Amsterdam Coffee Shop News
The latest developments related to coffee shops in Amsterdam, written by independent experts at Amsterdam.info. For more detailed information, visit our Amsterdam Drug Laws, Coffee Shop Tips and Coffee Shop FAQs pages.
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November 25, 2013 news:
Coffee shops near schools to reduce business hours
A recent announcement by the mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan that some Amsterdam coffee shops will have to close in 2014 if they are near to a school has lead to more speculation about the Netherlands back tracking on its drug policies. However, reports from reputable sources indicate that the affected Amsterdam coffee shops – only a small minority of the total number of coffee shops in Amsterdam – will only be required to close during school hours. After 6pm and on the weekends, these coffee shops can open to tourists and locals just like the hundreds of others in the city. That is, if the measure even goes through.
December 12, 2012 News:
No restrictions for visitors in Amsterdam
The mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan confirmed in his letter that a certificate of residence issued by city municipality will not be required to enter the coffee shops in Amsterdam.
The mayor underlined that while one third of six to eight million tourists arriving to Amsterdam each year visits the coffee shops, these visitors do not create any disturbance in the life of the city, while limitations on sale of the cannabis to foreigners might create illegal street trade and be a cause for growth of criminality. At the same time, a strict ban on smoking marijuana in schools and schoolyards has been reaffirmed by the Mayor set to take effect on January 1, 2013.
December 7, 2012 News:
Coffee shops club ID card abolished
The new Dutch center-left coalition government is clearly more lenient in its policy on coffee shops than the previous center-right coalition. Coffee shops club ID card (Dutch: wietpas) introduced in 2012 in the border provinces of the Netherlands, has been as of November 19, 2012 abolished. There were serious civil rights objections on collecting data who and where is smoking marijuana. The existing cofee shop club members data was destroyed. Now a standard residence certificate issued by the municipality, which is in common use in many bureaucratic situations together with personal ID are enough to purchase the cannabis in the coffee shops in border areas of the country.
As for Amsterdam, we do not expect any restriction imposed coming months on access for tourists visiting the city to its 214 coffee shops.
February 22, 2012 News:
Plan to introduce the Coffee shops ID in Amsterdam announced again
Much criticized plan of the Dutch government to introduce the Coffee shops identity card in Amsterdam, has been repeated again by the administration officials in February of 2012. The plan is that starting from January 1, 2013, people without a special ID will not be allowed to make purchases of cannabis in the city Coffee shops.
ID in the size of the credit card with the picture of the owner would be issued at request to all adult inhabitants of Amsterdam, while tourists and visitors to Amsterdam would be excluded from applying for this permit. The definite details of this plan should be announced coming months.
Disclaimer: we would like to point to many other attractive ways of having a truly fine time in Amsterdam. If you are bored with the Dutch museums, which are really unique and a must to see, take a ride in a canal boat, have a glass of a fine Heineken or Grolsch beer, enjoy a tasty meal in one of Amsterdam restaurants or go shopping on one of Amsterdam colourful markets. Do not try to disconnect yourself from our wonderful city! Enjoy your visit!
By Peter Skelton for www.amsterdam.info