So you think you can read? Well, this pair of bookworms have discovered and put hundreds of mini-libraries on the map — 760 and counting, to be exact. 📚
It all started during the pandemic when Enriki Bloem wanted to give his American pal Emile LeBrun a tour of Amsterdam while also donating some books in those mini-libraries you see on street corners en route.
To their dismay, they found many of the mini-library cupboards listed in the online mini-library card had vanished. 🥲
The only logical solution? Start their own map of mini-libraries — or, as they put it in Dutch, “mini-biebs” — Het Parool reports.
My strange addiction, anyone?
A couple of years and hundreds of mini-libraries later, the side project has escalated into a full-fledged “obsession”.
The two friends have searched the streets of the Dutch capital far and wide — often getting tips on their Instagram account, @minibiebsofamsterdam — to map out these book-swapping spots around town.
The pair have now racked up an impressive count of 760 mini-biebs on their map. 😮
Apparently, some libraries take the form of Ikea Billy cabinets or “interesting” cupboards held together by rotting wood.
One mini-library in Uitgeest has even set up shop in a self-made “mini church with an alter,” says Bloem.
Still, the intensity of this once-tireless scavenger hunt has died down; the two friends say they have chilled out a bit and doubt they will reach a thousand “mini-biebs” (that might require quitting their day job 😜).
What are your thoughts on this adorable project? Let us know in the comments below!
Sorry, everyone, we can’t win every battle. Today, and every day that we want some McDonald’s, we lose. Because if you crave a Big Mac in the Netherlands, you have to be prepared to pay big prices.
That’s right: a Dutch “Maccy D’s” will charge you a whopping €13.30 for a large burger, medium fries, and a drink.
For reference, the same meal costs around €11.10 in Belgium and only €7 in Portugal. So next time you want a hangover burger or fries at 3 AM, you know where to go. (If you don’t count travel costs.😉)
Differences within the Netherlands
It doesn’t stop there. Not only do the prices change from one country to another, but even within the Netherlands, there is great variety.
How great is the variety, you ask? Let’s check! 👇
Ranking
City
Price
1
Enschede, Hengelo
€15.05
2
Amsterdam
€14.25
3
Apeldoorn
€13.90
4
Utrecht
€13.80
5
Groningen
€13.75
6
Amersfoort
€13.45
7
Tilburg
€13.45
8
Breda, Zwolle
€13.20
9
Nijmegen
€13.15
10
Eindhoven, Maastricht
€12.15
Looking for a cheap option? Head to Rotterdam! Here, you can get the whole shebang (large burger, medium fries and a drink) for an average of €9.75, according to de Volkskrant.
But wait, there’s more! Even within cities, prices can vary. For example, in de Munt in Amsterdam, you get charged €14.25, but in Osdorpplein, be ready to pay €12.25.
Why this difference?
McDonald’s is a franchise formula, which means that entrepreneurs can set their own prices for the products.
So, just because of the way McDonald’s works, each establishment can set its own prices.
The Wadden Sea may soon be a “World Heritage site” no longer. UNESCO is threatening to revoke the sea’s special status in light of its ecological damage.
Since 2009, The Wadden area has been recorded as one of the 1,121 precious heritage sites on the UNESCO list and enjoyed its status as a place with “outstanding universal value”, NU.nl reports.
But as it turns out, salt extraction from under the Wadden Sea and nearby gas drilling aren’t a good look. 😬
In fact, you might say they’re even destroying the environment. The soil beneath the sea is subsiding, and sea levels run the risk of rising.
Not only that, but fish and other species in the area are having their habitat disrupted by the noisy mining. 🐟
The requirements
According to the World Heritage Organization, the Dutch simply need to pull the brakes on their gas extraction at Ternaard, a village in the North of the country.
In addition, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark need to put their heads together to figure out how they’re going to conserve the Wadden Sea — and they must do so before the deadline of February 1.
A conference taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between September 10 and 25 will determine the Wadden Sea’s fate and whether it still deserves World Heritage status upon closer inspection. 🧐
If the critical report of the sea’s condition is unsatisfactory, the Netherlands will lose one of its 11 beloved World Heritage sites. 😭
Have you ever visited the Dutch Wadden Sea? What do you think about it potentially losing its UNESCO status? Tell us in the comments!
The ferry line between the Netherlands and Norway has stopped running — seemingly overnight. The worst part? People trying to return to the Netherlands from Norway will have to find another way to get home.
Imagine going on a family vacation to Norway, and then your trip home is just… cancelled. No refunds, no alternate trips planned, nothing.
Well, that’s the unfortunate reality of a lot of passengers on the previously popular Holland Norway Lines.
You’re on your own now
Not only did Holland Norway Lines declare bankruptcy so abruptly, but it also left its passengers stranded. According to RTV Noord, those currently in Norway are on their own to find a way home.
To make matters even worse, people who bought tickets for the ferry shouldn’t expect refunds anytime soon. Unfortunately, that money is gone, with no sign of it being returned. 😳
But despite this mess, the company hasn’t cancelled any future bookings yet and hopes to be able to sail to Norway again soon. Currently, the ship is sitting at a port in Germany.
Understanding the bankruptcy
The company officially declared bankruptcy yesterday, on September 4. They’d run into financial problems after having to stop business in Eemshaven, Groningen. This change led to fewer bookings and many cancellations.
Last Wednesday, the company applied for a postponement of payments, but when they saw they wouldn’t be able to make that work, they filed for bankruptcy.
And now here we are. 🤷♀️
Have you ever gone on the Holland-Norway ferry line? Tell us your experience in the comments below!
Cycling in the Netherlands is easy and attractive, but in this Dutch city, you’ll want to be more safety-conscious
Research by Independer shows that this Dutch city has about 23.2 cycling accidents per 10,000 inhabitants every year, making it the least safe city in the Netherlands to cycle in.
You’re probably wondering which city, right? The answer is Leiden. Well, that’s something we won’t be celebrating with a biertje. 😬
Bike crash city
Discussing the data of the research with De Telegraaf, Independer insurance expert Menno Dijcks says that the number of cycling accidents in Leiden is “remarkably high”.
“It is almost three times the national average of 8.5 [cycling accidents per 10,000 inhabitants].” Echt niet leuk! 😳
Despite Leiden’s bad score, Chairman Peter Rumler of the Cyclist’s Union Regio Leiden believed that “Leiden is doing reasonably well.” The municipality is currently investing millions into new cycling routes and making the city more car-free. That’s what we like to hear!
How did other provinces score?
It’s not only Leiden that’s in the hot seat for bike safety. In fact, in South Holland, 4,500 bike accidents occur every year, making up 30% of all bike accidents in the Netherlands.
With major cycling cities such as Rotterdam and The Hague, this isn’t too much of a surprise.
More heavily populated areas tend to have more bike accidents than rural areas, with most of them happening in the Randstad region.
Wondering how other provinces scored? Here are the top ten provinces that have the most cycling accidents. 👇
Position
Province
Cycling accidents per 10,000 inhabitants
1
South Holland
12.1
2
North Holland
9.9
3
Overijssel
8.8
4
Groningen
8.5
5
Gelderland
7.2
6
Noord-Brabant
7.1
7
Utrecht
6.8
8
Limburg
6.7
9
Friesland
5.5
10
Flevoland
5.4
Who is to blame — the cyclists or the city?
Rumler suggests that it could be the behaviour of individual cyclists rather than city infrastructure that causes the high number of cycling accidents. Oepsie!
“It’s a busy student city, and students do not always cycle well,” he tells De Telegraaf with a wink. “It is worth comparing the various student cities.”
So, how do other student cities compare? 👇
Student city
Cycling accidents per 10,000 inhabitants
Groningen
13.5
Amsterdam
11.2
Maastricht
9.4
Have you cycled in Leiden? How did it compare to other Dutch cities? Tell us in the comments!
How far is too far? The hazing that took place last November under a VU Amsterdam student association involved challenges such as hooking up with refugees, stealing, and having sex with women in alleyways.
First-year newcomers at the fraternity Ares — which exists within Amsterdam’s second-largest student association, L.A.N.X. — were instructed to perform these degrading assignments on a trip to Romania.
To make matters even more grotesque, they were forced to provide photographic and videographic evidence to prove they had carried out each deed, L.A.N.X. reports.
First-year students undergoing this initiation ritual were refused contact with the outside world and would experience penalties if they received too few points.
Suspension (of disbelief?)
The consequence of these gruesome actions is the indefinite suspension of the Ares fraternity. Luckily, for now, the fraternity is unable to accept newcomers — meaning fewer people will be scarred by the hazing.
What did the chairman of the board of the L.A.N.X. association have to say for himself, you ask? He claims that some of the assignments mentioned never actually happened because all hazing tactics require approval from the board in advance.
(Yeah…that would totally stop this group of delinquents 🙄).
Meanwhile, a Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) spokesperson shares the university’s disgust and disapproval of this behaviour. Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, is threatening to close the club for good if students’ conduct does not improve.
Today, the Amsterdam-based university is discussing whether or not they will cut off the association financially after these transgressions.
Got a thought or opinion on these hazing incidents? Let us know in the comments below!
We all know and love Disney. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the company, and to celebrate, they’re partnering with organisations from around the world, including ones in the Netherlands.
As part of the big birthday bash, Disney and the Rijksmuseum announced their partnership this past Sunday, where they’ll bring some of their movie magic right to the heart of Amsterdam.
Living your childhood dream
Objects from certain movies will be shown in the museum. You can be right there with the clocks, keys, and teapots from iconic Disney movies, with a little extra dose of history as they were inspired by objects from European art.
Along with celebrating its 100th birthday, Disney aims to bring people more in contact with the stories of Rijksmuseum and Disney.
We love Disney as much as the next person, but when a company owns around 30% of the entire entertainment industry, it’s hard not to be in contact with their stories. 😅 But we digress.
What will Rijksmuseum show?
The iconic Amsterdam museum is already in contact with the world of Disney, according to Trouw. For example, Rijksmuseum is working on a series of Donald Duck comics that will be given to children to share information about the artwork.
For this celebration, the museum is already working on special editions of these magazines, each focusing on a certain topic and relating to a collection, such as their current Vermeer exposition.
The exhibition has already started showing in some places, such as the US, and now it’s making its way over to Europe. The exact dates that the exhibition will happen in the Rijksmuseum are yet to be announced.
Will you catch the Disney exhibition at the Rijksmuseum? Tell us in the comments!
Sure, some surprises can be fun, if they’re good. What’s not fun is being surprised by sky-high energy bills.
If you want to avoid being caught off-guard the next time you open your mail, it might be worth looking into the crystal ball of energy costs. 🔮
Thankfully, you don’t need to be a wizard to be able to see the future. PartnerPete’s utility calculator can help you go from stress to success, confused to amused in no time.
Simply click through the virtual crystal bowl, and foresee how much you’ll have to pay up to keep your utilities going.
Enter: the PartnerPete utility calculator
Whether you’re moving to a new place, changing things up in the place you’re living right now, or simply trying to navigate life — organising utilities can be overwhelming, stressful, and a touch tedious.
That’s why PartnerPete has made it as simple as possible for you to get it all sorted in one go using this handy calculator.
Need anything else?
If the calculator isn’t for you, and you just prefer talking to a human (we’ve all been there, it’s ok), you can hop on a call with the folks at PartnerPete, for an advice meeting completely free of charge.
Another handy option is PartnerPete’s contract coach — an affordable service that helps you navigate the sea of information about utilities to make sure you save money wherever possible and alerts you about better deals.
Best of all, PartnerPete is all about communicating in English — perfect for those of us who don’t have time (or desire) to learn Dutch, just for the sake of understanding an energy contract.
How do you keep track of your utilities? Tell us in the comments below!
Trying to study in the Netherlands as an international is just getting harder. Housing shortages, fewer English courses, and higher financial barriers, to name a few issues.
The number of international students in the Netherlands has been on the rise in the last decade to the point where universities can’t handle the amount of students.
For a long time, Amsterdam universities have indicated that they need legal measures to limit the amount of international students coming in. According to Het Parool, universities are overwhelmed and facing a shortage of staff and space.
So, some universities are coming up with some loopholes and solutions to limit the influx of international students.
Looking for other measures
Dutch universities can’t reject international students for a few reasons. They can’t legally filter students without blatantly discriminating against them — and they don’t want to lose out on a huge portion of their income.
This year, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) has asked first-year international students to pay €100 just to apply for the university.
The UvA can’t just reject students without good reason and hopes this down payment will discourage international students from applying.
It’s been a long time coming
Dutch universities have submitted legal bills to limit the number of international students, such as limiting English language courses, stopping recruitment from abroad, and now, this €100 down payment.
There was one controversial policy where the UvA tried to set a quota to prevent Dutch students from being pushed out of their psychology and political science programmes. For good reason, this was rejected by the education inspectorate.
Where do we go from here?
We’ll just have to wait and see what happens with this €100 down payment idea. Regarding the limiting of English courses, it remains to be seen if that will be part of the discussion on that week.
On the week of September 12, the Dutch cabinet will announce which bills are accepted and rejected.
What has been your experience as an international university student in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments!
Okay, so you’re in Amsterdam and looking to get high? Going to a coffeeshop and buying a pre-rolled joint is one way to do it — but certainly not the only way. 😉
Your main choices come down to the two big players of cannabis consumption: smoking joints vs eating edibles.
Smoking or edibles to get high: what’s the difference?
Whether you decide to smoke or ingest your cannabis will impact your experience of your high. This comes down to one defining factor: the way your body absorbs the THC.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical component in the marijuana plant that binds to receptors in your brain. This is the process that gets you trippin’. 🧠✨
But first, it has to journey through your body and make it there.
Bottoms NOT up: Little reminder to consume cannabis on its own! This also counts for edibles. No other drugs or alcohol are needed to make the most out of your trip. 😌
Smoking weed
You put a joint to your lips, lighten the tip and inhale the smoke. What happens then?
As soon as you inhale, the smoke carrying THC will enter your bloodstream via the mucus membranes in your mouth, windpipe, and lungs. Nice, right?
Sniff…can you smell the scent of cannabis in the air? Image: Depositphotos
Thanks to your heart tirelessly pumping blood through your system, the THC is absorbed into your bloodstream and eventually reaches the brain.
Here, it binds to brain receptors which will alter your perception of the world. Or, to put it blandly — get you stoned.
How long does it take to get high when smoking?
Smoking weed will get you high fairly quickly. You’ll feel the effects within seconds of putting the joints to your lips and taking that first puff.
Weighing your options carefully… Image: Unsplash
Beware that your high from smoking weed can build gradually. That means that despite feeling high pretty quickly, the effects build up over time, and you might feel the weed most strongly about half an hour later.
Pros and cons of smoking weed in Amsterdam
👍 The effect is almost instant, so you can easily feel out your ideal dosage and avoid getting too high.
👍 A large variety of weed strains are available for you to pick and choose from when smoking weed, so you can more easily achieve the desired effects of your high.
👎 Smoking isn’t for everyone, and it does harm your lungs. This is especially true if you mix your weed with tobacco.
👎 The stench of smoke can cling to your clothes. After entering an Amsterdam coffeeshop, you’ll have the smell on you for a good while.
Ingesting edibles
Mhhhh, there’s this beautiful weed-infused brownie. You break off a piece with your fork, put it in your mouth, feel the sugar dissolve on your tongue… and what happens then?
The key difference between smoking weed and ingesting weed-infused foods is that with edibles, the THC will enter your bloodstream through your stomach. The way to our hearts! And brains, it turns out.
A single edible can easily contain one gram of weed — or more! Image: Depositphotos
Just as with smoking weed, the THC will enter your bloodstream after enzymes have broken down the space cake enough for your stomach lining to absorb it.
And now, here’s the catch: timing.
How long does it take to get high with edibles?
One small cookie can do quite the damage. Image: Unsplash
It’ll likely take quite some time for you to feel the effects of an edible after that first bite. This is because the process of digesting the edible can take up to 30 minutes or even two hours.
The speed of your digestion, when you’ve last eaten, what you’ve last eaten, and the composition of the edible are all factors that determine when you’ll first feel the effects of your high.
The cannabis concentration in edibles also tends to be stronger than in joints, so you should never eat more than half of a space cake in one go. This means that even though it can take much longer to kick in, once it does, the high will last a lot longer and feel much stronger.
Always wait before eating more, even if it’s a few hours. Better safe than sorry!
Pros and cons of edibles in Amsterdam
👍 What’s better than eating a delicious cake, cookie or bonbon AND getting high at the same time? Exactly.
👍 Edibles spare your lungs from any nasty tar or heat damage.
👍 Eating edibles is far more discrete than smoking a joint — you could just be eating a regular cake after all, and it doesn’t smell like anything. Heading to the movies after a quick space brownie snack? No one will know. 👀
🤔Pro or con? You decide: the high you get off an edible will last you for a really long time, sometimes well into the next morning. So plan in some extra time for edibles to get the most out of the experience.
👎 Eating edibles means that it will take up to an hour for you to get high, which makes it harder to estimate the right dosage.
👎 Check for allergies! Maybe you’re off to a great high and then realise that you’ve just eaten a spacey peanut-butter cup, but you’re allergic. That would 100% ruin your day.
6 tips to help you out if you get too high
You’ve followed all the tips but somehow you must have taken one or two bites too many of that delicious weed-infused carrot cake. The result? You’re high. Really, really high.
First off, don’t panic! No one has ever died of a weed overdose and neither will you. Know that whatever you’re experiencing right now will pass. Take a breather, and look at these five tips you can follow to calm you down:
Eat something! Carbs will help to regulate your blood sugar. (We recommend having a candybar with you!)
Try to sleep it off.
Call a friend you really trust and, ideally, have them come over.
Try CBD! This magical cannabinoid can help you curb the high and is available in all types and forms — from oils and chocolate to coffee.
Watch your favourite comfort TV show.
Take a warm, relaxing shower.
Smoking weed in Amsterdam: what you need to know
Now that we’ve covered the differences between smoking and eating weed, let’s dive into how you can enjoy the best of both worlds during your Amsterdam visit.
A joint by the canal side is part of the true Amsterdam experience. Image: Depositphotos
Where to smoke in Amsterdam
You’re a lover of the tried-and-true, classic getting high in Amsterdam experience — a good ol’ joint is a way to go.
But where is the best way to smoke up in the Dutch capital? Where can you find the best weed, top-notch staff and immaculate ✨vibes✨?
Coffeeshops vs smoker’s bars
Smoker’s bars are everywhere in Amsterdam — you just have to know where to look. Image: Depositphotos
Here’s one thing you maybe didn’t know: coffeeshops aren’t the only spots where you can smoke weed in Amsterdam. There are also smoker’s bars.
What’s the difference? In coffeeshops, you can buy and smoke weed — but you can’t drink alcohol. Smoker’s bars, on the other hand, do have a license to sell alcohol, but you can’t buy any weed there.
You can, however, still smoke in a smoker’s bar! All you have to do is drop by a coffeeshop beforehand and buy yourself some ganja to enjoy with your beer. 🍻
Note: The Netherlands has a strict ban on smoking tobacco indoors. As a result, the weed you smoke at a smoker’s bar has to be pure!
Best coffeeshops in Amsterdam
The most obvious way to get high in Amsterdam is to head to one of the 160 coffeeshops scattered all over the city. With this much choice, you’re sure to run into a tourist trap sooner or later.
To make sure you won’t find yourself in a dark, dingy, and stuffy coffeeshop somewhere in the Red Light District, we’ve got a number of tried and tested spots for you that are sure not to disappoint.
Coffeeshop Tweede Kamer
If this doesn’t scream ‘inviting’, then what does? Image: DutchReview
Located on a quiet and cosy side street, this coffeeshop is just a stone’s throw from Amsterdam’s biggest shopping street, the Red Light District and the Flower Market.
Tweede Kamer, recently renovated, invites you for a much-needed pitstop with its friendly staff, old-school charm and a well-thought-out weed selection.
Here, you’ll find top-notch advice on what to smoke and how you’ll feel afterwards. Looking for a crystal clear head high? Try Super Silver Haze. Aiming for that total relaxation? Maybe go for Strawberry Kush.
They also have amazing edibles in delicious flavours! We have personally tried the white-chocolate pistachio cake (uhm, yum!), and had to exercise serious restraint in order to keep our hands off the Red Velvet. 🍰
Coffeeshop Sloterdijk
Look at these joints stored beautifully in their gold-plated shelves. Image: Supplied
If you have some time on your hands, hop on a bus and visit Coffeeshop Sloterdijk. Located just a little outside of the city centre, this establishment is all about the experience.
Coffeeshop Sloterdijk is far from your ‘ordinary’ coffeeshop. Here, it’s class and expertise that rule the day. You’ve got budtenders in uniform, crisp glass surfaces, and weed buds stored on gold-plated shelves.
You should especially go here if you’re new to the world of weed because the staff are expertly trained in knowing their products to a T. (Did we mention the uniforms?)
CoffeeshopAmsterdam
CoffeeshopAmsterdam is just a short walk away from Amsterdam Centraal Station. Image: DutchReview
If you’re looking for a traditional Amsterdam coffeeshop in combination with a warm and welcoming atmosphere — you’ve come to the right place.
Coffeeshop Amsterdam charms with great personnel, an extensive drinks and snacks menu and a smoker’s lounge that’ll have you wanna stay for hours on end.
A relaxed atmosphere is super important when smoking up, so we can definitely recommend this coffee shop to enjoy a beautifully undisturbed high.
What to smoke in Amsterdam?
Now that you know where to smoke in Amsterdam, it’s probably also good to know what to smoke in Amsterdam.
Coffeeshop menus can be overwhelming sometimes, but there are a few basic markers that can help you navigate the ins and outs of smoking cannabis.
Difference between Indica and Sativa
The common marijuana plant with its famous feathery leaves can be divided into two main species: Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica.
This is important for you to know because you’ll likely find the categories Indica and Sativa on every single Amsterdam coffeeshop menu. That’s because both strains are known to have different effects.
Think of Sativa as the more active and trippy out of the two that goes straight to your head. Indica, on the other hand, is the strain that calms you down and leads to a relaxing body high.
An essential difference! Image: DutchReview
CBD vs THC
When looking at a coffeeshop menu, you’ll also notice that there are several strains of the Indica or Sativa plant which still have different effects. How can that be?
Obviously, smoking or ingesting cannabis makes you high. This is because there are chemical components in the marijuana plant, called cannabinoids, that bind to receptors in your brain.
There are two cannabinoids that you should know about: CBD and THC. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is psychoactive and can have effects on your mood, behaviour and even senses.
You’ve smoked half a joint and all of a sudden you just have THE best ideas because you’ve essentially transformed into a creative genius? Yup, that’s THC for you.
CBD (cannabinol), on the other hand, is not a psychoactive substance. Instead, this magic component is known to have a wide range of health-promoting effects. From soothing anxiety, and reducing stress to sleep promotion — CBD appears to be amazing for our nervous systems.
The effect of your joint, whether it’s Indica or Sativa, will depend on the composition of CBD and THC. If you’re picking up a Sativa strain that’s 75% THC and 25% CBD your creative spirits will be wide awake in no time.
On the other hand, if you chose an Indica strain that’s mainly CBD-based, you can prepare yourself for a relaxed time and a good night of sleep.
What is hash?
It’s really a pity, but hash is often forgotten about when people venture out to smoke weed in Amsterdam.
Hash, or hashish, is essentially derived by compressing bits of the cannabis plant into the brown blocks you can buy in any Amsterdam coffeeshop.
This is what a block of hash looks like! Image: DutchReview
The effects of smoking hashish are a bit different from smoking cannabis. The high you’ll get is milder and more relaxing. It’s generally preferred by people who perceive weed highs as too stimulating and stress-inducing.
Eating edibles in Amsterdam: what you need to know
Now that we’ve covered all you need to know about smoking weed or hash — let’s delve into the ABC of eating edibles in Amsterdam.
It’s a fun one!
Some words of caution: just like with smoking joints, you should consume edibles with care. We’ll dive into a few tips below, but remember that just because it’s sweet, sugary and delicious — this space brownie of yours can have a serious kick!
How to avoid getting too high off edibles:
Because it takes longer for you to feel the effects of an edible and they’re usually stronger than joints, there are a couple of things to keep in mind to avoid getting too high:
There’s no need to finish an entire edible in one sitting! Eat a quarter, maximum one half, and store the rest away in a cool and dry place for later.
Ask your budtender how much you should eat of a given edible. Different edibles have different weed concentrations, so you’re better off asking an expert than taking a wild guess or relying on past experience.
Give yourself time. Not only does it take up to two hours for you to feel the effects of the edible, but it’ll also last you quite some time! So, don’t make any crazy plans and leave yourself plenty of time for rest and relaxation.
What kind of edibles can you eat in Amsterdam?
When thinking of edibles, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic weed brownie. Delicious, fudgy and laced with cannabis, these chocolaty treats have risen to represent all edibles.
If you’re looking for one of those, you’ll be happy to hear that Amsterdam has plenty. The very best you can find it the whole city is from the Coffeeshop Boerejongens chain, which has multiple shops spread throughout Amsterdam.
But there is so much more than brownies out there! Think: cakes, bonbons, gummies, cookies, muffins, pralines, truffles, and more.
There really are no limits in the space bakeries of Amsterdam. From gold leaf-covered carrot cakes with a serious kick to gooey (and weedy) chocolate chip cookies. You name it, you can find it!
Where to get the best edibles in Amsterdam?
But then again, the question always remains: where? Sure, you can find a dry piece of space cake in almost every Amsterdam coffeeshop but where do you get the really good stuff?
We’ve got some scrumptious recommendations for you that’ll have your mouth watering and your mind blown in the best possible ways. 😋
Coffeeshop Boerejongens
Mouth-watering, weed-infused Red Velvet Cake at Boerejongens. Image: Supplied
The Boerejongens coffeeshops are already famous for their excellent weed selection but their edibles should seriously be talked about more!
First off, we all know that you eat with your eyes first and their treats sure are a visual feast. A lot of times you’ll find edibles wrapped up in messy, unappealing plastic packaging. Here, you can buy your red velvet or exotic travel cake, and not to forget: Amsterdam’s best space brownies.
Truly, if you gotta try anything, try their space brownies. Chocolaty, fudgy and rich, these guys took us to a whole different planet. We’d even go as far to say that they’re the best in Amsterdam. 🎆
Can I bring edibles back home?
Just before you get any wrong ideas: no, you can’t. Sure, an edible doesn’t look as ambiguous as, say, a plastic bag of weed stuffed in your jacket pocket.
To the drug hound, however, it’s all the same. So before you end up at the customs control of your local airport, just make sure your edibles have been disposed of (or eaten). 😇
Ideally, eat them at least a day or two before your flight — you don’t want to be high on a plane, trust us.
Whether you’re about to smoke weed or get high eating an edible in Amsterdam, we hope that these tips and tricks will safely guide you along your trip!
Do you prefer smoking weed or edibles? Tell us in the comments below!
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in June 2022, but was fully updated in September 2023 for your reading pleasure.
FAQ: Smoking or edibles: what is the best way to get high in Amsterdam?
Why is the high more intense with edibles than with smoking?
When you smoke weed, the THC enters the bloodstream more rapidly through the alveoli in the lungs. THC does not break down easily in blood. So instead, the THC binds with the endocannabinoid receptors in the body. This means the weed doesn’t metabolise in the stomach.
But when you eat the cannabis, the saliva starts to break down the THC, which is then absorbed more intensely by the stomach.
That’s why, even though it can take much longer to kick in, once it does, the high will last a lot longer and feel much stronger.
Where can I buy the best weed in Amsterdam?
For some of the best weed in Amsterdam, we recommend Coffeeshop Tweede Kamer. This central coffeeshop has a great variety of weed, friendly, knowledgeable staff, and a cosy vibe.
Where can I buy the best edibles in Amsterdam?
The best space cake in Amsterdam can be found at any Boerenjongens cofeeshop. The Cannabis Cup awarded them Best Edibles Menu in Amsterdam for 2022 and their Red Velvet Cake is to die for.
How long does it take to get high from edibles?
This varies depending on your tolerance and experience, but the time from ingestion to feeling high can take anywhere between 30 minutes to two hours.
