Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Forums

I'm flying into Amsterdam on Monday morning, and only now have I realised that my driving license has sprouted legs and walked off because I've searched everywhere and it's absolutely positively not here.

I usually use this as ID for the coffeeshops and keep my passport either in the safe at the hotel, or with the bike rental people. It's looking increasingly likely that I'm going to have to keep my passport with me at all times for ID, which makes me nervous because I'm particularly prone to losing things.

My question is, does anyone have any experience of using International student cards as a form of ID in coffeeshops? are they commonly accepted? It has my photo and date of birth but if the coffeeshops are anything like the bars in the UK then they'll only look at passports or driving licenses.

I would really prefer to not have to worry about getting served or not, Im 24 but regularly get mistaken for being about 17 so ID is always an essential in the coffeeshops and I'd rather have the peace of mind of having a universally accepted form of ID.

Thanks in advance for the advice comrades.

I doubt they would take a student ID, could be easily counterfeited. I always have my passport on me and in 6 trips to Amsterdam with the current one and a couple hundred thousand miles traveling; I have never lost it. *knock on wood*

Peace

Another fine example of why the age limit should be raised to 25.
Stoner's are their own worst enemy...

No Passport - No Entry
Under 18 - No Entry
Hard Drugs - No Entry
Alcohol - No Entry

There are "common sense" rules one should adhere to when frequenting C/S's - take your hat off when entering; don't bring food or drinks from somewhere else if the shop sells these items; ask before taking pics of the menu; and the list goes on....

No pity from me, just laughter and ridicule, when someone looses their passport and didn't make copies - one remains at home with someone who can access it in case they have to fax it to you or your Embassy/Consulate; one remains in the hotel safe; and the original stays with YOU at all times.

No happiness for those who can't seem to follow simple rules, none.
Laters...

Uncle Ron wrote:Another fine example of why the age limit should be raised to 25.
Stoner's are their own worst enemy...

No Passport - No Entry
Under 18 - No Entry
Hard Drugs - No Entry
Alcohol - No Entry

There are "common sense" rules one should adhere to when frequenting C/S's - take your hat off when entering; don't bring food or drinks from somewhere else if the shop sells these items; ask before taking pics of the menu; and the list goes on....

No pity from me, just laughter and ridicule, when someone looses their passport and didn't make copies - one remains at home with someone who can access it in case they have to fax it to you or your Embassy/Consulate; one remains in the hotel safe; and the original stays with YOU at all times.

No happiness for those who can't seem to follow simple rules, none.
Laters...

- You seem like tremendous fun,..

I'm well aware of the rules and also their complete irrelevance to my original post, although you did seem to enjoy regurgitating them for their own sake like some vicarious doorman.

I did not lose my passport, I lost my driving license, which I have used as ID in coffeeshops for the past 6 years of going to Amsterdam without even a slight problem, so rule number one on your list is wrong straight away. As I said, I had hoped to use my passport as the retained form of ID at the bike rental place, which obviously will not be possible if I need to carry it around with me, hence my wondering if student cards were an accepted form of ID.

But anyway, I'm going to provide you with a more all-encompassing rule; which pertains not only to coffeeshops, but also to the wider world and to internet forums such as this one, it will serve you well;

Don't be a dick.

There, that's it, and you can have that one for free. I could also teach you some basic rules about the proper use of apostrophes but that might be considered going off topic.

Ron, you are not being very nice in this instance.

Don't think a student ID will cut it, bring the passport.

Passport and international drivers licence are only things that will be accepted. I also, am a master at loosing stuff, especially when high, so do as i do, and buy a body belt for a couple of quid at the airport. Just stick to the routine of putting your valuables in it. It is tempting to shove everything in the nearest pocket everytime i get up to leave a CS but only use the body belt for passsport and credit card and youll be paramoia free.

Trainwreck wrote: - You seem like tremendous fun,..

I am, even more fun when people think and behave like responsible adults.

Trainwreck wrote:I'm well aware of the rules and also their complete irrelevance to my original post, although you did seem to enjoy regurgitating them for their own sake like some vicarious doorman.

"My question is, does anyone have any experience of using International student cards as a form of ID in coffeeshops?"
You, aware of the rules? Obviously not or you would not have asked this irrelevant question. Try using the search function provided, you just might find threads or comments in them regarding this topic. In fact, there are many.

Trainwreck wrote:"...like some vicarious doorman"?

At least the doorman knows the rules. Next...

Trainwreck wrote:"I did not lose my passport, I lost my driving license, which I have used as ID in coffeeshops for the past 6 years of going to Amsterdam without even a slight problem, so rule number one on your list is wrong straight away.

Nor did I suggest that you had. I won't rewrite what I wrote, reread it for yourself.
You've been using your DL for 6 years without a problem, good for you. Does that mean it will be the same for everyone else? See the flaw in your logic?
Can't ever go wrong with Rule #1 - if you have a passport, you will gain entry, quite simple actually. No fuss, no hassles, or hassling the Doorman who obviously knows the rules better than all of us, including you because you tried to gain access with a Library Card, I mean Student ID, no again, I mean Driver's License.

Trainwreck wrote:But anyway, I'm going to provide you with a more all-encompassing rule; which pertains not only to coffeeshops, but also to the wider world and to internet forums such as this one, it will serve you well;
Don't be a dick.

Fair enough...

Trainwreck wrote:There, that's it, and you can have that one for free. I could also teach you some basic rules about the proper use of apostrophes but that might be considered going off topic.

Now who's being a dick, Dick? You were on a roll until that last comment.

I know, let's meet and go to as many shops as possible in one day. You bring your Student ID/Driver's License/Library Card/Birth Certificate or whatever, and I will bring my Passport. The one who was able to get into the most shops wins the argument. I, along with the majority of the Forum already know what the outcome will be.
Next...

Marco wrote:Ron, you are not being very nice in this instance.

Don't think a student ID will cut it, bring the passport.

Yes, you are correct, I was being somewhat of a wanker.
Maybe it was because the question has been asked and answered many times before.

I'll try to behave in the future, but no promises...

Happy trails...

Wow! Ron have you anymore to add???

Slip & Sal wrote:Wow! Ron have you anymore to add???

at me, really?
Sure I do, plenty. As long as some may benefit from my experiences, observations, and general knowledge, absolutely.

Here's some more on the topic...
A foreigner can try to use any form of ID to attempt entry/purchase in a Coffee Shop, but shouldn't be surprised if turned away. What can a person do to prevent such an unwanted surprise? Maybe carry their Passport with them at all times, maybe? Just too simple I suppose.
All things considered, a Passport works EVERY TIME. Can this be said of any other form of ID? No! Again, not only too simple, but too easy as well.

Food for thought...
How many people rent cars or similar while vacationing in Amsterdam? If you are like me, never. So I would have to ask myself why I would carry my driver's license with me? It could get lost or stolen, so why take the risk, because of the extreme off-chance that I might rent a vehicle? Nope, doesn't pass the litmus test of practical sense. Same applies to all the other documents that can be found in wallets and purses. Leave them at home, safe and sound.

Take what I've said with a grain or a gram and decide for yourself what is practical and sensible.
Happy trails...

Uncle Ron wrote:

Trainwreck wrote: - You seem like tremendous fun,..

I am, even more fun when people think and behave like responsible adults.

Trainwreck wrote:I'm well aware of the rules and also their complete irrelevance to my original post, although you did seem to enjoy regurgitating them for their own sake like some vicarious doorman.

"My question is, does anyone have any experience of using International student cards as a form of ID in coffeeshops?"
You, aware of the rules? Obviously not or you would not have asked this irrelevant question. Try using the search function provided, you just might find threads or comments in them regarding this topic. In fact, there are many.

Trainwreck wrote:"...like some vicarious doorman"?

At least the doorman knows the rules. Next...

Trainwreck wrote:"I did not lose my passport, I lost my driving license, which I have used as ID in coffeeshops for the past 6 years of going to Amsterdam without even a slight problem, so rule number one on your list is wrong straight away.

Nor did I suggest that you had. I won't rewrite what I wrote, reread it for yourself.
You've been using your DL for 6 years without a problem, good for you. Does that mean it will be the same for everyone else? See the flaw in your logic?
Can't ever go wrong with Rule #1 - if you have a passport, you will gain entry, quite simple actually. No fuss, no hassles, or hassling the Doorman who obviously knows the rules better than all of us, including you because you tried to gain access with a Library Card, I mean Student ID, no again, I mean Driver's License.

Trainwreck wrote:But anyway, I'm going to provide you with a more all-encompassing rule; which pertains not only to coffeeshops, but also to the wider world and to internet forums such as this one, it will serve you well;
Don't be a dick.

Fair enough...

Trainwreck wrote:There, that's it, and you can have that one for free. I could also teach you some basic rules about the proper use of apostrophes but that might be considered going off topic.

Now who's being a dick, Dick? You were on a roll until that last comment.

I know, let's meet and go to as many shops as possible in one day. You bring your Student ID/Driver's License/Library Card/Birth Certificate or whatever, and I will bring my Passport. The one who was able to get into the most shops wins the argument. I, along with the majority of the Forum already know what the outcome will be.
Next...

The student card question has not been asked on this forum before, at least I searched and couldn't find anything. Although, I am willing to concede that you may be far more adept at navigating the search function than I am.

You say "You've been using your DL for 6 years without a problem, good for you. Does that mean it will be the same for everyone else? See the flaw in your logic?" - Actually, it's your logic that doesn't quite pan out. You've been using your passport, and only your passport and as such you have been led to believe that ONLY a passport will suffice. I tell you now that you are wrong on that count. The 'rule' has never been that only a passport will suffice, I have been in literally hundreds of shops and never had my drivers license questioned.

An International Student Card is recognised as a form of ID pretty much everywhere except for in UK bars and pubs. It would not be a huge stretch to imagine that they might be accepted in Amsterdam coffeeshops. They have a photo, date of birth, hologram etc. Never have I seen a sign in a shop to say that they only accept passports. They usually just refer to needing photo ID, so again, you might begin to understand that my question is a perfectly legitimate one.

But honestly, you decided pretty quickly that my question was an insult to your intelligence without much basis for doing so. Instead of just moving on and reading another post as would most people with a regular temperament, the dick inside you grew wings and took flight; "No pity from me, just laughter and ridicule" and "No happiness for those who can't seem to follow simple rules, none."

Would you talk like that to someone face to face? Even someone you obviously consider to be well beneath you as you do myself? Whether the answer to that question is yes or no, it doesn't speak particularly well to your character. The internet is full of people who have the repressed urge to shout at people in their day to day lives so go online and do it to strangers so they don't need to account for themselves.

Anyway, yours is generally not the sort of vibe one might expect from a poster on a forum of stoners and your posts are not a good way to start the new year, so I'll leave it there.

Thank you to all those who have replied, I will try my luck with the student card and keep the passport in a money belt just in case.

This is fun, let's keep bantering....

Trainwreck wrote:The student card question has not been asked on this forum before, at least I searched and couldn't find anything. Although, I am willing to concede that you may be far more adept at navigating the search function than I am.

Maybe the question hasn't been asked about student ID's, but ID's in general have, extensively. From the information available, one can figure out what works and what doesn't, what one can do and what one should do. Hmm, there's something...

Trainwreck wrote:You say "You've been using your DL for 6 years without a problem, good for you. Does that mean it will be the same for everyone else? See the flaw in your logic?" - Actually, it's your logic that doesn't quite pan out. You've been using your passport, and only your passport and as such you have been led to believe that ONLY a passport will suffice. I tell you now that you are wrong on that count. The 'rule' has never been that only a passport will suffice, I have been in literally hundreds of shops and never had my drivers license questioned.

My point all along has been that a Passport will work every time, all things considered.
I have been denied entry once, and it was because I was using my International Driver's License and they wanted a Passport. Ever since then, I use my Passport exclusively and haven't been refused entry or service because of documentation. Can this be said of any other documentation? Simply stated, no.

Trainwreck wrote:An International Student Card is recognised as a form of ID pretty much everywhere except for in UK bars and pubs. It would not be a huge stretch to imagine that they might be accepted in Amsterdam coffeeshops. They have a photo, date of birth, hologram etc. Never have I seen a sign in a shop to say that they only accept passports. They usually just refer to needing photo ID, so again, you might begin to understand that my question is a perfectly legitimate one.

I'm familiar with the ISC, I had one for two years. Mine expired when I started an extended leave of absence from my studies, which I have yet to complete.
You do have a legitimate question, you just decided that I was being judgmental dick and so on. I guess you ignored the emoticons, only a guess. I guess you missed some of the sarcasm, only a guess. I guess you put whatever tone you wanted to my words, again just a guess. Do or can you "hear" the tone of sarcasm I'm using?

Trainwreck wrote:But honestly, you decided pretty quickly that my question was an insult to your intelligence without much basis for doing so. Instead of just moving on and reading another post as would most people with a regular temperament, the dick inside you grew wings and took flight; "No pity from me, just laughter and ridicule" and "No happiness for those who can't seem to follow simple rules, none."

I only decided to respond with my opinion, and for the record, my intelligence was not and is not insulted.
Instead of just moving on, I decided to comment. One reason that comes quickly to mind is that in the hopes that when someone uses the search function, they may stumble across this thread and maybe take something positive away with them.
Again with an attempted insult - "the dick inside..." Really?

Trainwreck wrote:Would you talk like that to someone face to face? Even someone you obviously consider to be well beneath you as you do myself? Whether the answer to that question is yes or no, it doesn't speak particularly well to your character. The internet is full of people who have the repressed urge to shout at people in their day to day lives so go online and do it to strangers so they don't need to account for themselves.

Wow, all this from stating an opinion about ID's? Am I missing something? Maybe you did when you ignored the emoticons, just a guess. Oh snap, I already wrote this above. Moving on...
Talk like how face to face? You mean like calling someone a dick not once, but twice? Remember - your words, not mine! Talk about negative vibes, sheesh.
I don't consider myself above or beneath anyone, unless she was willing.
As for the comment about repressive whatever, not me. Again, I'm not the one calling people a dick.

Trainwreck wrote:Anyway, yours is generally not the sort of vibe one might expect from a poster on a forum of stoners and your posts are not a good way to start the new year, so I'll leave it there.

I gave my opinion and you called me dick twice, what type of vibe were you expecting in return?

Trainwreck wrote:Thank you to all those who have replied, I will try my luck with the student card and keep the passport in a money belt just in case.

For what it's worth to you, you are welcome.
Why present or even carry the Student ID when you have your Passport with you, all things considered?

Happy trails...

"No Passport - No Entry"

.....

"Nowhere have I stated that only a passport will suffice."

Uncle Ron wrote:This is fun, let's keep bantering....

Let's not. I've got packing to do.

in over 30 trips to the dam ive never carried my passport or been asked for it in a coffeeshop. the only id i ever carry is my drivers license

Wow! Flying dicks! What a concept....