Coffee Shops, Amsterdam

Oh yes, my friends, this is the place for the chill zone after a long journey!

On one level, who cares about which coffee shop is better than another - Compaired to the UK, this place is Smokers Paradise!

One another, you can get proper skanked (yes that's skanked not skunked) - As the manager of RASTER BABY (Great place for an early spliff and a coffee) so properly pointed out, there are a lot of Coffee Shops selling all sorts of crap under such titles as "Misty Mist" etc - This is just commerical crap (but probably better than the moody soap bar you are currently smoking!) Beware though, most travellers just go steaming in for the hardcore (not just the porn) and end up spinning out about 10am!

Just chill man - Smoke up the Atmosphere!

My main advise if you want to sample the greenery in Amsterdam is to take it easy. There were some of our group who hadn't smoked before we went out there and even the mid strength really hit them hard, and had some rather odd effects as my tip on 'shows' will tell you.

The coffee shops are spread all over the city, and generally just for coffee and weed. You will be offered a menu listing the different types, the weight and the price. The best tell tale sign of strength and quality is the weight. For exapmle if two types are both listed at 13 euros and the amount of grams you are getting is different, the one you get less of tends to be stronger. So once again, swallow your pride and start low.

Coffee-shops are everywhere and cater for all: for the serious smoker there is a menu with big choice of smokes, while for the curious (like us) they provide the pre-rolled stuff. I did notice that the quality varies depending on where you go. We smoked in a different place each night and the best place was a quiet, dark place in the red-light district (where even the fumes would get you going), while the stuff we smoked at the big touristy place on Rembrandtplein had little effect.

if you come across the blue velvet coffeeshop which is located on the same street as barney's you can meet the house stoner cat..he's usually laying down on the counter just to the right of the dealers area..you can pet him and if you ask you can take a picture..he's not the prettiest cat but he seems really happy..

The Bulldog is one of the chains of Amsterdam coffeeshops that can be found around the city. In addition to the marijuana that you can procure there, you can also enjoy space cakes, teas, beer, wine, and liquor. The environment is quiet and cozy, offering views of the canal. The music is usually of the classic rock variety and internet access is available as well.

I got a few space cakes at 6 euro each. These are marijuana brownies and they even come with "instructions" on how to take them. This being my first experience with brownies, I must say I rather enjoyed them, though they didn't start to effect me until I was on the train leaving Amsterdam. Needless to say, my train ride was interesting.

Not much more I can say about this...it was a coffeehouse like so many other coffeehouses in Amsterdam. It was just the first one my friends and I went to, plus they had a nice club next door.

If anyone knows the DJ who worked there this summer, I'd LOVE to know him. :)

An honour mention to the first Amsterdam's coffee-shop;The Bulldog.
There are several shops,but I've seen only that
in my district...
Quite local but....rock music and grass I think
it's not the best double....de gustibus!
Good choise of hash and grass,with some excellent
"hash cream"..
Then...it's really little and with a DANGEROUS ladder.
Crowded with tourist

There are dozens of them -- coffeeshops where you can purchase and consume marijuana and hashish.
I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but there are lots of folks (see the channels.nl website forums) who go to A-Dam almost exclusively to sample the cannabis at these shops.
Many shops also sell beer or soft drinks and snacks. Some even have considerable food menus.
You can purchase the weed and hash from a menu that lists the strains and the prices per gram. Basically, for about $10 U.S. or less, you can buy enough weed to knock you on your butt for a day or two.
The "dealers" in the coffeeshops are very knowledgeable and can advise customers on what strains of cannibis give what kinds of highs. Most of the strains were developed by medical marijuana growers.
Just don't buy drugs on the streets. Stick to the coffeeshops. And don't try to take any with you when you leave.
The Dampkring is my favorite coffeeshop. DeKuil is nice too.
I've got to say, if you're interested in visiting Amsterdam for the cofffeeshop scene, read Blueberry_7's pages on VT. Her information about weed, the shops and everything associated with them is excellent. Her pages helped me prepare for and enjoy my first trip there.
Smoke one for me.