According to the article about Amsterdam’s Coffeeshops by Rick Steves, while Amsterdam has long been famous for its nicotine-stained "brown cafés," these days "coffeeshop" refers to a place where the Dutch gather to buy and smoke marijuana. Wandering around Amsterdam, every few blocks you pass a window full of plants and displaying a red, yellow, and green Rastafarian flag — both indications that that coffee shop doesn't sell much coffee.
I was interested with the conversations between Rick Steves with Peter, Grey Area Coffeeshop’s bartender when Rick marveled how open-minded the Dutch are :
"We're not open-minded, just tolerant. There's a difference. Wiet is not legal ... only tolerated,” said Peter.
"Does this toleration cause a problem?"
"These are the problem. Europe comes to Holland for more than the pot. Most Dutch agree that these hard drugs should be illegal. We Dutch — I think because pot is tolerated — handle our drugs better than the kids who travel here to get high. But, like everywhere, we have a hard drug problem," he said.
"Take your choice," he continued. "Allow for alternative ways of living or build more prisons. Here in Holland, pot is like cigarettes. We smoke it. We pay taxes. We don't go to jail."
By the way, talking about tolerancy, I found an interesting FAQ on www.amsterdamfaq.com ,and I was read the frequently asked question about the tolerancy in Amsterdam:
[Answer] Historical reason: Amsterdam is a city where trade has always been more important than ideology or religion – overly strong views would only hamper relations. Too, Amsterdam is traditionally a city of immigrants. Jews from Spain and French protestants found a safe haven, centuries ago. When it comes to prostitution or the use of drugs the Dutch feel that if it’s going to happen anyway it is better to legalize and control it than to let it fester underground.
Coffeeshops, not to be confused with cafés, have been a part of Amsterdam since the 1970s, when the Dutch government made a clear distinction in the law between 'hard' and 'soft' drugs. Unlike Amsterdam's fully legal smart shops, coffeeshops have always existed in a legal grey area. Today, Amsterdam's City Council, through agreement with the coffeeshop union Bond van Cannabis Detaillisten (BCD), allows coffeeshops to operate with the provision of set, non-transferable licences – shown by the display of an official, green and white sticker in the window.
So, keep these tips in mind when you visiting Amsterdam’s coffeeshops:
DON'T: Confuse 'Coffeeshop' with 'Koffiehuis' or 'Café'
First-time visitors to Amsterdam or its coffeeshops may be confused by the terms used for different establishments. A licensed seller of cannabis products is always referred to as a coffeeshop. A koffiehuis(coffee house) sells coffee and light meals. A café is a casual restaurant and/or bar. If you're still confused, look for a green and white sticker in the window (pictured at left), a license which designates the establishment a coffeeshop.
All this said, visitors should know that coffeeshops do not sell alcohol. While they were never really known for being pub-like, some did used to sell beer. But in 2007, the Dutch laws changed and dictated that a shop may either sell alcohol or cannabis products.
DO: Ask Questions About the Menu
Every coffeeshop has a menu, either on tables, behind the bar or in a manned stall usually in a corner. Selections are typically divided into weed, hash, pre-rolled joints and sometimes "spacecakes" (sweet cakes baked with marijuana in them). Prices vary by quantity (grams, bags, individual joints) and quality.
But don't just point to a funny-sounding name like "White Widow" or "Bubblegum" and hope for the best. Ask the staff what they recommend and what effects each type has. They often ask something like "Well do you want to be high, or do you want to be stoned?"
If you're intimidated, don't be -- coffeeshop employees are friendly, knowledgeable and very accustomed to tourists who don't know exactly how to go about the whole process.
One of the biggest mistakes coffeeshop visitors make is buying too much of whatever they've chosen. A little goes a long way. Buy small quantities. For example, if you're with a group of three, you don't needto buy three bags and three joints all in one place. These cannabis products are likely much more intense than others you've tried; and if you've never tried them before, you should certainly start off slowly! People who over-buy end up wasting money, dumping leftovers in a trash can on the way to the airport.
It's perfectly fine to visit a coffeeshop and smoke weed, hash or a joint that you've already purchased somewhere else (which is another reason you shouldn't feel compelled to buy at every shop).
But it is considered rude not to at least buy a drink or snack if you do this. You'll want to anyway, as coffeeshops are known for having some of the best coffee (go figure) and fresh juices in the city. Some nicer ones have delectable desserts and typical Dutch hapjes, or little bites popular at happy hour.
DON'T: Underestimate the Effects
Even if you've tried cannabis products in the past, you should still be warned that selections in Amsterdam coffeeshops are quite strong. If you're brand-new to it all, educate yourself by asking the staff about effects and just ease in slowly.
Pre-rolled joints are often rolled with tobacco to cut the strength of the weed or hash a bit; pure weed joints are sometimes available, but these aren't the kind you smoke solo!
Beware of the spacecake! Many people don't understand that the effects of cannabis when eaten are much stronger than when smoked. The results -- which many people describe as more of a "trip" -can be overwhelming if you don't know what you're in for.
Be responsible and have a good cup of coffee, good fellow!
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