Amsterdam is famous for its coffee shops and since 1970 these have been a big part of Amsterdam. In the Netherlands, Amsterdam has even the most number of coffee shops which vary in style, atmosphere, approach and looks of the establishments.

For more than 20 years, most coffee shops are operating with quasi-legal status in the country. Most of them serve coffee with pastries and even have special menu for some particular items like smoothies, alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish and cannabis. Most Dutch are very straight forward when it comes to drugs. Marijuana is even available over the counter. In order to stay in the coffee shop premises you must present your ID to show that you are 18 years old or above even if you will not buy drugs.

Amsterdam Image from art-trade.de

The prices depend on the quality and quantity of weed and cannabis and are not on its flavor. It is usually priced per gram which is approximately € 6-12 Euros. Since it is not allowed to advertise their wares, most coffee shops removed their menus in their official web sites.

At present, there are approximately 300 licensed coffe shops in Amsterdam which are located almost everywhere in the city.
There are lots of popular and influential coffees hops found in Amsterdam. Mellow Yellow is said to be the first coffee shop in Amsterdam which started 1970s. One of the most well-known coffee shops in Amsterdam is The Greenhouse where the place is decorated with the photos of celebrities and entertainers who visit the place. Trinity is a local coffee shop found outside of the city and with a separate smoking area. The Rookies is a unique coffee shop and hotel which has large crowd of tourists and locals, with large smoking lounge. The Grasshopper is also a unique coffee shop where staffs are wearing multiple hats. It is a coffee shop, bar and also restaurant. Others are Nes-Café, De Rokerij, Hunter’s Café, Abraxas, Pinkfloyd, The Dolphins, Damp Kring and a lot more.

Though Amsterdam has the utmost concentration of coffee shops in the Netherlands and even in the world, its number reduces by almost 30 percent. We can’t deny that they are indeed famous locally and even among tourists.

Sadly, in 2011 the conservative party of the Netherlands concluded that Coffee Shops should be closed for tourists by fall of 2011. That means that tourists wont get Marijuana in the Netherlands legal anymore after this years summer. Only locals with valid IDs gain access.