In all accuracy, Amsterdam offers far more than 50 shades. I think it might actually have every shade. We're talking every shape, size, smell, and potency around - any marijuana variety a person might want seems to be available in the city.
During our first hour there, Nathan and I got minor thrills each time we came across one of the notorious coffee shops. "There's one!" "That's one there." "That's one too." "No, honey, that's a Starbucks," he said.
However, by the time we'd made our way to our flat, we'd got the picture: the shops were everywhere. They range from dungeon-like, graffiti-covered, seriously dodgy-looking holes to bright and airy places with plasma TVs, foosball tables, and bean bags.
Menus at the shops also vary, and among the names I saw (through the windows) were "Amnesia Haze", "New York Diesel", and "Super Pollum (sweet taste, clear high)". As our Busabout guide, Ben, put it: "Yes, you can probably go up to the counter and order a mellow high to start the night, and end the party with two unicorns."
I did my research before our visit, checking up with a fellow New Zealander about (hypothetically) where one would go for drugs, and what one would ask for. She said the key was to look for "coffee shop", as opposed 
to "cafe". Good advice, though I imagine requesting weed at Starbucks would have been a good story.
Another thing she pointed out was that, though it's common in Amsterdam, for tourists the whole ordering pot thing seems dodgy, so some coffee shops have played into that, having things like marijuana menus that pop up when you push a button and so on.
Amsterdam is also home to the Marijuana Museum, that's where we got that delightful photo you see at the top of the blog (it looks so real!).
The museum irritated me. I'm on the fence about whether cannabis should be legalised, but the museum gave such a blatant one-sided story, stating questionable facts about how great the drug is. Perhaps that's true, but I'm betting the other side of the argument has some basis too.
Nathan (the substantially more chilled out member of our party) just laughed at me and said "Well yeah, it is propaganda. Who really cares?" Fair play.
Now Ben was a wee bit of a walking DARE programme (Drug Abuse Resistance Education, for the non-1990s schoolchildren), but he did provide some unexpected information. He advised us that cannabis is actually illegal in The Netherlands, and people might want to take that into account when they made "decisions".
(I do just want to add here that Ben was hilarious, and laughed at the fact that he wasn't the best person to go into Amsterdam with. "Yeah, I'm a bit of a Debbie-downer.")
Anyway. My whole belief system about Amsterdam was "legal marijuana" so this news came as a surprise.
Apparently cannabis possession for personal use can still earn you a fine, though it's tolerated. I also learned that all that banning-weed-for-tourists thing I had read about wasn't just hot air - apparently a law will kick in next year that means only Dutch citizens will be able go to the coffee shops.
Judging by the number of stoned travellers we saw, I'd argue that that's going to hurt the tourism industry badly. There's far more to Amsterdam than the coffee shops (e.g. Anne Frank's house, the Van Gogh Museum, the canals), but I think drugs are a pretty big drawcard. What about you? Is the prospect of getting high in Amsterdam a big attraction for you to go to the city?
Should it be illegal for tourists to smoke pot there?
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You didnt tell us what we all want to hear. Did you have some and what was it like? (the experience, not the high, lol)
no brainer there. it should be legal everywhere. Boosts tourism, you can tax it make thread, rope clothes and 100's of other things with it and it grows 10x faster than timber.
That is pretty much the reason I'd go to Amsterdam. I'm very much of the opinion it should be legalised, it makes no sense that it's not considering alcohol and tobacco are and they are a hell of a lot more harmful.
I went there in 1999. Got blazed out of my skull daily and had a ball. The choice is massive and the quality is superb. Toking from a 3 foot high wizard-shaped bong at a table in a coffee shop is a weird feeling at first. The feeling after you've inhaled 3 mega hits of top grade hash is surreal. "High"ly recommended.
Very diplomatic post here, Amelia! Definitely more to Amsterdam than weed, but it's a big part of the thrill of being there. Quite funny seeing the huge male 19-23 population of tourists.. Met one Kiwi guy by himself at (Flying Pig) hostel who did NOTHING except smoke weed in the common room all day. Was a bit pathetic actually - we hugely enjoyed our smokey picnic in the park, and a stimulated Van Gogh Museum visit!
All of the custardy/creamy/chocolately treats in the RL district + decriminalised weed = heaven for stoners.
My two cents on the weed debate: Should be legalised (not just decriminalised), but regulated.
When fiance and I say that we're going to the Netherlands on our honeymoon (as well as Paris), we get smiles and winks. I personally don't think it's funny. He is only second generation New Zealander, his Opa and Oma are Dutch, from Eindhoven (where we will base ourselves when we go) -we're going to experience his heritage! I agree there's a lot more to the Netherlands than weed. Sure, take the opportunity and enjoy it if you want to, but if that's ALL you're there for, save yourself the plane fare -if you really want to smoke, you'll do it anywhere, whether it's illegal or not, so why waste thousands of dollars going to Amsterdam? PS: I'm sure our teachers would've had a massive "I told you so" moment if they had read last week's entry. I noticed French wasn't included in your list of regrets/apologies :p
We were there in May this year, and being Christians stayed well away from the red light district and the coffeeshops (although you would sometimes catch a whiff walking past one). We were there for 3 days and found plenty to do. Actually I must admit I was quite apprehensive about going. But after visiting the Anne Frank house, seeing the city from the canals, signing up for a bike tour, etc. I am able to say that I did enjoy it. Our local bike tour guide said that while it is illegal, the reason it's tolerated is because to police it would be discriminatory. I don't quite follow the logic but hey.
Incidentally upon returning to NZ I had a conversation with someone (a Kiwi) who lived in Amsterdam for a year while she was studying. She said that for most locals, they might try marijuana at a coffeeshop once or twice, but that's it. She said it seems that although most tourists go there to get stoned, it is certainly not what most of the locals do.
I went to Amsterdam on Contiki, and on one side we did experience all the usual Amsertdam must dos (including something live, use your imagination) and it was a great experience to do once. I wouldn't bother doing it again, especially as their are a lot of changes on the horizon for the city.
I agree, Amsterdam and the Netherlands are stunning! I'd love to back and see more of the city and the country.
i Hope you found time in Amsterdam for a few non-marijuana activities! It's a very interesting city with a great history. The marijuana thing is actually a bit counter-productive for Amsterdam because it dominates so much, the other good aspects get overlooked...well, maybe I should say the marijuana and the red light district dominate!
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I spent a week in Amsterdam a couple of years back, did most of the touristy things, didn't once visit a "coffee shop". Instead I drunk some of the best beer in Europe at cafes and a variety of superb beer speciality bars. In de Wildeman on Kolksteeg was probably my favourite. Yep, there is much more the Amsterdam than getting stoned.