gluten free Amsterdam

August 9, 2006 10:50 AM

Any tips for a gluten-free enjoyable trip to Amsterdam?

My girlfriend and I are going to Amsterdam next week. She is a coeliac (Gluten intolerant) but we are hoping that we can enjoy all of the 'experiences' that Amsterdam has to offer without this getting in the way.

Whilst finding food generally can be done with a little careful looking around the specific problem is Amsterdam's coffeeshops. Does anyone know if there are coffeeshops whic sell the very nice cakes and cookies which have a particular ingredient, but in a gluten-free form?

Any help greatly appreciated

posted by womble to travel & transportation (14 comments total)

Maybe I should add that I have extensively searched through many forums for coeliac sufferers and found nothing. I have also tried searching for websites of specific coffeeshops and found nothing. Also no joy through general google searches on the topic. What I'm hoping for I suppose is someone who has been to Amsterdam and is also gluten-intolerant who happens to know of a particular coffeeshop which maybe specialises in this.
posted by womble at 11:01 AM on August 9, 2006

How about visiting a health-food store in Amsterstam and looking for gluten-free biscuits, cakes and snacks to take with you to the coffee shops? That's what we did in Montreal, anyway.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:09 AM on August 9, 2006

The kind of cake and cookies are the ones which are specifically sold in the coffeeshops...... for reasons specific to Amsterdam law.

Not sure if most places allow you to bring your own food in any case.
posted by womble at 11:26 AM on August 9, 2006

I think womble is looking for baked goods WITH POT.
posted by The Michael The at 11:27 AM on August 9, 2006

I don't know which forums you've looked at, but the celiac listserv achives had some (very old) answers for Amsterdam. This post had some contacts for gluten free groups in the Netherlands that might could help you. If you haven't looked through this listserv archive, the main page is here . Also, Bob n Ruth's specialize in gluten free travel, and have had a tour through Amsterdam and might be able to help.
posted by scubbadubba at 11:30 AM on August 9, 2006

On preview, might not be too much with the special ingredient, but maybe it's a start.
posted by scubbadubba at 11:38 AM on August 9, 2006

Gosh, I'm an idiot. Of course. Sorry.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:53 AM on August 9, 2006

Get a gluten free biscuit, and just smoke a joint.
posted by Merdryn at 12:45 PM on August 9, 2006

Thanks so far everyone - i didnt really expect a solution when there seemed be nothing coming up on extended web searches.

I know smoking is an option, but she's not much of a smoker generally and think that a cake/cookie would be a much gentler introduction.

It is still the option of last resort though.
posted by womble at 1:05 PM on August 9, 2006

I've, uh, read that unlike pot, hash doesn't need to be cooked to be effective when eaten. Maybe your friend can eat a small ball of hash if she doesn't want to smoke. But be careful -- it takes a long time to kick in, and it's easy to get too much (so stay the fuck away from the wax museum until you know what you're in for!).

As far as smoking goes, I've also, uh, read that the potency of pot in A'dam is such that you really don't need to smoke very much at all to get the desired effect..
posted by nixxon at 1:37 PM on August 9, 2006

Keep in mind that you have to be careful on the dosing with the cakes/cookies as it takes longer for the effects to hit you, and they last longer. If she's not used to these sorts of activities in general already, she might be able to better gauge things by smoking.

Or just get yourselves some gluten-free shrooms.
posted by MrToad at 1:38 PM on August 9, 2006

nixxon also makes a good point. I too have...uh...heard...and stuff...that the potency is up there. A little dab will do ya.
posted by MrToad at 1:40 PM on August 9, 2006

amsterdam is a fun place....i spent about 4 days there in july. my favorite chill spot was a place called Homegrown Fantasy. it's right on the main street at the city center. they have a few nice glass-on-glass roor pieces for customers to use.

the potency issue is relative to where you live and what/how you smoke. where i live i can buy outdoor grown sativa that blows my mind....in amsterdam i didn't find anything close...however, i had a great idea as we were leaving. i think one should take a train or bus to a less touristy area and buy from a coffee shop for the locals, i'm sure the quality is better than what they sell to tourists.

you can also find "high view route" maps that list all the shops in the area and you can call to see about your special requierments.

the red light is also fun...50 euros and you can get a beautiful girl and a great bj/sex....and i'm sure if it was something you and your girl wanted to do together, you could. the girls are very clean, and condom use is MANDATORY. it does get tiresome quickly though.

watch out for "charlie boys"...as you walk along they constantly bother you whispering things like, "cocaine, x" etc. just say no thanks and walk on. if you ignore them they get angry....but it is so constant in the evenings that it will bug the shit out of you.

have fun
posted by TheDude at 2:35 PM on August 9, 2006

Thanks TheDude, I hadnt thought of bongs etc which might be the best compromise on smoking.

Will still keep a look out for any gluten free cakes - its a point of principle now!
posted by womble at 4:18 PM on August 9, 2006