Coffeeshop Guide Amsterdam 2014

GUIDE

COFFEE

SHOP

AMSTER

2014DAM

WHAT IS THE COFFEESHOP

GUIDE AMSTERDAM?

Amsterdam is the most open-minded city in the world, with the existence of coffeeshops being an expression of this liberal attitude. So this isn’t just a coffeeshop guide; it’s a product of the liberal disposition of the Amsterdam society.

We have visited every coffeeshop in Amsterdam to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information about each of them. This guide is for everyone who is interested in coffeeshops in some way or another. Perhaps you’re thinking of visiting a coffeeshop for the first time (check out page 3).

Perhaps you’re a regular to certain coffeeshops and wondering where else you should be checking out. This guide doesn’t just list the coffeeshops smoking products; it also tells you what other paraphernalia they have (like vaporizers, waterpipes and bongs) for you.

We chose to start off with an extended ‘Best of’ list (see page 10), but every coffeeshop in Amsterdam is worth a visit for one reason or another so we’re sharing their Unique Smoking Points with you! It might have a stylish or weird interior or play a specific music style, serve great coffee or have a gorgeous outdoor terrace. And if there’s nothing much to tell about the place … well, you’ll see that too.

The bulk of the guide goes to the reviews of Amsterdam’s coffeeshops, but we wanted to give you even more information. So, we’ve included additional information for your cannabis knowledge, including articles about organized smuggling, secret warehouses, the role of the ‘runners’ in the distribution of smoking products around Amsterdam and the peculiarities in Dutch law around the business of cannabis.

And we didn’t stop there. We also wanted to share the atmosphere of Amsterdam and a great way to do that is by enlisting the help of a local painter so you’ll also find illustrations from one of Amsterdam’s contemporary artists. This year we’re proud to be collaborating with Jaring Lokhorst, whose painting you can see on the cover of the guide and whose bio you can read on page 8.

The authors and the publishers of this book are totally independent, allowing us to do all the research undercover for the most authentic experience. This coffeeshop guide will be updated every year, with the next edition scheduled for release at the beginning of 2015.

WHAT IS THE COFFEESHOP GUIDE AMSTERDAM

NOT

We can’t tell you where you’ll get the best cannabis in town. Personal preferences aside, the plants and their effects are highly dependent on growing conditions, so the ‘White Widow’ of season 2013 can be quite different from season 2014 such is the ever-changing nature of the products and strains. We also don’t comment too

much about service because it’s so subjective, people’s moods differ from one day to the next, staff changes all the time and in larger establish-

ments, it’s not so common to see the owner. But we do share the vibe we got from a place and whether or not it offers a sociable setting.

CLOSED COFFEESHOPS Before you find yourself walking up and down familiar streets reassuring frustrated friends that the coffeeshop you visited last year was definitely here … here is a list of recently closed coffeeshops. (Keep in mind that more coffeeshops in the Red Light District will have to close in 2014 according project 1012. It is unclear which shops have to close down. See page 7.)

36 Warmoesstraat 36 – closed.

ARABICA LOUNGE Amstelstraat 45 – closed.

EXTASE Oude Hoogstraat 2 – closed.

FREE A’DAM Oude Hoogstraat 13 – closed.

FREELAND Lange Niezel 27 – closed.

HILLSTREET BLUES Warmoesstraat – changed to a bar.

HOLLYWOOD Nieuwendijk 1 – closed.

HUNTERS Warmoesstraat 24 – closed THE OLD CHURCH left the square in front of the Old

Church and is now situated at Amstel no. 8 (in the old ROKERIJ III location) RASTABABY Prins Hendrikkade 6-7 – closed.

ROKERIJ I Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 41 – closed.

ROKERIJ II Singel 8 – closed.

ROKERIJ III Amstel 8 – closed (now THE OLD CHURCH).

ROKERIJ IV Elandsgracht 53 – closed.

ROUTE 66 Warmoesstraat 77 – closed.

SPEAK EASY Oudebrugsteeg 4 – closed.

‘T GIERENNEST Amstelveenseweg 61 – taken over by the owners of BASJOE and given their name.

TUINTJE in Overtoom 451 has changed the owner and name and is now DE TIJD. SANTEMENTERENG in Tweede Laurierdwarsstraat 44 changed owner and name to MR. K.

CENTRE RED LIGHT

DISTRICT

The Amsterdam Red Light District, also known as ‘De Wallen,’ is one of the strangest places in the world, not least because most of the businesses it hosts are banned everywhere else. Brothels, sex shops, coffeeshops and around 250 of the red windows combine to create the ultimate adult entertainment paradise. More than a tourist attraction, this 300-year-old district is a symbol of the famed tolerance of Amsterdam, a city where personal freedom is highly valued.

It won’t surprise you to know that prostitution normally brings with it a criminal undertone and while you can’t abolish prostitution completely, you can at least try to rid it of the darker elements.

Discussion about the open nature of prostitution in Amsterdam has been going on for years and is reignited on a regular basis. The Dutch authorities tend to handle coffeeshops in the same way as they do prostitution. Drug use happens regardless of what laws are in place and so the authorities control the separation of soft and hard drugs with the existence of coffeeshops. Studies show that this has been a successful approach so far.

With its charming canals, narrow streets and typically lopsided townhouses, the Red Light District is one of the oldest areas in Amsterdam. It’s also home to the oldest church in Amsterdam, the Gothic Oude Kerk (Old Church). Oude Kerk is a renowned venue for concerts and exhibitions, including the annual World Press photography contest. Several museums, including the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum, can be found in the area. The district also plays host to outdoor concerts and theatres, cool shops and authentic restaurants and cafes.

It would seem that the grime, sleaze and criminal elements are gradually surrendering their turf to modern culture and fashion.

MANY COFFEESHOPS ARE CLOSING 2014 The gentrification process is still underway and includes the fairly controversial initiative ‘Project 1012’ (named after the zip code for the Red Light District). The project aims to cut back on the prostitution business and the coffeeshop industry and, if successful, could lead to the closure of more coffeeshops in the area.

The coffeeshops of the Red Light are located around the Oude Kerk and the Warmoesstraat. THE BULLDOG is the oldest in the area and its interior decoration gives you a good insight into the history of the coffeeshop scene. BABA’S is a great coffeeshop for vaporizers and music. FEELS GOOD, HUNTERS, STONE’S CORNER and GREENHOUSE EFFECT have friendly vibes and can fulfil all your smoking desires. The building of THE GRASSHOPPER is unmissable. (You can find more classifications of Amsterdam coffeeshops on page 10.)

 HUNTERS  THE GRASSHOPPER

 BABA

 GREENHOUSE EFFECT  STONE’S CORNER  TWILIGHT ZONE

 HET OERWOUD  SHEEBA

 HIGHWAY

 BABYLON

 HIGH TIME

OUDE KERK

OP S H S E E OF F H T A R E A C E M 4 SO E RED LIG 1 0 2 N IN TH H IT! I WATCE TO CLOSE HAV  THE BULLDOG 90

 THE BASSMENT

 FEELS GOOD

BABA WARMOESSTRAAT 64, 1012 JH AMSTERDAM HTTP://WWW.BABASHOPS.NL/ (HAS A VIRTUAL VIDEO) OPEN FROM 9AM TILL 1AM; SUN 9:30AM TO 1AM SPACE FOR ABOUT 25 PEOPLE

The menu on the wall offers Isolator for twentyfive euros a gram. The Moroccan hash is eight to ten euros a gram. The Nepalese hash is ten euros, the Indian sixteen and the Afghani black is four euros seventy-five a gram. The indica or skunk is eight-fifty to thirteen euros a gram. The cheapest haze is an outdoor-grown Thai weed for four euros fifty. Indoor haze goes for between thirteen-fifty to eighteen euros a gram. Pre-rolled reefers are eight to twelve euros fifty a piece.

Baba is located on one of the corners of the busy Warmoesstraat, between Damrak and the Red

Light District. It’s a busy place, even in the morning. The venue isn’t too big and the bar, located right in front of the entrance, offers the usual coffee, tea, soft drinks, pricey milk shakes and a limited amount of snacks. Further to the right, hidden behind TV screens, you’ll find the counter.

Large windows on both sides offer plenty of people-watching opportunities to the sounds of cool electro music. The music is pretty loud in here, just the right volume if you’re not up for conversation. Baba’s interior is stylish, with exotic paintings on the walls and ceiling and a variety of wooden elephants on display. Wondering what the deal is with all the elephants? Baba is a favourite name for elephants in India.

Handy tip: There’s a souvenir shop close to the coffeeshop selling handy equipment for smokers.

BABYLON BEURSSTRAAT 27, 1012 JV AMSTERDAM OPEN FROM 12:30PM TILL 1AM SPACE FOR ABOUT 20 PEOPLE

This menu offers indicas for five-fifty to eight euros fifty a gram. Sativas go for ten to eleven euros fifty a gram. Moroccan hashes are six to ten euros a gram. The black hash from Afghanistan is six euros a gram. Pre-rolled joints are three to five euros and a space cake is six euros.

This small reggae coffeeshop is located down a narrow side street between the bustling Damrak

and Warmoesstraat and just behind the famous Beurs, the stock market of Amsterdam.

Entering the shop, you pass the counter where you can buy the usual soft drinks, selection of quality teas and freshly brewed coffee. They also have waterpipes available to customers. Behind the counter it opens up to a long, narrow room with a fresh and modern interior. A bench surrounds the room, with low wooden tables and stools in front and walls are adorned with framed photos of reggae heroes like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. TV includes international channels.

In the afternoon, Babylon is a calm sanctuary in the middle of Amsterdam, with customers smoking to relaxed off-beat music.

THE BASSMENT RED LIGHT BAR OUDEZIJDS ACHTERBURGWAL 61, 1012 DB AMSTERDAM OPEN FROM 9AM TILL 1AM SPACE FOR ABOUT 40 PEOPLE IN THE COFFEESHOP, THE BAR UPSTAIRS HAS MORE SEATING.

The menu starts in red letters with the blond hash for three euros fifty to nine euros a gram. Black hashes are five or seven euros for either Afghan or Indian hash. The marihuana is cheapest from Colombia at around four euros a gram. Indicas go for six to eight euros fifty a gram. A joint or a grass tea is three-fifty while a muffin or cake is just under four euros a piece.

The Bassment can be found on the main strip of the Red Light District, along the canal that hosts the graceful (and greedy) swans, and between the red light windows. The Red Light Bar is separated from the coffeeshop and accessible via the typically steep and slippery stairs you so often find in the old buildings of Amsterdam. The coffeeshop itself is in the basement of the building. It looks smaller from the outside; a dark front room with a direct view to the red light windows across the canal. The bar is located next to the entrance offering soft drinks, coffee and tea, snacks and sweet stuff. They have bongs available, but no vaporizers or waterpipes.

There’s a second room in the back, separated by a glass wall, offering comfortable seating around a pool table.

The external neon sign boasts that their music system plays the best sounds in the world, and inside you see why. The music is loud and leans towards electro, trip hop and house music. The Bassment isn’t the place to bring someone for a deep and meaningful conversation, but who needs that when you can zone out to some beats?

BULLDOG 90 OUDEZIJDS VOORBURGWAL 90, 1012 GG AMSTERDAM WWW.BULLDOG.COM OPEN FROM 9AM TILL 1AM SPACE FOR ABOUT 60 PEOPLE

For twelve euros you’ll get around one gram to one-pointone grams of haze. The cheapest indica gets you oneand-a-half grams of weed. Threeand-a-half grams of

black Afghan hash are packed for twelve euros.

The Moroccan hashes go for twelve euros for onepoint-two to three grams. Lebanese and Nepalese hashes are one-point-two to one-point-nine grams for twelve euros. They offer three kinds of joints and three kinds of reefers that can only be sold in a bag with four pieces in it for around twelve euros. (All the Bulldog shops have the same menu).

As the name suggests, this place is crammed with bulldogs. The iconic breed is represented in photos and paintings, hidden in the colourful building’s façade and even the guy behind the counter tries his best to adopt a bulldog’s features.

One of the oldest coffeeshops, it was set up by one of Amsterdam’s coffeeshop pioneers back in 1975. It’s now one of the best known places in the city and has been frequented by celebrities for years – from Madonna and Sylvester Stallone to Chuck Norris, you need a book to list them all, but in lieu of this there is a photo collage on one of the walls. With so much information on the walls, it can almost distract you from buying a smoke.

While you’re waiting to get served, check out the back-lighted history of the place and the coffeeshop history in Amsterdam. Curiosities abound in the Bulldog, including the service lift used to warn the downstairs counter if there’s police action upstairs.

The coffeeshop consists of three nested levels.

Upstairs you’ll find the bar with the usual soft drinks, tea and coffee and smoothies. They even have their own iced coffee in cans featuring – yes

you guessed correctly – the bulldog logo. Basic snacks and the traditional apple pie are also on offer. Smokers’ delights can be found at the counter downstairs, but whilst bulldogs are everywhere here, vaporizers, bongs and waterpipes are unfortunately not. A second entrance leads you to their well-stocked gift shop.

The building is covered with old wooden floors, tables of various shapes and sizes and leathercovered stools and benches, with a seating area outside by the canal. The music ranges from reggae, classic rock and pop hits to the more mellow variety.

Though The Bulldog is most famous for its coffeeshop, the business also has two souvenir shops, a cafe/bar, and a hostel. In addition, The Bulldog has three more coffeeshop locations at Leidseplein 15, Spuistraat 7, and Singel 12.

FEELS GOOD OUDEZIJDS VOORBURGWAL 36, 1012 GD AMSTERDAM OPEN FROM 10AM TILL 1AM WEEKDAYS, SAT 10:30AM TILL 1AM, SUN 1PM TILL 1AM SPACE FOR ABOUT 40 PEOPLE

The hand-written menu shows weed prices starting at twelve euros for one-point-six grams of organic indica. The weed is mostly sativa for 0-point-five to 0-point-six grams for six euros. In six or twelve euro bags you can buy 0-point-six to 0-point-eight grams of Moroccan hash. The Isola-

tor is called ‘gasolater’ here and it costs twentyfive euros for one gram. Ready-made joints are three-fifty for a normal weed/hash tobacco mix and seven euros for a weed/hash mix without tobacco. Special muffins are six euros a muffin.

Coffeeshop Feels Good is situated in the northern part of the Red Light District, where it’s a little calmer. For some unknown reason you have to pass through a turnstile to get in, but don’t worry it’s free to get in.

You’ll enter a long room via a staircase and there’s a bar on the left side selling a noteworthy selection of special ice teas, as well as the usual variety of soft drinks, coffee, fresh orange juice and ice cream. Next to the bar is an impressive collection of small Buddha statues and, to add to the mystic charm, customers have free use of the waterpipes and bongs.

The interior is basic and a little provisional with visible cabling on the walls and ceiling giving the place a nicely chaotic yet cosy ambience. Two designated smoking rooms are separated by a glass

wall in the back and equipped with simple wooden benches around tables. There’s a huge flat-screen TV on the wall alongside Indian paintings, relics and artefacts. Registration plates from various American states are on display as a gesture to their American guests though this place has its fair share of locals.

GRASSHOPPER OUDEBRUGSTEEG 16, 1012 JP AMSTERDAM WWW.GRASSHOPPER.NL OPEN FROM 10AM TILL 1AM SPACE FOR ABOUT 60 PEOPLE (ONLY COFFEESHOP)

Here the prices are fixed and rather high. Starting price for a standard indica weed is one-point-six grams for twenty euros. Afghani hash is three-

and-a-half grams for twenty-nine euros seventyfive. For the rest, it’s mainly Moroccan hash with a number one price winner from Nepal, a Turkish cream and an Indian cream for fourteen and thirteen euros a gram respectively.

Grasshopper is an imposing building on the waterside of the Damrak, Amsterdam’s artery. In the evening the building is illuminated in neon green – if you miss it, you’ve already smoked too much and should either make use of the other amenities in the city – the Red Light District starts behind the Grasshopper – or take your stoned self back to your poky little hotel room for a nice lie down.

The building itself is split into four floor with each serving a different purpose. So you get a coffeeshop, a disco bar, a sports bar and a restaurant under one roof. The coffeeshop can be found on the ground floor, with a counter and a smoking room that was once a prison cell and can now be accessed via a sliding door.

Don’t stay here, there are better places to sit in Grasshopper. Take your things, walk up, and if the weather permits, sit on the patio or walk up to the third floor, where you’ll find a nice bar with another smokers room and a magnificent view. And bring enough money, you’ll need it.

You’ve got everything you need for the day and night inside this building – drinks, snacks, even beers and spirits. If you’re hungry, visit the restaurant on the top floor. The only inconvenience here is that you can’t rent bongs or vaporizers.