we've been banned....official.

[Colino]

Isn't it illegal to discriminate on grounds of nationality under EU laws?

that is the rule but there are also some kind of exception allowed in case you need it to keep public safety or health or other interests, but that is not the case for sure. maybe the problem is the illegal production of weed but the pass will not affect it for sure

[Stamford]

Nice one. Keep up the good work you wonderful Netherlanders

[puffthemagicdragon]

Nice one. Keep up the good work you wonderful Netherlanders

Sadly no matter what now happens with the Wietpas, our smoking days in Holland are gone - perhaps forever.

Weed with a higher THC content than 15% is now classified as a hard drug and can't be sold in coffee shops. Decision to make it law came in today. Not sure when it will be implemented.

Very sad.

I was in Amsterdam on Tuesday and it was the first time in dozens of visits that I felt uncomfortable and not free as had always been the case.
Talking to a man in Voyagers it turned out he'd been pulled up by the cops for smoking a joint in the RLD and given a warning. I believe you've not been able to smoke on the streets since January 2012 though I've done so in the 3 visits so far this year. But was scared to do so this time and it felt just like I was doing it somewhere where weed isn't accepted. Amsterdam has already changed for the worse IMO.

[sea72]

Nice one. Keep up the good work you wonderful Netherlanders

Sadly no matter what now happens with the Wietpas, our smoking days in Holland are gone - perhaps forever.

Weed with a higher THC content than 15% is now classified as a hard drug and can't be sold in coffee shops. Decision to make it law came in today. Not sure when it will be implemented.

Very sad.

I was in Amsterdam on Tuesday and it was the first time in dozens of visits that I felt uncomfortable and not free as had always been the case.
Talking to a man in Voyagers it turned out he'd been pulled up by the cops for smoking a joint in the RLD and given a warning. I believe you've not been able to smoke on the streets since January 2012 though I've done so in the 3 visits so far this year. But was scared to do so this time and it felt just like I was doing it somewhere where weed isn't accepted. Amsterdam has already changed for the worse IMO.

thanks for your comment but not all so bad:) always smoked on the street no problema man:)

[radjew]

we were told to "smoke it in the coffeeshop" around 1988 by one under cover cop around the rokin so I wouldn't use one over zealous cop reaction as the litmus test.

[treetop]

When I first visited Amsterdam in 1991 it was awash with drug dealers in the Centrum. Now they are a lot more discreet. It will be interesting to see what happens on the streets of the RLD and surrounding areas after the tourist ban kicks in.

[Marok21]

In Maastricht all coffeeshops are still closed... in the short time (maybe 20 minutes) I was in Maastricht more than 5
street dealers asked me: Do you want some coke, weed and so on... crazy... there is an overlast of street dealers in
Maastricht... I heard that the police hope that the shops will open this week to stop that situation. We will see what happen...

[PecosTheCat]

This is a great strategy by the coffeeshops in Maastricht. Wouldn't that be something if the police went to the coffeeshop owners hat in hand and asked them to open the coffeeshops in order to get the street dealing back under wraps?

In Maastricht all coffeeshops are still closed... in the short time (maybe 20 minutes) I was in Maastricht more than 5
street dealers asked me: Do you want some coke, weed and so on... crazy... there is an overlast of street dealers in
Maastricht... I heard that the police hope that the shops will open this week to stop that situation. We will see what happen...

[Dave J]

Out of interest seeing as I've not noticed this point being mentioned yet (unless I've missed it) what will happen to those non Dutch citizens who work in the coffeeshops as both staff, managers, owners and dealers?.

If this really does go nationwide what will happen in the more tourist locations where there is a high number of non Dutch citizens running and working in the coffeeshops?.

Also is it just me or if I'm going to be made un-welcome in the coffeeshops but the country is still more than happy to take my money then I'm thinking of sticking 2 fingers up to the entire country in future if this goes nationwide because I'll not be discriminated against in any country if a local is aloud to do something that I cant. What next, no tourists in the bars at weekends because they cause trouble and they want to keep them locals\members only?. Best not compare the growing situation to South Africa 25 years ago with the devide they had back then!.

[Lloydy]

Out of interest seeing as I've not noticed this point being mentioned yet (unless I've missed it) what will happen to those non Dutch citizens who work in the coffeeshops as both staff, managers, owners and dealers?.

If this really does go nationwide what will happen in the more tourist locations where there is a high number of non Dutch citizens running and working in the coffeeshops?.

Also is it just me or if I'm going to be made un-welcome in the coffeeshops but the country is still more than happy to take my money then I'm thinking of sticking 2 fingers up to the entire country in future if this goes nationwide because I'll not be discriminated against in any country if a local is aloud to do something that I cant. What next, no tourists in the bars at weekends because they cause trouble and they want to keep them locals\members only?. Best not compare the growing situation to South Africa 25 years ago with the devide they had back then!.

I believe you have to prove that you are a local resident rather than prove you are Dutch, thus I would imagine most non-Dutch coffee shop workers live locally

[dconstrukt]

from grey area

http://www.nu.nl/binnenland/2811970/ned ... etpas.html

gotta translate it but it sounds a little encouraging...

[stevechristie1953]

Hi evrybody. Am new to this site. Am going to Breskens in Zeeland on 28th of this month for 5 weeks and was looking forward to visiting the coffee shops in Vlissingen and surrounding areas. Anybody know what is happening there? Are coffee shops sticking to ban not to serve us Brits? Are there any tips for me please.

[Slip & Sal]

http://www.vvdamsterdam.nl/danielvander ... icle/3354/ voyagers posted this on facebook.

[Lamont]

I was in Amsterdam on Tuesday and it was the first time in dozens of visits that I felt uncomfortable and not free as had always been the case.
Talking to a man in Voyagers it turned out he'd been pulled up by the cops for smoking a joint in the RLD and given a warning. I believe you've not been able to smoke on the streets since January 2012 though I've done so in the 3 visits so far this year. But was scared to do so this time and it felt just like I was doing it somewhere where weed isn't accepted. Amsterdam has already changed for the worse IMO.

That is sad, nothing better than strolling the canals at night smoking a fat cone. Oh well have a work trip booked in July for two weeks I will assume it is my last chance for coffeeshops.

[dconstrukt]

i think sept elections is our best bet for something good to happen for us.

(crossing fingers)