If you’re looking for a fresh cup of coffee in the breathtaking and walkable city of Amsterdam, you might find yourself disappointed after walking into a “coffeeshop”. While Amsterdam does have a vibrant coffee scene with plenty of specialty coffee roasters offering up unique flavors for caffeine enthusiasts, stores known as coffee shops cater to a different kind of enthusiast. They sell marijuana.
On his website, Rick Steves’ Europe, the famous guidebook writer, TV host, and world traveler acknowledged that with widespread legalization (something Steves has actively campaigned for for years) finding a shop that sells cannabis openly is not the culture shock that it once was for visitors to Amsterdam. Going to a coffeeshop is still an experience you can only have while in Amsterdam, though. There are some key differences between the dispensaries common in the United States and the coffeeshops of Amsterdam. For one thing, smoking marijuana on the premises is legal and encouraged. Much like at a cafe that actually serves coffee, at an Amsterdam coffeeshop you’re welcome to make your purchases, sit down, and relax while you enjoy them.
