Informational only, not legal advice. Verify with official sources before relying on this.

Know Abroad

NetherlandsNetherlands

Local Laws & Customs

Last verified August 21, 2026

Written for U.S. passport holders

Public Conduct

  • Coffeeshops are legally prohibited from selling alcohol, don't expect beer or wine on a coffeeshop menu, it's cannabis products only under Dutch tolerance policy.

Medicines You Can't Bring

  • Bring prescription medications with the original prescription and packaging; controlled stimulant medications may need additional documentation for larger supplies under Dutch (and broader EU) drug regulations.

Photography & Drones

  • Drones must be registered if they weigh 250g or more, and flying over Amsterdam's historic center and near Schiphol Airport is restricted.

Drugs & Alcohol

  • Cannabis remains technically illegal but is formally tolerated in licensed 'coffeeshops' under a specific government toleration policy, not a blanket legalization. You must be 18+ and show ID to enter a coffeeshop; a passport or national ID card is expected, a driver's license is often refused, especially for non-EU visitors.
  • You can buy a maximum of 5 grams per coffeeshop visit, and cannot carry more than 5 grams total on your person, this cap applies across all cannabis products combined (flower, hash, edibles), not per product.
  • A few cities and border municipalities (notably Maastricht) enforce a residency requirement barring non-residents from buying at coffeeshops; this doesn't currently apply in Amsterdam despite periodic headlines about it, but it's worth checking current status before relying on it in a specific city.

Carrying ID

  • Carry a valid passport or national ID card; it's specifically required (not just recommended) to enter a coffeeshop, and a driver's license often won't be accepted as a substitute.

The Gotcha

The Netherlands' cannabis policy is 'tolerated,' not 'legal,' a real legal distinction: coffeeshops themselves operate in a specific regulatory gray zone, and the 5-gram personal carrying limit is a hard cap that applies to you individually, not per purchase. Buying at multiple coffeeshops in one day and carrying it all at once can put you over that limit even if each individual purchase was within bounds.

Sources

This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.