Tourist Trap?
August 24, 2010 5:45 PM Subscribe
I'm considering running off to Amsterdam this November, in no small part, due to the cannabis cup. Is it worth it?
I've been a good citizen for ten or so years now, but I haven't had a proper vacation in a long, long time. I'm kind of a workaholic and work in a volatile industry, so time off is a serious luxury. I would love to see Amsterdam, and not just for the weed, but it calls to me. Is the Cannabis Cup a bunch of crap and, if so, when is the best time to visit, when I can say, smoke a little hash if I feel like it, but also take in the museums and the city's culture? Not really interested in the red light district and whatnot, except maybe as something to gawk at, but I'd love to go somewhere and smoke some hash where nobody knows my name or my responsibilities in real life.
I've been a good citizen for ten or so years now, but I haven't had a proper vacation in a long, long time. I'm kind of a workaholic and work in a volatile industry, so time off is a serious luxury. I would love to see Amsterdam, and not just for the weed, but it calls to me. Is the Cannabis Cup a bunch of crap and, if so, when is the best time to visit, when I can say, smoke a little hash if I feel like it, but also take in the museums and the city's culture? Not really interested in the red light district and whatnot, except maybe as something to gawk at, but I'd love to go somewhere and smoke some hash where nobody knows my name or my responsibilities in real life.
Do you enjoy the company of stoner bores? That is, self-proclaimed weed connoisseurs, mostly American, who will tell you at length about how they were so fucked up this one time..? If so, the Cannabis Cup awaits you.
If not, go in December. It's often cold and wet, but I'm partial to Amsterdam at that time of year, where there aren't as many weekend visitors or backpackers or tourists. You can sit in a brown cafe and people-watch, or wander the Jordaan and feel part of the place. The coffeeshops will not have run out of (most of) the good stuff. Or wait till the spring for the craziness of Queen's Day.
posted by holgate at 7:40 PM on August 24, 2010 [4 favorites]
If not, go in December. It's often cold and wet, but I'm partial to Amsterdam at that time of year, where there aren't as many weekend visitors or backpackers or tourists. You can sit in a brown cafe and people-watch, or wander the Jordaan and feel part of the place. The coffeeshops will not have run out of (most of) the good stuff. Or wait till the spring for the craziness of Queen's Day.
posted by holgate at 7:40 PM on August 24, 2010 [4 favorites]
Amsterdam is great, but, if it were me, I'd avoid the American package tourists.
posted by pompomtom at 8:49 PM on August 24, 2010
posted by pompomtom at 8:49 PM on August 24, 2010
Holgate is very right. I was in Amsterdam for a week last December in the really really cold snap (when the Eurostar kept breaking down in the snow, and when it was cold enough for the canals to freeze over). I don't smoke and I'm not a john. Despite the filthy weather I had an amazingly great time, it's one of the most good-looking cities I've ever visited.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 9:17 PM on August 24, 2010
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 9:17 PM on August 24, 2010
The coffeehouse scene in Amsterdam feels very touristed even when the Cannabis Cup isn't happening, so unless you're overly interested in the event itself, I'd suggest avoiding it like the plague.
posted by dhammond at 9:39 PM on August 24, 2010
posted by dhammond at 9:39 PM on August 24, 2010
Amsterdam is November is cold ... I would go some other time when the weather is more clement
posted by jannw at 10:38 PM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jannw at 10:38 PM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Me, I love Amsterdam any time. Actually cold and wet and rainy is perfect for sitting inside, getting really good and baked, and surfing the Internet or reading a book or playing computer games or whatever.
If the main thing is the sitting and smoking hash, then yeah - you really don't want to be packed in at some peak time with a bunch of tourists, right?
There is nothing particularly special about the cannabis cup aside from marketing for more tourists to come.
Do some research, there are cafes all through the main cities of the Netherlands. I liked Haarlem, and there is Den Haag, Utrecht, etc., etc.
Please enjoy! Smoke one for Meatbomb!
posted by Meatbomb at 1:30 AM on August 25, 2010
If the main thing is the sitting and smoking hash, then yeah - you really don't want to be packed in at some peak time with a bunch of tourists, right?
There is nothing particularly special about the cannabis cup aside from marketing for more tourists to come.
Do some research, there are cafes all through the main cities of the Netherlands. I liked Haarlem, and there is Den Haag, Utrecht, etc., etc.
Please enjoy! Smoke one for Meatbomb!
posted by Meatbomb at 1:30 AM on August 25, 2010
Don't go during the cannabis cup - I dint think there's anything happening then that won't be happening any other time of year. Amsterdam is a wonderful place to visit anytime, and while winter is cold, it's also beautiful and Amsterdam looks amazing in Christmas lights. I highly recommend the NEMO museum after a trip to the coffeeshop - it's a great way to kill an afternoon!
posted by ukdanae at 1:48 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by ukdanae at 1:48 AM on August 25, 2010
I love Amsterdam and once, by accident, happened to be there on the Queen's.
The crowd was so dense that I was repeatly lifted off my feet and carried along by the crowd, seperated from mt friends, it was pretty scary. I weighed around 185 at the time.
posted by misspat at 8:17 AM on August 25, 2010
The crowd was so dense that I was repeatly lifted off my feet and carried along by the crowd, seperated from mt friends, it was pretty scary. I weighed around 185 at the time.
posted by misspat at 8:17 AM on August 25, 2010
oopsy, meant to say been there on the Queen's birthday
posted by misspat at 8:20 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by misspat at 8:20 AM on August 25, 2010
Go to Amsterdam for the city culture, but not grass. Depending on where you live this may be your best bet to sit around and smoke some. It's in NY state on a private campground (read: no cops). It's basically an open air drug market with hippie music and camping. They also have falafel and soy dogs or something. All prices are negotialble.
posted by WeekendJen at 8:29 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by WeekendJen at 8:29 AM on August 25, 2010
Amsterdam is good at any time of the year, but better at certain points depending on what you like. Right now the weather is still warm/mild and it is very nice to just walk the city, stop at various cafes, bars or coffeeshops. In the winter months you will be less keen to walk as far due to the harshness of the wind and cold when it does hit, but if this isn't such a big deal you can easily use the trams to get around and equally have a great time staying cosy in the same establishments.
The Cannabis Cup will be very busy with tourists and pundits from the marijuana world, and will provide a distorted view to what the city is actually like. It will probably be fun though, if that's your sort of thing.
posted by tumples at 8:38 AM on August 25, 2010
The Cannabis Cup will be very busy with tourists and pundits from the marijuana world, and will provide a distorted view to what the city is actually like. It will probably be fun though, if that's your sort of thing.
posted by tumples at 8:38 AM on August 25, 2010
The city called my brother also. Here is his report of a visit during the cup many years ago. Myself, I'd go back to Amsterdam any time but the Cannabis Cup or Queen's Day. Quality smoke is easily available there year round.
posted by Rash at 11:40 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by Rash at 11:40 AM on August 25, 2010
Of all the places I've ever lived, Amsterdam is my favorite. Except during during the 420 tours/weeks. I would try to be in England or Germany or Belgium during those weeks. I'm just saying.
Coffee shops are open year round. Everything from touristy "safe" places like Bulldog, to places with a larger local clientele. I lived not far from Rick's, which at the time had good prices, friendly staff, and a fairly low American to local ratio....and Keith Richards the first time I went. (Back in the dark ages.) So, that was nice. (I'm not an autograph person, but come on, who could have passed up the opportunity to have Keith sign a pot menu AND show you how to roll a hash joint correctly? Talk about your lessons from the master.)
Anyway; if you want coffee, go to a cafe. If you want pot/hash, go to a coffeehouse.
Protocol: it's ok to smoke at the coffeehouse, and in a few areas around town. It's not considered kosher to just walk around with a joint, nor will nice hotels be cool with you smoking up in the room. (That said; don't get an American style hotel room; do the canal house thing...trust me. It's about the same price, but oh man, the experience is so much cooler. Plus, you usually get rooms with windows, and they're aware that 90% of the Americans traveling there will be smoking.)
Canal House BV is where I usually book if I'm there a short time, but I don't know when they'll be done remodeling. B&B Herengracht 21 is also quite lovely, but there are also a ton of options available at lower price points. The VVV has a website that is the official tourist help center. Great place for making reservations, booking tours, getting bus/train/transport tickets.
Red Light District: Don't do that. It's awful. And I say this as someone who is not opposed to prostitution as a concept...but that whole area is the skeeviest place. There are fabulous brothels in Amsterdam, but you won't find drugs there. Big.Huge.Demarcation.
While pot/hash is tolerated, "real" drugs are not. Do not buy or consume anything other than that which grows from a seed. Do not buy pot/hash from anyone other than at a licensed counter, such as a coffee-shop.
Remember that there is SOOO much more to Amsterdam and Holland than the pot. So much more. It's a fantastic city, filled with culture and light and magnificent people. I miss it so much. I love that place like I love almost no other place.
All that said: Go in the spring. The tulips are amazing.
posted by dejah420 at 5:59 PM on August 25, 2010 [3 favorites]
Coffee shops are open year round. Everything from touristy "safe" places like Bulldog, to places with a larger local clientele. I lived not far from Rick's, which at the time had good prices, friendly staff, and a fairly low American to local ratio....and Keith Richards the first time I went. (Back in the dark ages.) So, that was nice. (I'm not an autograph person, but come on, who could have passed up the opportunity to have Keith sign a pot menu AND show you how to roll a hash joint correctly? Talk about your lessons from the master.)
Anyway; if you want coffee, go to a cafe. If you want pot/hash, go to a coffeehouse.
Protocol: it's ok to smoke at the coffeehouse, and in a few areas around town. It's not considered kosher to just walk around with a joint, nor will nice hotels be cool with you smoking up in the room. (That said; don't get an American style hotel room; do the canal house thing...trust me. It's about the same price, but oh man, the experience is so much cooler. Plus, you usually get rooms with windows, and they're aware that 90% of the Americans traveling there will be smoking.)
Canal House BV is where I usually book if I'm there a short time, but I don't know when they'll be done remodeling. B&B Herengracht 21 is also quite lovely, but there are also a ton of options available at lower price points. The VVV has a website that is the official tourist help center. Great place for making reservations, booking tours, getting bus/train/transport tickets.
Red Light District: Don't do that. It's awful. And I say this as someone who is not opposed to prostitution as a concept...but that whole area is the skeeviest place. There are fabulous brothels in Amsterdam, but you won't find drugs there. Big.Huge.Demarcation.
While pot/hash is tolerated, "real" drugs are not. Do not buy or consume anything other than that which grows from a seed. Do not buy pot/hash from anyone other than at a licensed counter, such as a coffee-shop.
Remember that there is SOOO much more to Amsterdam and Holland than the pot. So much more. It's a fantastic city, filled with culture and light and magnificent people. I miss it so much. I love that place like I love almost no other place.
All that said: Go in the spring. The tulips are amazing.
posted by dejah420 at 5:59 PM on August 25, 2010 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
But Amsterdam is a beautiful city with a lot more going for it than dope smoking and the red light district, all year round. The problem with November is that you won't get to experience the canal boat bars / European cafe culture as it will be too cold.
posted by finding.perdita at 7:01 PM on August 24, 2010