# Is cannabis legal in Amsterdam? > Tolerated. Buying cannabis from a licensed coffeeshop is formally still an offense, but under the Dutch 'gedoogbeleid' toleration policy it is not prosecuted when the rules are met (18+, valid ID, maximum 5g per purchase/day). Ten municipalities run a controlled-supply experiment. Conditions: Minimum age 18+. Rule jurisdiction: Netherlands. Reviewed: 2026-08-30. 140 cannabis listings in Amsterdam on 420.camp; a listing is not proof of a licence. Source page: https://420.camp/weed/netherlands/amsterdam Verified: local legal details are not confirmed; check the local rules before acting Published by 420.camp — quote with attribution and a link (https://420.camp/license). ## Facts - **Catalogue content updated:** 2026-10-14 - **Legal status:** Tolerated. Buying cannabis from a licensed coffeeshop is formally still an offense, but under the Dutch 'gedoogbeleid' toleration policy it is not prosecuted when the rules are met (18+, valid ID, maximum 5g per purchase/day). Ten municipalities run a controlled-supply experiment. Conditions: Minimum age 18+. Rule jurisdiction: Netherlands. Reviewed: 2026-08-30. - **Can tourists buy:** Allowed with conditions. Amsterdam coffeeshop operators report admitting visitors aged 18 or over with original valid identification. Check the venue’s entry rules; coffeeshop sales operate under a toleration policy, not unrestricted retail legality. Conditions: Minimum age 18+. Rule jurisdiction: Amsterdam. Reviewed: 2026-09-17. - **Overview of Netherlands (not a local permission):** The Netherlands uses a coffeeshop model: selling cannabis remains formally illegal but is officially tolerated when the rules are followed, and ten municipalities run a controlled-supply experiment. You must be 18+ with ID, and can buy up to 5 g per purchase/day. Tourist access depends on the municipality — Breda, Heerlen and Maastricht apply a residence criterion. - **Context source reviewed:** 2026-08-30 (Netherlands; inherited context) - **Medical access:** Medical use only. Medicinal cannabis is supplied by pharmacies on prescription. Coffeeshop purchases are a separate system and do not replace prescribed, pharmaceutical-quality cannabis. Conditions: Prescription or medical card required. Rule jurisdiction: Netherlands. Reviewed: 2026-09-17. - **Possession limit:** Tolerated. Possession of a small personal quantity (up to about 5g) is tolerated rather than formally legalized under the soft-drugs toleration policy. Larger amounts are not covered. Conditions: Minimum age 18+. Rule jurisdiction: Netherlands. Reviewed: 2026-08-30. - **Public consumption:** Restricted. Smoking cannabis on the street is banned in Amsterdam's old city centre (including the Red Light District) and fines apply; outside designated ban zones, general public-nuisance rules still apply. Rule jurisdiction: Amsterdam. Reviewed: 2026-08-30. - **On-site consumption:** Tolerated. Consuming cannabis inside coffeeshops is generally tolerated where the venue permits it; house rules and municipal conditions apply. Conditions: Minimum age 18+. Rule jurisdiction: Netherlands. Reviewed: 2026-08-30. - **Minimum age:** 18+ (purchase, tourist access, possession, on-site consumption) - **Important restrictions:** Tolerated is not the same as legal: the sale remains a formal offense that is simply not enforced when conditions are met. There is no national THC cap; coffeeshops are not a fully legalized retail market. Toleration applies to small personal amounts only; more than the tolerated quantity is not covered. Tolerated is not legal. Check the product-specific medical conditions and dispensing requirements. Travel and import permissions must be checked separately. ## Venues in Amsterdam 420.camp lists 140 cannabis venues in Amsterdam: 119 coffeeshops, 11 private clubs, 10 medical dispensaries. 136 show opening hours, 66 list a phone number, 122 have photos, 0 are confirmed by their owner or a licence check. 12 admit members only. Full list: https://420.camp/weed/netherlands/amsterdam ## Sources - [Netherlands legal reference](https://www.government.nl/themes/family-health-and-care/drugs/toleration-policy-regarding-soft-drugs-and-coffee-shops) - [Netherlands — medical access — official guidance](https://english.cannabisbureau.nl/medicinal-cannabis/patient-information) - [Amsterdam — tourist access — coffeeshop operator guidance](https://thecoffeeshops.com/pages/house-rules-faq) - [Amsterdam — official supporting guidance](https://lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl/CVDR691619/1) Consumption places and rules: https://420.camp/consume/netherlands/amsterdam ## Coffeeshops in Amsterdam: choose the right kind of venue > Plan a Amsterdam visit using the correct local retail or medical source, the exact address, current access conditions and opening hours. Source page: https://420.camp/wiki/amsterdam-coffeeshop-visit-guide Published 2026-10-07, last updated 2026-10-07. Published by 420.camp — quote with attribution and a link (https://420.camp/license). ### Start with the right local source Amsterdam’s municipal guidance distinguishes coffeeshops with a toleration declaration from souvenir shops selling cannabis. Choose a coffeeshop listing and verify the address and operator rather than treating every cannabis-themed shop as the same service. [\[1\]](https://www.amsterdam.nl/stadsdelen/centrum/aanpak-binnenstad/souvenirwinkels/) Open the [Amsterdam catalogue](/weed/netherlands/amsterdam) to compare addresses. Use the map or nearest-venues option for the journey, then check the current information for the premises you selected. ### Before setting off Ask about current ID and visitor requirements before your first visit. National residence-criterion enforcement varies by municipality; the national rule alone does not confirm a particular Amsterdam shop’s admission decision. [\[2\]](https://www.government.nl/themes/family-health-and-care/drugs/toleration-policy-regarding-soft-drugs-and-coffee-shops) - Match the exact address, not only the business name. - Check the opening hours for the day of the visit. - Contact the venue if an access condition or the listed service is unclear. ### Does a souvenir shop count as a coffeeshop? Use the municipality’s distinction, then check the specific venue. Product-themed signage is not a substitute for a coffeeshop’s actual authorization. ### If the information does not match Save the official source and the venue’s reply. Use the listing’s correction option for an incorrect address or hours. Read the local purchase and consumption dimensions separately; this visit guide helps you choose and verify a next step, while the linked rules explain its conditions. ### Sources - [Amsterdam municipality — souvenir shops and cannabis](https://www.amsterdam.nl/stadsdelen/centrum/aanpak-binnenstad/souvenirwinkels/) - [Government of the Netherlands — coffeeshop toleration criteria](https://www.government.nl/themes/family-health-and-care/drugs/toleration-policy-regarding-soft-drugs-and-coffee-shops)