There are 123 licensed coffee shops in Amsterdam, places that sell cannabis under the Dutch tolerance policy, and more than half of them are in the city centre.
You must be 18, carry ID, buy no more than 5 grams at a time and smoke inside, not on the street.
This guide covers the rules for Amsterdam’s 123 licensed coffeeshops: who can buy, how much, where you may smoke and how to spot a licensed shop.
70 of them are in the central postcodes 1011 to 1018, according to the city’s permit register.
Amsterdam’s Coffeeshops in Numbers
Postcode 1012 alone, the old centre around Dam Square and the Red Light District, holds 27 coffeeshop permits, more than the whole of West.
117 of the 123 permits allow the shop to stay open until 01:00 on Friday and Saturday, 4 allow 03:00 and 2 must close at 22:00.
All four shops permitted to stay open until 03:00 are outside the centre, in West, Zuid and Oost.
| Area (by postcode) | Coffeeshop permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Centrum (1011-1018) | 70 | 57% |
| West (1051-1059) | 19 | 15% |
| Zuid (1070-1083) | 17 | 14% |
| Oost (1086-1099) | 9 | 7% |
| Noord (1020-1039) | 4 | 3% |
| Zuidoost (1100-1109) | 2 | 2% |
| Nieuw-West (1060-1069) | 1 | 1% |
| No postcode in the register | 1 | 1% |
| Total | 123 | 100% |
| Latest permitted closing time, Friday and Saturday | Coffeeshops |
|---|---|
| 01:00 | 117 |
| 03:00 | 4 |
| 22:00 | 2 |
How we counted: Essentially Amsterdam analysis of the city’s horeca operating permit register (Amsterdam open data, exploitatievergunning, category Coffeeshop), downloaded 25 October 2026.
Areas are grouped by postcode, so borders are approximate.
The hours are the latest the permit allows, not the hours each shop actually keeps.
Coffee Shop or Cafe? The Word Matters
In the Netherlands a coffeeshop, usually written as one word, is a shop that sells cannabis, as the Dutch government uses the term.
If you want coffee and cake, look for a cafe, a koffiebar or a bakery instead; our guide to cafes and brunch spots covers those.
Finding a Coffeeshop Near You
If you are searching for coffeeshops in de buurt, the nearest one depends heavily on where you are.
In the centre, postcodes 1011 to 1018, there are 70, so you are rarely more than a few minutes’ walk from one.
Outside it they thin out fast: 19 in West, 17 in Zuid, 9 in Oost, 4 in Noord, 2 in Zuidoost and 1 in Nieuw-West, by our count of the city’s permit register on 25 October 2026.
Whichever you pick, check that it is a licensed shop: every tolerated coffeeshop holds a municipal permit, and a street tout steering you to one is a warning sign, not a recommendation.
Spending the evening out?
See what’s on in Amsterdam tonight and our safety guide for first-time visitors.
Who Can Buy, and What ID You Need
The national toleration policy bars coffeeshops from selling cannabis to anyone under 18.
Shops check ID at the door, so bring a passport or another valid photo ID every time.
How Much You Can Buy and Carry
A coffeeshop may not sell more than 5 grams of cannabis in a single transaction.
The tolerated amount for personal possession is also 5 grams, so carrying more moves you outside the policy and into fine or prosecution territory.
What a Coffeeshop Will Not Sell You
Coffeeshops sell soft drugs only, cannabis and hashish, and no alcohol is sold or drunk on the premises.
They are not permitted to sell hard drugs, and hard drugs are illegal everywhere in the Netherlands, coffeeshops included.
The Licence That Makes One Legal
A tolerated coffeeshop needs a municipal operating permit, and every one of them appears in the city’s public permit register used for the figures above.
Coffeeshops are not allowed to advertise drugs, so a street tout pushing you toward a shop is a signal to be cautious, not something a licensed business would do.
Smoking Rules Outside the Shop
The city’s own visitor guide says smoking cannabis in the public area of the city centre is forbidden and can lead to a fine.
Fines for nuisance in Amsterdam run from 100 to 650 euros, according to the same How to Amsterdam page.
Outside the centre the sensible rule still applies: cannabis is for the coffeeshop, not the sidewalk, a park bench or a hotel balcony.
Where They Cluster
More than half of Amsterdam’s coffeeshops sit in the centre, many in and around the Red Light District, which has its own visitor rules covered in our Red Light District visiting guide.
That overlap is a big part of why the area draws heavy foot traffic in the evening, so plan for crowds if you are heading there after dark.
Basic Etiquette Inside
Coffeeshops are social spaces as much as counters, and many have seating, music and soft drinks.
Order at the counter, keep your voice down, and do not photograph other customers without asking.
Mixing cannabis with alcohol beforehand is a common way for first-timers to end up feeling sick, so go easy on both in the same evening.
If You Are New to This
Start with a small amount and wait to feel the effect before taking more.
Edibles take far longer to work than smoking, and our guide to edibles in Amsterdam covers dosing and risk in more detail.
General visitor etiquette in the city is covered in our Amsterdam customs and etiquette guide.
A Short History
In 1976 the Netherlands changed its Opium Act to separate soft drugs from hard drugs, and possession of small amounts of soft drugs has been tolerated since, according to the city’s research and statistics office.
Coffeeshops have never been fully legal in the strict sense; they operate under a policy of tolerance, which is why the permit still matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many coffeeshops are there in Amsterdam?
The city’s horeca permit register listed 123 coffeeshops on 25 October 2026.
70 of them, 57%, are in the central postcodes 1011 to 1018.
How late are Amsterdam coffeeshops open?
Most permits allow opening until 01:00, including on Friday and Saturday.
Four shops outside the centre may stay open until 03:00 at the weekend, and two must close at 22:00.
How much cannabis can I buy in an Amsterdam coffeeshop?
A coffeeshop may not sell more than 5 grams in a single transaction.
The tolerated amount for personal possession is also 5 grams.
Can I smoke cannabis on the street in Amsterdam?
No, not in the city centre: the city says smoking cannabis in the public area there is forbidden and can be fined.
Smoke inside the coffeeshop instead.
Do Amsterdam coffeeshops sell alcohol?
No. A coffeeshop is by definition a place where cannabis is sold and no alcohol is sold or consumed.
Where are the coffee shops in Amsterdam?
Mostly in the centre: 70 of the city’s 123 licensed coffeeshops are in postcodes 1011 to 1018, with 27 in 1012 alone, the old centre around Dam Square and the Red Light District.
West has 19 and Zuid 17.
What is the difference between a coffee shop and a cafe in Amsterdam?
A coffeeshop sells cannabis; a cafe, koffiebar or bakery sells coffee.
If you want a cappuccino, do not walk into a coffeeshop expecting one.
