Safe coffeeshops in Amsterdam
 

Is there such a thing?

My husband is in Amsterdam for two weeks on business, leaving him with a weekend with nothing to do. Being in Amsterdam he would like to have a little fun, but I've heard from a local (sadly, I'm not in touch with that person anymore, or I'd be asking him this question) that taking advantage of tourists is practically the national pastime.

Can anyone recommend a relatively safe, clean coffeeshop where a guy can get stoned and sit undisturbed and watch some anime on his laptop?

If he knows anyone who works there, ask them, or if not, make some new friends who can tell him where to go. Being with people who are regulars or otherwise recognized is his best bet.

Also being in a more regular neighborhood than a hot tourist spot is good...

Check out

Iamsterdam.com to see if there's anything listed there.

In my travels... if you try not to act like a tourist, people usually leave you alone.

Oh... and lots of people in Amsterdam wear orange.

I'll be there in 5 weeks, if he's ever going back again I'll be better able to answer the question.

When I was there, I had no trouble at all. If I can remember the name of the place I will post it.

I am going to be there in about 10 weeks. If Amonkie can't help you on something perhaps I can follow up.

Safe? That is not the issue. Have you seen how many police stations they have in Central Amsterdam? :oogle: It's more dense then Manhattan. They (coffee shops) are also all located in/around Amsterdam center which is a major tourist/shopping center.

:thumbsup:

I am looking for good. Lot's of mixed reviews of various shops and I want to go cheap if possible because I am just like that. They seem to be willing to charge anything you are willing to pay for hash. I want to set up with my laptop (and not get it stolen) and watch the anime Read Or Die. The reviews I read http://www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com/ seem to imply that most places aren't that sit down friendly and several people complain about having their pockets picked. I suppose that may be a fact of life when you are high and get sloppy.

BTW I am said husband.

I remember getting propositioned for hard drugs and prostitutes there. If you show that you're not interested they won't bother you though.

But yes, high and sloppy (and alone) could be a problem :).

There are coffeeshops in places besides Amsterdam. My recommendation? Hop a train to Haarlem from Central Amsterdam. Takes 15 minutes, and there's a coffeeshop right around the corner from the train station, if I remember correctly. Plus, it's a lot less touristy and safer. Amsterdam is the only place I've been in the Netherlands where I didn't feel safe.

I've spent lots of time in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is very safe (if you don't act foolish). Protect yourself by: wallet in front pocket, don't look weirdos in the eye, don't draw attention to yourself, be polite, be confident, etc.

The Dutch are friendly and easy-going and they speak fluent English. I know because I married one.

The best known coffee bar in Amsterdam is the BullDog (http://www.bulldog.nl/index.html). It attracts tourists and locals. There are several locations throughout the city. The Bulldog is more like an empire than a coffeeshop. They've even got a hotel. My favorite location is in the Red Light District. It's small and cozy. You can definitely sit down and have a smoke and a java. It is located at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 90 (Telephone +31 20 625 98 64) It is the original BullDog, opened 30 years ago.

Onesnowyowl has given good advice. Most every city in The Netherlands has a collection of local hash bars. Still, I think it is not necessary to leave Amsterdam out of fear. Amsterdam is one of the safest large cities in the world.

Some of those Bulldog places look really nice. Thank you for the link, I'll tell him about it if I talk to him before he reads this. Thanks!

hmmm...i never had a problem with any of that. i put on the same precautions i would i were barhopping in nyc. to me, that implies not getting wasted in public, or if you do, make sure you can handle your drink/smoke. as for wallets...i'd get one of those travel pouches and keep it up front, under my shirt. never had anyone get to it, or even try. i also never had any problem with anyone not being friendly to me sitting down for as long as i wanted, as long as i was a paying customer of the shop/bar.

Wow... coffee bars are obnoxious. No elbow room and the people behind the counter pretend you aren't there. I tried three bars and couldn't get to the point where I found something I like. One guy was trying to get me to try shrooms which I know nothing about. :no: The rest just wouldn't pay attention long enough to help me buy something. :mad: It's so noisy and crowded I certainly wouldn't want to consume it there. It's creepy walking into the place and having thirty sets of glazed over eyes give you a nice long lingering stare. :eek:

Not friendly enough for this first timer. I'll stick to mooching off other people. It may be legal in Amsterdam but it doesn't really seem quite mainstream. If it were I think it would be offered in a variety of environments.

I figured out last week how to get good service at a Dutch restraunt. You have to make good strong eye contact with your waiter or they will ignore you and they won't serve the next course unless you are silent at the table (don't want to interrupt conversation). Maybe there is a trick for coffee bars? :confused:

kel: as i recall, you can carry a small amount on you. buy it in the bar, then go back to your hotel and chill there...assuming you're in a hotel. if you're in a hostel, they typically have/had a place where you could partake without repercussions. maybe it's changed since i was over there, but at the time it was really easy to purchase whatever you wanted...hmm...interesting. and good luck. :thumbsup:

Hash is a ripoff in Europe (and typically over 75% filler made of garbage like used car tires,) don't buy it.

Don't try shrooms if you're there alone, or unless you're with someone who has used them before.

You can buy good hash in the Amsterdam coffee shops that sell it.
There is often a menu and you you can see & smell before buying.