Amsterdam is famous not only for its cultural and historical sights, but also for its many coffee shops, which invariably arouse the interest of tourists. Here you can evaluate the effect of a whole mass of substances that are banned in other European countries. If there is no certainty that it is permissible to use it safely and in what quantities, you can always find out such information from the staff of the institutions.
In the material presented, we consider the addresses of coffee shops in Amsterdam that deserve the attention of travelers, as well as advise where you should definitely look when you are in this city.
A brief excursion into history
The concept of “coffee shop” arose in Amsterdam in the 70s of the last century. It was during this period that the city authorities realized that fighting drug addicts was completely useless. Today in Amsterdam there are more than two hundred establishments whose visitors can try substances that have the status of banned in Europe.
In the 90s, many coffee shops began to sell hard drugs. Therefore, the police soon closed institutions that were convicted of illegal activities. However, in the city there are still quite a few places of this kind, which are allowed for people who have reached the age of majority.
How to open a coffee shop in Amsterdam?
What do you need to open? A coffee shop in Amsterdam can easily be organized by finding the right premises and registering as a private entrepreneur. The only problem for businessmen from our country can be high taxes. Such fees are much more impressive for foreigners than for residents of Amsterdam who want to start such a business.
Abraxas
What establishments where today you can try soft drugs Amsterdam is known for? The coffee shop called Abraxas is the largest in the city. You can find it at: Jonge Roelensteeg Street, 12.
The coffee shop occupies two whole three-story buildings. Despite the impressive area, a rather cozy, pleasant atmosphere reigns here. The last floors of the establishment are used for growing marijuana. If desired, tourists can take pictures against the background of plant bushes absolutely free. The specified product can be tasted in the institution both in its pure form, and as part of cookies, other goodies.
Gray area
What other places is Amsterdam famous for? Coffee shop called Gray Area is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. The institution is located at: Oude Leliestraat street, house 2.
Here, for a fairly modest fee, you can try some varieties of really strong marijuana. The institution works around the clock throughout the week. Therefore, in its halls you can see tourists from all over the world at any time of the day or night.
Dutch flowers
Consider another famous coffee shop, which is located on Singel Street, in the place where the largest water channels of the city intersect. A place called Dutch Flowers attracts tourists with its cozy atmosphere, the presence of a few tables, which allows you to relax due to the lack of a significant number of visitors.
Coffeeshop customers are offered mostly expensive marijuana varieties. Therefore, going here, you need to have a fairly impressive amount of money with you.
Grasshopper
Surveying all the Amsterdam 2016 coffee shops that are popular among tourists, one cannot fail to note the institution called Grasshopper, which is located on Oudezijds Voorburgwal street, 191. This place attracts visitors primarily with its interesting interior. The design of the institution is dominated by calm green tones that allow you to truly relax and distract from the world around you. Clients are offered accommodation at roomy tables, which have comfortable benches. Coffeeshop is known for its huge veranda, where you can go out to get some air, chat in a relaxed atmosphere with other visitors.
Greenhouse
When planning to visit Amsterdam, a coffee shop for consuming light psychotropic substances, you should look into an institution known as Greenhouse. The latter is located at 91 Tolstraat Street.
This coffee shop is one of the first and oldest in the city. Unlike other institutions of this plan, here visitors are offered not only fairly strong marijuana, but also alcohol.
Greenhouse has a pleasant interior design. This place always has a friendly, communicative atmosphere.
Tips for coffee shop visitors
Before deciding which coffee shop to go to in Amsterdam, you should pay attention to the following points:
- You need to be sure that the use of light narcotic substances will not negatively affect the state of the body. It is also recommended to check if there is an individual intolerance and contraindications to their reception.
- Before visiting a coffee shop, do not drink alcohol. The presence of alcohol in the blood can lead to the most unforeseen consequences in combination with even the lightest, seemingly completely harmless drugs.
- When visiting Amsterdam, a coffee shop of one plan or another, it is recommended to carry a bottle of water with you. The feeling of constant thirst invariably haunts the clients of such establishments.
- You should try narcotic substances carefully and wisely. For starters, you can smoke a cigarette where marijuana is mixed with a pretty impressive amount of regular tobacco. In order not to immediately be in a deep drug intoxication, you should not perform deep puffs.
- You should not come to a coffee shop alone. The company must have at least one partner who refuses the offered assortment. Only in this case, the situation will be monitored by a person that is in an adequate condition.
- Going into the city, it is worthwhile to find out in advance how many coffee shops in Amsterdam are planned to visit.
- Going to a coffee shop, you should not take valuables and all available money with you. Persons who go out intoxicated can become victims of petty robbers. Although this rarely happens. After all, the crime rate in Amsterdam is quite low.
Finally
So we looked at the most popular coffee shops in Amsterdam. Naturally, in our review, not all institutions of a similar plan are presented. However, it is precisely the places on our list that are the most famous in the city and therefore cause a lively interest among tourists who come to the city in order to get acquainted with light narcotic substances.