Last verified: March 2026

Tourist-Friendly — Coffeeshop Access

Understanding Gedoogbeleid: Tolerated, Not Legal

The Netherlands does not have legal cannabis. What it has is a decades-old tolerance policy (gedoogbeleid) under which prosecutors agree not to enforce drug laws against coffeeshops that follow strict rules. This distinction matters because:

• Possession of up to 5 grams is tolerated (not prosecuted) for personal use.
• Coffeeshops may sell up to 5 grams per person and hold up to 500 grams in stock.
• Growing and wholesale supply remain fully illegal — the famous "back door problem" (achterdeurproblematiek) where the front door is tolerated but the supply chain is criminal.
• Hard drugs are strictly distinguished from soft drugs. Cannabis flower and hashish are "soft drugs." Concentrates (dabs, shatter, wax, BHO) are classified as hard drugs.

How Coffeeshops Work

A coffeeshop (koffieshop) is a licensed establishment where cannabis is sold and consumed on-site. There are approximately 570 coffeeshops operating across roughly 102 Dutch municipalities. Amsterdam alone has about 160.

The Rules

• 5 grams per person per day. This is the maximum purchase per visit. You can visit multiple coffeeshops in a day.
• 18+ with valid ID. Passport or EU ID card. No exceptions.
• No alcohol. Coffeeshops cannot sell alcohol. Establishments that sell alcohol cannot sell cannabis.
• No hard drugs. Coffeeshops that allow hard drug use lose their license immediately.
• No advertising. Coffeeshops cannot advertise cannabis externally.
• No nuisance. Noise complaints or public disturbance can trigger closure.

What You Can Buy

Dutch coffeeshops typically offer:

• Cannabis flower (Nederlandse wiet and imported varieties)
• Pre-rolled joints (often mixed with tobacco — specify "pure" if you want cannabis-only)
• Hashish (Moroccan, Afghan, and domestically produced)
• Space cakes and edibles (brownies, cookies — dose carefully, they are unregulated)

You will not find vape cartridges, concentrates, tinctures, or the product diversity of a North American dispensary. The Dutch system predates the modern cannabis industry.

Amsterdam: Still Open to Tourists

In 2012, the Dutch government introduced the wietpas (weed pass), a residency-based membership card intended to restrict coffeeshop access to Dutch residents. Amsterdam never implemented it. Mayor Femke Halsema has consistently argued that banning tourists would push consumption to street dealers and create worse public safety problems.

As of March 2026, Amsterdam's roughly 160 coffeeshops remain fully open to tourists. No registration, no membership, no residency requirement — just a valid ID showing you are 18 or older.

Border Cities: The Residency Restriction

While Amsterdam welcomes tourists, some Dutch cities near international borders have implemented tourist restrictions. The most notable:

• Maastricht: Coffeeshops restricted to Dutch, Belgian, and German residents only. Tourists from other countries are turned away.
• Other border municipalities in Limburg and Zeeland provinces have implemented similar restrictions.

If you are planning to visit coffeeshops outside Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, or Utrecht, verify local rules before assuming tourist access.

The Wietexperiment: Legal Supply Coming

In a historic development, the Dutch government launched the Wietexperiment (Weed Experiment) in April 2025. For the first time, the Dutch government is allowing the legal cultivation and supply of cannabis to coffeeshops, addressing the "back door problem" that has plagued the tolerance system for decades.

• Scale: 10 municipalities, 75 coffeeshops participating.
• Licensed growers: A small number of government-approved cultivators supply tested, tracked cannabis.
• Goal: Determine whether a legal supply chain reduces organized crime and improves product safety.
• Duration: Multi-year experiment with review periods.

For tourists, the Wietexperiment means that coffeeshops in participating municipalities now sell legally produced cannabis — a first in Dutch history. The experience for consumers is identical, but the product may be labeled differently.

What NOT to Do

• Do NOT carry cannabis to Schiphol Airport. The airport is a controlled zone. Possession there is enforced, not tolerated. Dispose of all cannabis before going to the airport.
• Do NOT carry concentrates. Dabs, shatter, wax, and BHO are hard drugs in the Netherlands. This is not a technicality — it carries real prison time.
• Do NOT buy from street dealers. Street dealing is illegal and actively policed. Products are untested and may be adulterated. Stick to coffeeshops.
• Do NOT smoke in public. While enforcement is lax, public smoking is technically not tolerated. Many Amsterdam neighborhoods have designated no-smoking zones. Consume in coffeeshops or private accommodations.
• Do NOT cross the border. Belgium, Germany, and France all criminalize cannabis. Trains and buses crossing Dutch borders are routinely checked.

Practical Tips for Tourists

• Payment: Most coffeeshops are cash-only. Dutch ATMs are everywhere and accept international cards.
• Tobacco: Pre-rolled joints in coffeeshops often contain tobacco. Ask for "pure" or roll your own if you want cannabis only.
• Edibles: Space cakes are unregulated and doses vary wildly. Start with half. Wait at least 90 minutes before eating more.
• Google Maps: Coffeeshops appear on Google Maps. Look for reviews and opening hours before visiting.

Official Sources

• Dutch Government — Tolerance Policy
• Wietexperiment (Dutch)