Moreover, it is forecast that this will grow to 21 million incoming tourists in 2020. More Taxes For Tourists. The fine for not wearing a face mask is 95 euros. Or do you want to learn how legal and illegal drugs are handled in the Netherlands? In high season Amsterdam can be packed with tourists. Please keep in mind that these regulations may change depending on how the situation develops, so check the City of Amsterdam’s website for the most current official guidelines. Information for travellers about coronavirus (COVID-19). Stay in your accommodation. Keep a distance of 1.5 metres between you and other people. Drugs on list two – soft drugs – are not illegal. Women reach the 0,5 level even sooner. Amsterdam drug laws stipulate that coffeeshops are not allowed to advertise. On top of the current 7% tourist tax a fixed amount will be charged. Amsterdam&Partners, a non-profit working to improve life in the city, recently said they are looking at ‘how we can restart [tourism] in a more sustainable and responsible way’. They are working towards a communal policy for bike parking. For more information, you can stop by the I amsterdam Visitor Centre at Amsterdam Central Station. What is the oldest coffeeshop in Amsterdam? Them coffee shops is best for strong type strains. Yes, you can grow your own cannabis in the Netherlands. Watch this before you visit Amsterdam https://youtu.be/B-mXbv5x4xc How much is a joint? Reconsider travel to the Netherlands due to COVID-19.Exercise increased caution due to terrorism. The mayor of Amsterdam … Coffeeshops can not cause any public disturbances like noise nuisance or filthiness caused by loitering customers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Amsterdam's mayor has proposed a ban on foreign tourists buying weed under the city's relaxed drug laws as the city struggles to cope with tourism. There’s not even a whiff of cannabis in the air. Not only in Amsterdam but in the whole country there are legal limits to how much drugs you can have in your system whilst sitting behind the steering wheel. A typical visit to a coffee shop in Amsterdam. “Are drugs legal in Amsterdam?” That’s one of the most frequently asked questions by tourists. Our advice: Do not consume any drugs or alcohol before or during a car/ bicycle ride. It is forbidden to sell the cannabis that you legally bought or that you’ve grown by yourself. In recent months, residents, businesses and tourists organisations have called for measures to help change Amsterdam’s international image. People will use drugs anyway, so it’s best to provide proper information and testing to reduce the potential amount of harm to society as much as possible. The ins and outs of Amsterdam's booming cannabis tourism . Most events in Amsterdam (or the Netherlands) have a so called “zero tolerance” policy. Hard drugs are illegal but the Dutch government believes in the so called “harm reduction model”. Photo by Ed Norton The cap will affect any other short-term rental platform too but Airbnb will be most heavily affected. Then this article with 10 tips for using drugs in Amsterdam is a good read for you! Leave any destination if you notice it is becoming difficult to keep a distance of 1.5 metres. This applies to train, bus, metro, tram and ferry services. People aged 13 and older must wear a non-medical face mask on public transport. Amsterdam is exploring how to make cannabis less of a tourist attraction and, at the same time, crack down on the illegal supply chain, according to a briefing from mayor Femke Halsema.. Amsterdam Coffee Shop Directory. Check Schiphol.nl for the latest information about flights to Amsterdam and always visit your airline’s website to confirm any additional rules that may apply. Selling cannabis in coffee shops is illegal, but not punishable. Amsterdam is and remains one of the most wonderful and cities in Europe, with an incredible feeling of freedom and equality, that’s why I keep coming back again and again. For hotel rooms: €3 per person per night. Then read this article with 10 Amsterdam Drugs Laws. Amsterdam is one of is the most bicycle friendly cities in the … For camping sites: €1 per person per night. There have been efforts to forbid tourists from consuming at coffee shops, a money-losing proposition given that approximately 65 percent of travelers ages 18—35 said that cannabis was the primary motivator for their visit (caveat: this number was unearthed pre-COVID). Then check out this useful list with the 13 laws in Amsterdam […] By most accounts, Amsterdam is among the safest places in the world and tourists shouldn’t worry too much about crime whilst enjoying time in the city. You are strongly advised not to travel to the Netherlands unless it is strictly necessary. To others the card will expire after 31 days and they have to go through some paperwork to get it. Find out how coronavirus (COVID-19) may impact your visit to Amsterdam and stay up to date on the travel regulations and safety advice for visiting restaurants, bars, nightclubs, museums and other attractions. The huge growth in the number of tourists visiting Amsterdam has made any kind of perceived antisocial behavior seem far more intolerable. Published Feb 19, 2020 7:44:37 AM (CNN)— Amsterdam is considering banning tourists from its infamous cannabis-vending coffee shops as the city explores new ways to … List one is for hard drugs. For most tourists, day- or multiple day tickets are the best deal. Source: Jellinek. For updated information about the coronavirus measures at museums, cinemas, nightclubs, restaurants, bars and other attractions, check government.nl. © 2020 Amsterdam Red Light District Tours / Webdesign by BIRO. The municipality argued that it wants to counteract a so-called The Dutch city is famous for its cannabis-serving coffeeshops, red-light district, quirky bars, and bizarre museums. But be you careful, them Mushrooms ain’t nothing to be play with. Some offer arcade and board games, some sell coffee and snacks, and others are pretty much just a service Please check here (Dutch only) for more information. We wrote that sentence before COVID-19 stopped tourists from coming to the Dutch capital. And coffeeshops are not allowed around schools in a radius of 200 meters or 250 meters walking distance. The covid 19 pandemic has kept Amsterdam as a tourist-free city for a couple of months now. A fine of € 140 can be imposed. If you posses more you’ll get a fine. That sounds strange of course, but the … That’s the benefit of coffeeshops: they all compete with each other and try to offer the best quality possible. AMSTERDAM ― Canals shimmer beside medieval cobbled streets and beneath the elegant (and mostly empty) bridges. Which results into safer situations. Selling cannabis in coffee shops is illegal, but not punishable. The city has published new research by Amsterdam’s statistics service on the extent to which young tourists are motivated to visit the Dutch capital by cannabis, window brothels and budget flights. Do not leave your home or hotel room. Amsterdam’s unofficial tourism slogan: Come for the weed, stay for the hookers. So: a weed ban for tourists, has sent travellers into a tailspin. Amsterdam police officers make an arrest. 13x Amsterdam Red Light District Laws Before visiting the most fascinating area in the world it might be a good idea to get acquainted with the most important Amsterdam Red Light District laws. For the latest information about flights to Amsterdam, please check Schiphol.nl. The current Dutch drug law has within it two lists. The number of visitors to certain neighbourhoods, for example, De Wallen (Red Light District) will be actively monitored. Depending on the amounts you carry you can even get a prison sentence. No sales larger than five grams. Source: Dutch senate report: Analytische grenswaarden voor drugs. For some pills such as XTC which can be matched to those in their database, there is a 50% chance that the result will be given on the same day or right away. More good news for bikers in Amsterdam! When crossing the street, look left, look right, and repeat. Additional crowd control includes one-way traffic, additional traffic hosts and matrix signs. Cannabis, sleeping pills, sedatives and Valium are all on list number two. The current Dutch drug law has within … They be knock you is on you bottom! Source: Jellinek. Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. You can also use the taxi services at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Think of weed, hash and even different types of cannabis oils. DON'T: Confuse Coffeeshop with Koffiehuis or Cafe. Emergency (police, ambulance, fire): 112 Police (theft and other queries): 0900-8844 / +31 343 578 844 Tourist doctor +31 (0)20 427 5011 HotelDoc +31 (0)63 090 0346. of GHB. Use of public transport is for essential travel only. Amsterdam has more than a hundred coffeeshops to choose from, each with its own unique vibe, atmosphere, and style. This helps us to determine how frequently particular pages and advertisements are visited and to determine the most popular areas of our website. See Local laws and customs Everyone over the age of 14 is required to show a … Tourists can buy and enjoy weed, hash and … Geerte Udo, director of Amsterdam & Partners, explained that many Amsterdammers often felt alienated from their own city due to the enormous quantity of tourists prior to the pandemic. When police officers see a 16 year old smoking cannabis they will talk to him or her about their usage, and if they follow procedure, confiscate the cannabis. Traffic Laws: A valid driver’s license issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles in the United States is valid for use in the Netherlands while in tourist or visitor status. Are you considering using drugs in Amsterdam? Possession of hard drugs is illegal in the Netherlands but the drug laws allow for the possession of small amounts without legal consequences. Guide to public transport in Amsterdam. Changes in 2020. AMSTERDAM has become the latest holiday destination to issue a crackdown on anti-social behaviour with the city being a popular destination for stag and hen do goers. Drugs users can visit an Amsterdam drug test lab and get their illegal drugs tested legally. Comprehensive information is available on the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) website, including a guide to symptoms, when to visit a GP, Q&As, travel advice and updates from the World Health Organisation. Amsterdam’s red-light district is unrecognizable from a year ago, when tourists thronged day and night around bars, window brothels, coffee shops and souvenir sellers. Some streets may be closed to ensure safety. Useful phone numbers. Travel by bicycle or on foot for short journeys if possible. The mayor of Amsterdam says he will not ban foreign tourists from using the city's famous cannabis cafes, after months of argument over new drug laws. Please visit government.nl for the current travel protocols and regulations. Amsterdam's zoning pan "Shop Diversity Center" prohibits new shops opening in the city center that mainly target tourists and day visitors, such as souvenir shops. T he authorities in Amsterdam have announced bold new measures to tackle tourist excess in the city centre, which one official has described as a “jungle”.. Touristic Amsterdam coffeeshops These places can get crowded, with a mix of locals, expats and tourists looking for a good time. Foreign tourists are no longer obliged to reserve their holiday accommodation before they travel to the Netherlands. If it’s not, someone could just go to another coffeeshop and legally buy cannabis from a different provider. 1 XTC pill and less than 5 ml. I went to a Dutch festival last year and got fined £2000 for the amount of drugs I had on me gave them my address for contact details,,, and sent a letter saying could I pay half the amount per month back and heard nothing,,, as think was given wrong postal adreees for the right government department,,, have received a letter today summoned me to court 26th of June but supposed to flying to Amsterdam on the 21st could they detain me in airport for court. Amsterdam Tourism: Tripadvisor has 1,852,225 reviews of Amsterdam Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Amsterdam resource. New laws … Driving is on the right side of the road, as in the United States. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. In Dutch they are called “truffels” or “paddos” derived from the word “paddestoel” which is Dutch for mushroom. There are no restrictions on travel within the Netherlands. No entrance or sale to youth under the age of 18. Source: Union Of Coffee Shop Retailers. They can’t sell hard drugs either. In 2018 alone, this city of less than a … For example, We also use cookies to save your language preference. Tourists can still visit coffeeshops in Amsterdam in 2020 In the Netherlands we have a tolerance policy regarding the selling of cannabis (weed, hash, marijuana). The borders remain open. More Taxes For Tourists Although since last year Amsterdam … The oldest, still existing coffee shop in Amsterdam is … In line with government measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, there are new rules in place for visiting Amsterdam and exploring museums, theatres, bars, nightclubs and restaurants. For more information visit the website of the Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD). If you test positive for coronavirus, you and any travelling companions must self-isolate in your holiday accommodation for two weeks. The mayor of Amsterdam says he will not ban foreign tourists from using the city's famous cannabis cafes, after months of argument over new drug laws. Did you know that 99% of all coffeeshops get their cannabis from illegal growers? Alcohol Legal, of course. Holland's New Marijuana Laws Are Changing Old Amsterdam By Winston Ross On 2/22/15 at 4:03 PM EST A tourist boat passes under a bridge in Amsterdam April 2, 2013. See Local laws and customs Everyone over the age of 14 is required to show a … The 2020 forecast for international travel generally — prior to the pandemic — was an increase between 3% and 4%. Hotels, nightlife, museums, attractions, events and the best discount deals. Call 0800-1202 to schedule an appointment. The ins and outs of Amsterdam's booming cannabis tourism There have been efforts to forbid tourists from consuming at coffee shops, a money-losing proposition given that approximately 65 percent of travelers ages 18—35 said that cannabis was the primary motivator for their visit (caveat: this number was unearthed pre-COVID). Hi! Tourists can still visit coffeeshops in Amsterdam in 2020 In the Netherlands we have a tolerance policy regarding the selling of cannabis (weed, hash, marijuana). If you're looking for a dose of a.m. caffeine and … This helps us to improve the service which we offer to you by helping us make sure our users are finding the information they are looking for, by providing anonymised demographic data to third parties in order to target advertising more appropriately to you, and by tracking the success of advertising campaigns on our website. All bike parkings in Amsterdam are owned by the city of Amsterdam or public transport companies. With a population Travellers arriving in Amsterdam from certain countries and regions with high coronavirus infection rates are strongly advised to self-quarantine for 10 days. Functional cookies record information about choices that you have made, and they also allow us to tailor the website to suit your needs. For more TFIOS filming locations, check out my guide! Amsterdam » Coffee Shops » Drugs » Coffee Shop FAQ. Hash oil, by the way, is classified as a hard drug and thus totally NOT legal. However, now halfway through 2020, the situation could not be more opposite. If you feel sick, stay inside your home or hotel. If the upward trend continues, the number of visitors could hit 30 million by 2025. The costs for these drug tests are 2,50 euro per sample. Amsterdam may be a melting pot of art and culture, but it's known for sex and spliffs. The authorities will monitor compliance with the 1.5 metre rule and enforce it where necessary. Tourist Guide to Amsterdam: What you need to know before your first trip to Amsterdam by a local March 14, 2018 by Karen 33 Comments Share or save this post for later There are over one million residents in the metro area. Always leave an area when it gets too crowded. They are Amsterdam insider tips, which are basic but necessary to make your trip enjoyable and help respect the local culture. Face masks are mandatory in shops, airports, hotels and public transport. Observing the inbound visitor numbers to Amsterdam, the majority were British, American and German. Museumkaart, Amsterdam Museum card According to new rules, only Dutch residents can use the Museum Card for a full one year. Tips for Traveling to Amsterdam in 2020 In defense of the Netherlands, lawmakers in Amsterdam have … However coffeeshops maintain a minimum age of 18 years for going inside and buying cannabis. You don’t want to accidentally break the rules, do you? Perhaps most famous of all is the Fault in Our Stars Bench, a place so ‘insta-famous’ that it now has its own geo-locations online and the like. Sleeping in a vehicle is not permitted in Amsterdam for your own safety. Coffee Shop FAQ What are the new Drug Laws introduced in the Netherlands? If you do this under the age of 18 you can be prosecuted. Taking any of these drugs together whilst driving is a punishable offence. This drug law applies to the entire country. In line with government measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, all non-essential travel is discouraged. Drugs that are submitted to the employees of these organisations are analysed, if necessary in their laboratory. These cookies track your browsing habits to enable us to show advertising which is more likely to be of interest to you. Although since last year Amsterdam has one of the highest tourist taxes in Europe at €3 per person per night — added to the tax of 7% of the price of a … Learn more about drugs in Amsterdam during our informative Amsterdam Drugs Tour. For hard drugs the maximum amounts are: half a gram of cocaine, speed/ amphetamine, MDMA, methamphetamine. For alchohol the legal limit is a promillage of 0,5. You are strongly advised not to travel to the Netherlands unless it is strictly necessary. When you get caught with these amounts the police can confiscate them, but you won’t get a fine. According to Geerte Udo, director of Amsterdam&partners marketing agency, … Amsterdam, Red Light District, Coffee shop The Bulldog First. The borders remain open. These drugs (like cocaine, speed, XTC, etc) are considered to be more harmful to someone’s health. Travel by car, bike or on foot and only use public transport for essential journeys. According to the city’s latest budget, tourist tax was expected to generate €197.9m for Amsterdam in 2020, a figure that is now unrealistic. Men reach this level by drinking two beers/wines. The mayor of Amsterdam … There are of course many stories of kids who are younger than 18 getting weed. Last modified on Mon 3 Feb 2020 07.44 EST. These cookies use information about your browsing history to group you with other users who have similar interests. However, it’s important to avoid busy places, so please keep this in mind when choosing your destination. There are many of these official drug testing locations in the Netherlands which are all part of the typical Dutch tolerant approach: harm reduction. When visiting a coffee shop in Amsterdam for the first … The main difference is that magic truffles grow underground, while magic mushrooms grow above ground. Weed tourism is controversial in some circles and there are worries that lax laws attract more than just the tattoos and scraggly beard crowd, encouraging drug traffickers to enter the market. (This article was last updated on 13 October 2020.). A licensed guide gives an informative tour and explains the liberal drug policy. The Netherlands saw a record of over 19 million tourists in 2019, and that number was expected to rise higher this year. With the border closures arrivals plummeted to a fraction of what they were in 2019. If you need to park more than a day, it costs 1,25. Cocaine, XTC, amphetamines and all other hard drugs are illegal. Public transport is still running, but there may be schedule changes. This overview answers the most frequently asked questions about drug laws in Amsterdam. However, now that Friday, December 18, 2020 Every person in the Netherlands over the age of 18 is allowed to grow (not more than) 5 cannabis plants. July 7, 2020 Amsterdam Street Food, Where to eat and drink Without a doubt, the Dutch street food most frowned upon by tourists, expats, and immigrants, is herring. People cannot gather in groups of more than four people from different households. Tourism in Amsterdam - Get the report with graphs and tables on statista.com! It takes about 1,5 hours and contains great highlights in the city centre. Analytical cookies allow us to recognise and to count the number of visitors to our website, to see how visitors move around the website when they are using it and to record which content viewers view and are interested in. To avoid crowds in public transport, an extra shuttle is available between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam. Some travellers must be able to present a negative Covid-19 test result when travelling to the Netherlands. Amsterdam, a city of almost 850,000 inhabitants, had 17 million visitors in 2016, up from 12 million five years earlier. Here’s my top 11 basic travel tips for Amsterdam from a tourist turned local. Hallucinatory magic truffles are also allowed in Amsterdam. Here’s the answer: Cannabis in all its forms is allowed in Amsterdam. Amsterdam is known for its iconic canals, bike culture and museums, but many travelers visit to take advantage of the city’s notoriously lax laws around marijuana and prostitution. Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket: 1, 2 or 3 day transport pass valid on all public transport operated by GVB, Connexxion, EBS and NS in Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Area, including night buses.. Amsterdam Travel Ticket : An all-in public transport solution valid for one, two or three days. Many a film has been shot in Amsterdam and today, the filming locations are simply waiting to be explored. The Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC) has issued a coronavirus protocol for business events in the Netherlands, which offers guidelines for organisers, suppliers and delegates of any meetings and events to follow. Parking revenue, to which tourists contribute, was slated to bring in an additional €273.2m A citizens’ initiative to ban tourists from coffee shops has not been passed by Amsterdam council because only the mayor can make a ruling on this subject. If you choose to remove targeted or advertising cookies, you will still see adverts but they may not be relevant to you. The maximum amount of cannabis that you are allowed to have on you under current Amsterdam drug laws is 5 grams per person. Thu 16 Jan 2020 00.00 EST. Remain inside. Did you know that addiction-care is free here? Meanwhile, a grassroots petition calling on Amsterdam city council to limit the number of tourists is nearing the 27,000 signatures required to force a referendum on the issue. Halfway 2019 we wrote the following: ‘In 2020 Amsterdam will be busier than ever before’. And much more is covered in this video. "It is disrespectful to treat sex workers as a tourist attraction," Amsterdam Deputy Mayor Victor Everhardt said in a statement. Squeamish tourists often assume the fish is eaten raw, but that is not the case. The Raad van State judgement invalidated the council's rule – effectively an exception to national property law – that holiday rentals be limited to 30 days a year and four tourists a night. We’re proud of our beautiful city, but this is a time to keep yourself and others safe by staying at home. Required fields are marked *. Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan had strongly criticised the cannabis card plan, saying it would have "undone the advantages of Amsterdam's coffee-shop system" and chase away tourists. For more information visit the website of the Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD). Based on that information, and with our permission, third-party advertisers can place cookies to enable them to show adverts which we think will be relevant to your interests while you are on third-party websites. But there are usually no legal consequences. The Ultimate Amsterdam City Guide with Amsterdam tourism information for your next visit to Amsterdam. Travel as little as possible. These cookies also store your location, including your latitude, longitude, and GeoIP region ID, which helps us show you locale-specific news and allows our Services to operate more efficiently. However this can of course vary greatly between different types of events, locations or the person who finds out about your substances. Allow for extra journey time so that if a bus or train is too crowded you can wait and take the next one. Your email address will not be published. This piece contains useful tips for those who would like to experience […] Source: Jellinek. 1. Below you’ll find the legal amounts of drugs that you are allowed to have in your bloodstream whilst driving. Expect more surveillance near museums and popular tourist attractions. There is currently a limit on the number of people that can attend meetings and conventions, all attendees must observe RIVM guidelines. Amsterdam Tourism: Tripadvisor has 1,852,225 reviews of Amsterdam Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Amsterdam resource. Drugs in Amsterdam Tips For Using Drugs in Amsterdam (Last updated: 8th of April, 2020) Are you going to visit Amsterdam and are you planning to use drugs? Do Amsterdam drug laws differ between soft and hard drugs? In the Netherlands, magic mushrooms or paddos have been banned but replaced by truffels, which are basically the same thing. In Amsterdam, hard drugs (like Cocaine, XTC, Speed, Ketamine, etc) can be tested anonymously and legally at the Jellinek or GGD drug testing service. I be do lots of them there Marijuana when I is visit Amsterdam. Current Dutch drug laws don’t specify a minimum age for the use of soft drugs. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Hard drugs – like cocaine, XTC, amphetamines – will be tested on the content (ingredients, size/amount, etc) by lab-analysts. Amsterdam has always been an exception, so any tourist could enter Amsterdam coffee shops and buy some weed. For a national capital, Amsterdam … The drinking age for beer and wine used to be 16, but as of 2015 it’s 18 across the board. This means that even if you have less than the aforementioned amounts you’ll still be denied access to the party. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level … Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.. Your email address will not be published. Tourists are still welcome in the remaining coffeeshops. Tips for Riding a Bicycle in Amsterdam. Coronavirus protocol: Starting June 1, 2020, all passengers aged 13 and over must wear a mask while boarding, during the trip, and while deboarding. List two contains soft drugs that are less harmful than hard drugs. All public venues and non-essential shops are currently closed until Tuesday 19 January 2021. You must use seat belts and child seats. Did you know that the Netherlands used to have its own legal cocaine factory in Amsterdam? Overview of the 15 most popular, famous and best Amsterdam Coffee Shops. In many Amsterdam indoor bike parkings, you can park your bike for free the first 24 hours. From 1 January 2020 the City of Amsterdam will ask for a larger contribution of visitors staying the night in hotels or camping sites. The results were encouraging: If the feed showed the wait was around three hours, for example, i amsterdam’s post-trial research revealed that 50 percent of tourists … And did you know that the Netherlands is one of the biggest XTC producing countries in the world? Amsterdam is an international cannabis hotspot. These limits apply to alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA and other drugs. For soft drugs it’s not necessary to test for the contents because usually the quality of cannabis in the Netherlands is good. Arrange to be tested for coronavirus. Are all Drugs Legal? A national information hotline has also been created to answer questions, which you can reach on 0800 1351 (an English message follows the Dutch one). Are you going to visit Amsterdam or its area and would you like to answer a few questions about your trip?