Coffeeshops in Amsterdam: a short history

Weed is becoming legal in more and more countries. Nevertheless, the Netherlands is still quite strict. And although several countries have a more tolerant attitude towards weed, the Netherlands - and especially Amsterdam - are known worldwide for their large number of coffeeshops. 

First coffeeshop

The first coffeeshop in the Netherlands opened its doors in Utrecht in 1968 and was named Sarasani (after the circus Sarrasani in East Germany). Mellow Yellow - opened in 1972 - was the first and oldest coffeeshop in Amsterdam. More than Sarasani, it would resemble the later coffee houses.

The rich history of coffeeshops in the Netherlands, from the first in Utrecht to the iconic Bulldog in Amsterdam, shaping the global cannabis culture.

The Bulldog, one of the most famous coffeeshops in the Netherlands, was established in Amsterdam. This coffeeshop is known to famous artists, such as Snoop Dogg. Coffeeshop De Kade was established about 30 years ago.

Number of coffeeshops

In the early nineties, there were approximately 1,500 licensed coffeeshops. According to some estimates there were also a lot of unlicensed coffeeshops in that period, so it is difficult to say exactly how many.

Around the turn of the century, the number of coffeeshops decreased rapidly, partly as a result of stricter legislation. In 1996 the legal age for buying weed was raised and coffeeshops were only allowed to possess a maximum of 500 grams. In 2020, there were only 564 coffeeshops in the Netherlands.

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