Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Forums

A lot of shops have signs about this. Now I can understand why an establishment might want to ban loud one-sided conversations, but why would they not let you use your phone for texting or accessing the internet, for example?

I don't know whether they all ban that sort of use, but I've been wary ever since I was in one shop, the only customer on that floor, and playing a (silent) game on my phone. The budtender in passing told me to put it away. I said it was a game, not a phone call, but he said that didn't matter. Ironically, we had been chatting previously about silly Dutch regulations.

The only reason that I can think of is that they don't want you to take pictures, and if you get your phone out for one thing, you might sneakily use it to take one. But that sounds a bit far-fetched, and it can't apply to the shop I was in, because they were OK with my taking snaps. Any ideas?

Never experienced anything like that in any coffeeshop i have visited in 30 odd visits.

Yes, i agree and comply with the NOT using the phone to call all and sundry but never not to use it for browsing or games. If it were to happen then another coffeeshop would get my business.

Thank you for your insight. The one problem I have is that you failed (on purpose perhaps) to name the establishment.
Your information isn't much use to any of us if we don't know the name, mainly to avoid what happened to you.
If not for any other reason, that one justifies the calling out... anything else is, well, bullshit.

This reminds me of threads in which people claim they've bought adulterated gear.
No one has yet to show conclusive proof, and they refuse to name the offending establishments.

Perhaps this is a trend?
If anyone out there in stonerville knows of a coffee shop that bans the use of mobile devices, how about providing a name? Thanks...

...

I know at least one shop in the north that has this (De Os in Leeuwarden), and a couple that I don't really remember well in Groningen.
I think it was because they find it antisocial, although a quick text is allowed. If you try to make a call, not only the budtenders but also the other customers will ask you to go outside. I'm used to it so I don't mind.

I didn't name the shop because it was also in Leeuwarden, though Repelsteeltje rather than de Os, and I didn't think many people would find their way up there.

But I was asking because I've seen signs with a line through a mobile phone through them in coffeeshops in A'dam, and I was wondering if they had the same strict policy on any use of phones. I can't name those shops, because I don't remember which ones they were.

Smith2 wrote:I didn't name the shop because it was also in Leeuwarden, though Repelsteeltje rather than de Os, and I didn't think many people would find their way up there.

Ah Repelsteeltje, of course. One of my favourites. Though I wasn't aware I couldn't use my cell phone there.

the VOCM coffeeshops in maastricht give you a warning if youre calling .
two warnings and you get banned for a while

Smith2 wrote:I didn't name the shop because it was also in Leeuwarden, though Repelsteeltje rather than de Os, and I didn't think many people would find their way up there.

But I was asking because I've seen signs with a line through a mobile phone through them in coffeeshops in A'dam, and I was wondering if they had the same strict policy on any use of phones. I can't name those shops, because I don't remember which ones they were.

Have a similarly vague memory of a similar sign in Amsterdam. La Tertulia rings a bell... or not as the case may be

I have always believed the no phone rules in some shops is linked to hard drug dealing, especially in the early days of mobile phones and the rule has stuck.

Never been asked not to use my phone in Amsterdam, not seen any 'no phone' signs in any shops either

it's a health and safety thing. prolonged use of mobile telephones can and does cause older espresso machines to throw a bit of a wobbler. anything can happen ranging from the operator's hands being mildly scalded to, in at least one instance, a full boiler explosion.

mobile 'phones are also known to have a ticklish effect on the cloggie interference gland, due to which dutch residents are compelled to make their views known to foreign nationals and attempt to enforce any silly regulation that occurs to them on the spur of the moment.

Padge247 wrote:Never been asked not to use my phone in Amsterdam, not seen any 'no phone' signs in any shops either

Tweede Kamer WILL TELL you to get off your phone if you are talking on it, i have witnessed staff yelling quite aggressively at an American who was talking loudly on her mobile, which i do believe most people consider quite rude.

It is a well known fact mobile phones interfere will digital scale read outs

staff yelling quite aggressively seems to be Tweede Kamer's modus operandi

To be fair I have never taken a phonecall in a coffeeshop, usually just use it for playing chess or checking the news/email/facebook while smoking a joint