The Netherlands has been attracting tourists since forever and there are so many reasons people easily fall in love with this country! The tulips, the gorgeous canals and picturesque bridges, the lovely boathouses and breathtaking narrow townhouses, the rich history, and art – revived through a number of great museums and galleries and merely a part of the beauty of The Netherlands!

However, it would be weird to ignore one of the most attractive things about Amsterdam –
Amsterdam’s coffeeshops!

Today, the city of Amsterdam has over 200 certified coffeeshops, where selling cannabis medical and recreational products is allowed. These are places where visitors can relax and enjoy the chill and cozy atmosphere while they are enjoying the products.

However, if you are someone who is visiting Amsterdam for the first time, or simply someone who is planning on experiencing the coffeeshop culture in Amsterdam for the first time, there are few things a new visitor should take into consideration before going into any coffeeshop. There is a certain Amsterdam Coffeeshop Etiquette that is expected to be respected by anyone who steps into their facilities.

These are a few things you should avoid when visiting coffeeshop for the first time:

1. Don’t Confuse “Coffeeshop” with “Koffiehuis” or “Cafe.” An important thing to remember is that a licensed seller of cannabis products is called a coffeeshop, and it is much different than a regular coffeehouse or cafe, which are usually casual restaurants or bars. The license that marks the coffeeshop as a coffeeshop is a green and white sticker on their window and its helpful for first-time visitors to easily distinguish the place from a cafe. Guests should also take into consideration that coffeeshops don’t serve alcohol.

1. Don’t buy too much. Beginners should always keep in mind that a little goes a long way, and you can always come back to buy more if you need more. Cannabis is meant for sharing, and one bag and one joint are usually enough for more people, so don’t waste your money, because you will end up throwing away leftovers.
2. Don’t underestimate the effects, since the coffeeshop products are usually pretty strong. Keep in mind that when available, the pure weed joints are not meant for enjoying entirely by one person in one sitting. There is also a limited amount of grams that you can buy, and customers are not supposed to exceed 5 grams per day.
3. Don’t smoke tobacco inside. Smoking cigarettes indoors is forbidden across the city and many marijuana smokers don’t smoke tobacco since it is much more harmful to the overall health. Most coffeeshops offer substitute tobacco that you can use instead.

And these are some things we encourage to do at a coffeeshop:

1. Ask questions about the menus, which usually have selections divided into weed, hash, pre-rolled joints, and sometimes “spacecakes.” The coffeeshops’ staff are credible, well knowledgeable, and friendly. They are there to help customers, so don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations and information about the effects.
2. You can buy your products in one coffeeshop and then come to another one to chill, but it is considered rude if you take up space and not purchase anything, so make sure you buy at least a drink or some snacks.