I may sound naive on this, but is it legal to openly smoke weed in Amsterdam? Lots of rumors and probably bad information but maybe someone can sort out the buds on this!

yes, it's legal. The Mercatorplein is an exeption tho.....

As far as I know it's not exactly legal, but tolerated. Heard about plans that they want to change that though - no wonder, the city is full with stoned tourists that cannot handle the weed.
When I was in Amsterdam some five years ago we had no problems getting weed and smoking it in the hotel lobby in Haarlem...we had a good time then!


Belgrade-Bucharest-Budapest-Brno

Is it really completely legal, Potted Shrimp?

Ok, seeing as I'm dutch, I should reply.

Yeah sure. But there's some places(which you'll probably not be going to, mostly where people live, not near the coffee shops) where you can't smoke em.

But you'll have no trouble, cause in those small parts where you can't, you'll find these signs(it's true!!):



It's so @#$%& hilarious..

By the way you can smoke a joint anywhere in Holland as long as there's no cops around.. if you light one up on the beach nobody's gonna whine, as long as you put em out if you see the police.

And ehm don't buy crappy weed from stands or something just go into a coffeshops which seems trustable to you..



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2006-03-03 17:23 by Reptile.

Offically, it's not legal but it is tolerated if you carry only enough for personal consumption.

Some tips:

1. Try to smoke in coffeshops only
2. If you want to smoke in your hotel room, ask the front desk first. Don't be shy as they are asked this question about 10 times a day. Most will allow it.
3. Do not smoke out on the street. Locals hate this and it's just plain rude

The Reptile pic shows a sign witch you can buy from the local gouvernment for 90 Euro's. Most off them got stolen from the streets, so they put them up for sale now to prevent that. Rumour has it that the can't supply the demand right now!

Potted Shrimp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Reptile pic shows a sign witch you can buy
> from the local gouvernment for 90 Euro's. Most off
> them got stolen from the streets, so they put them
> up for sale now to prevent that. Rumour has it
> that the can't supply the demand right now!
>
> I ain't to proud to beg Meg, I'll even wear those
> red & white shit you like so much.

You dutch Shrimp??

Reptile Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> By the way you can smoke a joint anywhere in
> Holland as long as there's no cops around.. if you
> light one up on the beach nobody's gonna whine, as
> long as you put em out if you see the police.

So if it is legal, why hide from the police?

I think Keith stole the signs and sent them to his place in Jamica.

The Sicilian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Reptile Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > By the way you can smoke a joint anywhere in
> > Holland as long as there's no cops around..
> if you
> > light one up on the beach nobody's gonna
> whine, as
> > long as you put em out if you see the
> police.
>
> So if it is legal, why hide from the police?
>
>
>
>
>


No, it's only legal on the streets in some parts of Amsterdam. Except for the smell it's not that obvious.. It happens allot at the beach..

Is it legal to grow your own?

Reptile Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You dutch Shrimp??

Amsterdam Oost

The Sicilian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Is it legal to grow your own?


Up to a certain point. If it's for personal use, then it's ok (as long as it doesn't proceed approx. 7 plants).

The Sicilian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Is it legal to grow your own?

Erm yeah like 1 plant. In other words, no.

Erm.. like Shrimp said 7 then. But you'll be cheaper off ofcourse just buying it..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-03-03 17:40 by Reptile.

Is it sold in coffee shops too? Is it on the menu board with the latte's and cafe mocha's?

The Sicilian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Is it sold in coffee shops too? Is it on the
> menu board with the latte's and cafe mocha's?

The shops where you can buy it are called coffee shop.
And there is indeed a menu bord with latte's and next to it it says: Nothern Light, Orange Bud, etc (just remember those two marijuana variations)





Belgrade-Bucharest-Budapest-Brno

Just read this:

[www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com]

Lorenz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> And there is indeed a menu bord with latte's and
> next to it it says: Nothern Light, Orange Bud, etc

Aah, Noorderlicht..... it's a classic! btw. ignore those tourist coffee shops like Bulldog ect. Their only right of existence is the foreigner. Ask around (locals) what the best shop nearby is.

Cool, I must say you Europeans are the true entrepreneurs!

The answer to this question is very simple! I just walked home with a big joint in my mouth. Trust me... It ain't a problem in the Netherlands. Officially you can't smoke weed on the street (in Amsterdam you'll be warned by signs in some areas), but as long as you don't smoke it in front of a police officer, your fine.

Also.. if you're going to Amsterdam, make sure to try out different coffees shops. Some sell crap, some sell the best stuff out there (you'll find some info on the web). Just make sure you buy in a coffee shop an not somewhere on the street.
A final advice: make sure you eat enough before you smoke a big one. Dutch weed (and hasj) are quite strong. Don't think because you're in Amsterdam you should smoke 4 joints straight ahead. Make sure you know you can take it, before you do it...

The bar called "The Doors bar" with the actual Doors logo on the front is where I went when I was there. It has rock memorabilia on the walls everywhere. I had just taken the Anne Franck haus tour and wanted to mellow out afterwards. Too many Nazi reminders in one hour for me.... Good thing I got cured in the Doors bar afterwards. The Banana club came later and then it was all downhill from there......

Charles Baudelaire
1821-1867

The Banana bar is the bottom Charles, nothing goes lower!

I agree Potted Shrimp. Did you ever eat a banana like that?




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-03-03 19:14 by Rutger.

No, but last week the Wallen had an open day and everybody was invited to come in and talk to some hookers or girls from e.g. the Banana bar. They told (NOT showed) us how it worked. Very disturbing images come to my mind now every time I eat a chiquita....

Haha.. you should have disturbing images while eating a chiquita anyway!

BTW: i remember this famous story about M. Faithfull. She was found with a mars bar in her nether regions while the police searched Keith Richards house.

Remember the classic dutch mars ad. : "een Mars reep vult dat gat".....

The clearest explanation I've ever heard on this subject comes from this exchange between Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction:

JULES
-- okay now, tell me about the hash
bars?

VINCENT
What so you want to know?

JULES
Well, hash is legal there, right?

VINCENT
Yeah, it's legal, but is ain't a
hundred percent legal. I mean you
can't walk into a restaurant, roll
a joint, and start puffin' away.
You're only supposed to smoke in
your home or certain designated
places.

JULES
Those are hash bars?

VINCENT
Yeah, it breaks down like this:
it's legal to buy it, it's legal to
own it and, if you're the
proprietor of a hash bar, it's
legal to sell it. It's legal to
carry it, which doesn't really
matter 'cause -- get a load of this
-- if the cops stop you, it's
illegal for this to search you.
Searching you is a right that the
cops in Amsterdam don't have.

JULES
That did it, man -- I'm @#$%&'
goin', that's all there is to it.

VINCENT
You'll dig it the most.

I liked the part about France as well: Le Big Mac! Priceless stuff.

A classic moment from a classic movie

What about the cheeseburger royale?