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So you’ve booked a trip to Amsterdam, and the response has been the inevitable ‘nudge, nudge, wink, wink’ that suggests you only have one reason for visiting the Dutch capital! But there’s more to the city than weed and this guide gives some tips to make the best of your visit as a Cannabis Tourist in Amsterdam.
OK, so coffee shop culture makes this aspect of Amsterdam almost a historical site to visit – and research figures suggest that around a quarter of tourists visiting Amsterdam will stop by a coffee shop to soak up the atmosphere. Many will sample the menu and a good majority will leave with red eyes, elevated appetite and a sense of disorientation.
Amsterdam can be a confusing city to navigate at the best of times. Over time, the old city center developed around its canal system – a mix of straight and arcing canals – with a spider web of narrow streets, so that it is very difficult to get your sense of direction. The main city center street is the Damrak – which runs from Central Station to Dam Square. We’ll start here, because Dam Square is a good place to hang out and people watch.
First, some ground rules about enjoying the city as an Amsterdam cannabis tourist:
- Use your common sense when smoking – avoid smoking around kids, in hotel lobbies and being obvious in public spaces
- Get high but take it slow. Many ‘stoned in Amsterdam’ horror stories result from leaving common sense on the plane
- Be mindful of neighbors and noise. Don’t add fuel to calls for Amsterdam cannabis tourist bans
- Be aware of trams and don’t cycle when you’re super stoned. It’s a working city with busy street traffic
OK, now onto making the most of your trip!
Amsterdam guide with Year-Round activities
Get Baked
We recommend using licensed coffeeshops and there are around 160 in Amsterdam serving a selection of coffee, tasty non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages alongside snacks, baked goods and of course extensive weed, hash and cannabis infused menu items. Whatever your vibes you can find a coffeeshop to match, but our insider’s tips are Boerejongens, Bullwackie, Solo and De Supermarkt.
Get Cultural
Amsterdam has heaps of culture! From historical sites such as Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas to world class museums and art galleries. The famous Rijksmuseum has art from through the ages and is quite heavy in tone, while the Van Gogh Museum focuses on the Netherlands’ most famous art celebrity and contemporaries. Other great tips are Moco Museum for modern art, Foam photography museum and the Straatmuseum in NDSM.
Eat Something Typical
Appetite stimulation is a particular feature of being an Amsterdam cannabis tourist! While Holland isn’t renowned for its cuisine, it does have some specialities which should be experienced. For a savoury snack, sample chopped herring, a traditional broodje (sandwich) or some bitterballen (a meaty snack, which works well with beer). Sweet tooth offerings are apple pie, poffertjes (pancakes) and the internationally renowned Stroopwafel (caramel waffles).
Head to a Market
For food, go to Food Hallen to find everything under one roof. There are plenty worse things to do than take a slow walk around a market. The Ij – Hallen is Europe’s biggest flea market – check listings as it takes place only once a month, but it is the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning. Other markets to visit, dotted around the city, are Albert Cuyp Market, Dappermakt, Noordermarkt and Nieuwmarkt.
Just Walk…. or Take a Bike
Amsterdam is one of the best cities in the world for taking things slow. The buildings lean, the canals drift, the bikes roll by like a screensaver. Neighbourhoods to explore include Jordaan and Negen Straatjes and De Pijp if you’re seeking some greener spaces head for the city’s parks – Het Amsterdamse Bos, Vondelpark, Westerpark and Amstelpark.
Get on the Water
If the concept of walking feels too ambitious, get on a boat for an entirely different view of the city. Choose a small, calm canal cruise, not a party boat with someone yelling into a microphone. The smaller tours are basically floating living rooms – slow, scenic, and narratively soothing.
Do The Cannabis Tourist Thing
If you’re indulging in the coffeeshop vibes then don’t be afraid to play the cannabis tourist and just have some fun. Check out the history at the Hash Museum and take a stroll around the Red Light District. Get lost! The city streets are perfect for just strolling and yes you will probably ask yourself, “haven’t we been here before?” But that’s part of the fun! Turning on Google Maps will only confuse you, so just enjoy the meandering experience.
Or Get More Creative
Amsterdam has a rich history of creative community (and Paradise Seeds very much emerged with that scene in the 1990s). The huge NDSM space is known for being a cultural hotspot and is home to the popular Straat Museum. Just outside Amsterdam, two places with an artistic vibe to experience are Ruigoord, a center for free spirits since the 1970s and Cuevel, a sustainable creative space on the site of an old shipyard.
Don’t forget to retrace your footsteps to Dam Square to pick up some cannabis related souvenirs from one of Amsterdam’s (and the world’s) oldest seedbanks at the official Paradise Seeds store! Have a great trip!
Festivals, Trips and Attractions each Season
Winter Trip
Between November and January is the annual Amsterdam Light Festival, which is perfect made for the Amsterdam cannabis tourist with more than 20 light installations by international artists stationed around the canal district. It used to happen a lot more, but the freezing of Amsterdam canals happens less often these days. However, when they do freeze, it’s something special. You can ice skate all Winter – no canal needed – on Museumplein or Rembrantplein.
Spring Trip
Spring is a great time to visit Amsterdam. Typically Dutch highlights are the Tulip Festival (March – May) and Kings Day at the end of April, when the city turns orange to commemorate the King’s birthday. This is a huge party occasion – from DJs and live music across the city to a city-wide flea market.
Summer Trip
Summer is the time to make the most of Amsterdam’s waterways and take a boat trip on the canal (there are organised tours and also possibilities to hire boats, along with opportunities to get lost within the labyrinthine canal network). For this reason, we suggest the Amsterdam cannabis tourist with no nautical experience choose the organised option! It’s also the best time to enjoy the city’s parks and outdoor spaces. Hiring a bike and making use of the country’s network of cycle paths is also thoroughly recommended.
Autumn Trip
A huge event is the annual ADE five day party, organised by the Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation. It’s the biggest electronic music club festival in the world with thousands of artists and DJs performing at venues around the city. If party, party, party! is your thing, this is the place to do it. If it’s not then Autumn is the perfect time of year to stroll through the city’s history and visit museums and galleries away from summer crowds.