Cab buds which have been surpurb each time I purchased some. So just score some killer buds and crystals and jet outta there!

www.greyarea.nl%

Go to their website and get a free drink voucher for your next visit!