Coffee Shops and cafés are two different things in Amsterdam; if you are after a Latte or Cappuccino you need to find yourself a Café. The Coffee Shops in Amsterdam; are legally allowed to sell marijuana and hash however they must stick to strict laws.

• No more than 5 grams per person to be sold in one transaction
• No hard drugs
• Drugs must not be advertised

So in these Coffee shops, you have the option to buy joints; but you have to smoke them inside the Coffee Shops; in certain clubs/bars as they have a designated smoking area, or at home. Smoking in Public is not encouraged.

The other craze here in Amsterdam is Space Cakes; these are a different sort of high; as the name suggests it is like a chocolate cake with Marijuana in it. As you are ingesting the drug not smoking it; it takes longer to go through your blood system; meaning that it will take a lot longer for you to feel the effects.

The Red Light District of Amsterdam is an extreme eye-opener; especially for those who have lived quite a sheltered life; it is nothing to be afraid or ashamed of in the Netherlands as it is a legitimate business (Nowadays)

The same deal as with the Drugs the government has a serious problem with the illegal sex trade and decided to “better” the industry to make it safe for the sex workers. So what they did was went ahead and Legalised prostitution; they believe the openness allows for creating a safer environment. They brought in a licensing system where business in the sex industry has to comply with strict rules and regulations; which included a business plan, hygienic work conditions, and ensuring the health and safety of their workers.

Most of the prostitutes are self-employed running their own businesses working their own hours; paying income taxes and are eligible to receive government-funded regular checkups.

Brothels, some escort services, massage parlours, and working from home; as a prostitute is still very much illegal in the Netherlands.

My Personal Experience

I remember the first time I walked down one of the streets I didn’t know which way to look; do I look at her do I hurry past and keep my head down? It was confusing to me as this is not something that I have ever come across in my life. Once our guide explained that the ladies expect you to look; they get offended if you laugh or hurry they are there to showcase themselves I relaxed a little.

The women are friendly and often give people passing by a cheeky wave. There are over 290 windows in the Red Light district, and the windows cost the ladies around €150 a day to rent. When walking through the Red Light District be respectful; and DO NOT take photos your camera or phone will end up in the canal. DON’T even try to sneak a picture the ladies will see you and you will lose your phone!

Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam so don’t be afraid; it is defiantly an eye-opener and you won’t see anything else like it in the world, relax and enjoy!

The ladies in windows are not the only thing to see in the area, you will come across sex shops on almost every corner!!! Everything you could possibly imagine is freely on display for all to see.

There are plenty of museums to enrich the mind such as the sex museum; here you will find erotic art and collections from throughout history. There is also the Erotic Museum which is made up of 5 floors of erotica art; from all around the world; don’t forget the Hash and Hemp Museum which goes through the history of the Cannabis plant.

Sex Show’s

You may even come across a few sex or peep shows; this is something that every person needs to see at least once in their life. We talk about experiencing the culture of each country; well this is the culture of Amsterdam and a sex show is something very unique. It is not as scary or awkward as you imagine it to be; think of it as more of a performance there are different acts from scenes to pole dancers to audience participation. It is all very light and entertaining; the couples are real people and are basically naked performers.

Don’t be scared it is entertaining, interesting, and a unique experience. If you want to check out a sex show in Amsterdam; Casa Rosso is one that I would recommend they have a few locations, but head to the one with the 2 big pink elephants out the front of the venue.

Absolutely no photography is allowed in any of the shows so do not even try; your phone will get confiscated.

• Tickets to Casa Rosso are €42 per person
• They are open daily from 7pm to 2am, Saturday & Sunday they are open till 3am

There are heaps of pubs and clubs in Amsterdam, after all, they have one of the most elaborate nightlife scenes in Europe. There is no shortage of music, double-storey nightclubs, and cheap drinks. 12 shots of Jager for 12 Euros, double drink hour you name it you will find amazing deals on alcohol on your night out. Just be a bit careful the drinks are a lot stronger than say our carefully measured drinks here in Australia they use a method called free pour where they basically take the spirit of your choice and pour it in the glass until they feel like stopping. It is fantastic value but can also be dangerous if you are not used to strong drinks, just pace yourself you will have a much better night.

Heineken Experience

The Heineken Experience is amazing for beer lovers; it is a fantastic combination of history and modern-day beer-making techniques. You work your way around the 135-year-old Brewery with fun and exciting presentations. As you walk around you will discover how Heineken is bottled, the history of the beer itself, you can test your knowledge of the brewing process and finish off your experience with a nice cold glass of Heineken, perfect way to spend the afternoon!

• It is cheaper to book your tickets online which is €18.00 per person or €21.00 at the door this price includes 2 glasses of beer at the end of your tour
• They are open daily from 10:30am to 7:30pm and a bit later in July and August, keep in mind the last entry is usually 2 hours before closing time.

If your, not a beer lover but still love a drink may we suggest a Cocktail Museum?

House of Bols

This was pretty dam cool; it is an interactive journey through the history of Lucas Bols which is a spirit brand in Amsterdam that was established in 1575. You wind your way through the museum discovering interesting information about how a cocktail is mixed, once you have made your way through what better way to finish a tour but with a Cocktail! The bartender will mix you up a cocktail of your choice to sit back and enjoy the afternoon.

• Open daily from 1300 to 1830pm, Friday and Saturday it is open till 2100
• € 16.00 per person which includes a cocktail
• Opposite Van Gogh Museum
• Tram 2,3,5 and 12

Ice Bar – Xtracold Ice Bar

This is a unique experience that is popping up all over Europe however this one in Amsterdam was the very first one to open. Xtracold Ice bar is an entire bar that is constructed using huge big ice blocks, don’t worry you are given a warm coat and gloves so you don’t freeze to death in the 45 min session. The other fantastic thing is your drink never goes warm because your glass is made out of ice. The ticket price includes 3 free drinks so let’s get this party started

• Icebar everything is made of Ice
• Sunday till Thursday 15:40 -23:00
• Friday and Saturday 15:40 -00:00
• If you buy the tickets at the door they are €23.90, save some money and book online €19.50
• Location: Amstel 194-196, Amsterdam

Leidseplein

This is a hip busy square by day and a magical pub/bar crawl paradise by night! The big beautiful square is popular for buskers, shopping, cafes, and restaurants this is a main intersection for the trams. The Nightlife is amazing around this area bars, clubs, music venues; you name it you can find it in Leidseplein one of the famous clubs to check out is Paradiso. I would strongly recommend joining a pub crawl; that way you are with a group of like-minded people out to have a good time. The “guide” will take you to all the big named clubs, and the tickets usually include a free drink or 2 at each place.

There is one place I would defiantly recommend checking out it is called Chupitos; they are a little walk from the main square but totally worth it; a small yet lively bar that specializes in all kinds of funky shots!!! They have a range of around 50 shots for about €2.50 a shot; then they vary in price the more complex you choose.

Zieseniskade 25, 1017 RT Amsterdam, Netherlands

When visiting Amsterdam keep an open mind just as the Dutch do in their everyday life; you will see things you have never seen before and you probably will never see anywhere else. It is a sense of freedom that makes it so special; just take it all in but be careful in the process. Don’t try and be a hero.

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