Netherlands 11/06/15 - 15/06/15

[Spaldwickapeface]

Well lucky me June brings another trip to the Netherlands woop woop, but this one will be slightly different as we are coming a family, it's my young boys first holiday abroad. This means that it's not going to be a constant trawl through the finest hash in the Netherlands but just a few nice evening joints and checking out the coffeeshops once he has gone to bed.

We are getting the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland and then driving up to Alkmaar. It's a city I have not visited before so I'm looking forward to exploring another provincial Dutch town. From the research I have done there appear to be five coffeeshops in the town, I have read through the reviews on here but if anyone has visited and wants to offer me a bit of advise it will be more than welcome.

We stay in Alkmaar for three nights before heading down to Belgium for a couple more days a country I have only ever seen in transit so it will be good to spend some time there too.

[gapie]

[gapie]

thnx for the coffeeshop Alkmaar reviews

[Spaldwickapeface]

No worries Stan; share the information, I know I apreciate the gems I read on here and learn from others mistakes.

Alkmaar was small but actually quite cool, none of that over priced tourist trap bullshit that so many people fall into in Amsterdam. What's the point of ripping people off as most people are locals and just won't come back? The weed and hash were of a very good standard and at a much better price than 98% of Amsterdams coffeeshops.

I would recommend people popping up there for a day or so, might even go back myself as I missed two of the coffeeshops and I loved the Tiblisa I got from stepping out.

[Papi]

No worries Stan; share the information, I know I apreciate the gems I read on here and learn from others mistakes.

Alkmaar was small but actually quite cool, none of that over priced tourist trap bullshit that so many people fall into in Amsterdam. What's the point of ripping people off as most people are locals and just won't come back? The weed and hash were of a very good standard and at a much better price than 98% of Amsterdams coffeeshops.

I would recommend people popping up there for a day or so, might even go back myself as I missed two of the coffeeshops and I loved the Tiblisa I got from stepping out.

Have you been to traditional Alkmaar Cheesemarket on friday?

[Spaldwickapeface]

Yeah we arrived on the Friday, I'm glad I saw it but we only stayed ten minutes or so as I did not find it overly exciting, I'd rather eat cheese than watch it. We also did the boat ride around the towns canals, some Australian guy nearly got decabitated going under one of the many low bridges!!

[Papi]

Yeah we arrived on the Friday, I'm glad I saw it but we only stayed ten minutes or so as I did not find it overly exciting, I'd rather eat cheese than watch it. We also did the boat ride around the towns canals, some Australian guy nearly got decabitated going under one of the many low bridges!!

When i was there couple years ago, you could eat and buy as much as you wanted. Anything changed?

[Spaldwickapeface]

I didn't see any free samples there, they were selling some kind of cheese packs but I waited to get to Albert Heijn to stock up on dutch cheeses; I bought particularly good goats and ewes cheese and some reasonable cows.

The market really does bring the tourists in on a Friday morning, so much busier than the rest of the time I spent in the city.

[Papi]

Damn, that's a bummer. In 2011, those grannies selling cheese were more than keen on giving samples to taste. Especially when they saw a hungry stoner with a joint, checking out their stands. So cheese to smoke and cheese to eat:)
Anyways, glad you've had good time in Alkmaar, I'll think about dropping by when next time in NL.