Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Forums

Cant believe I never posted this around the time but as I could'nt find it (unless I posted it elsewere) on here over the weekend I dug through the old laptop and eventually found it.

Pre trip & Day 1

Well, well, well, as I write this and look back on a lot of expectations of this trip I have to say that in some ways it was rather dissapointing on what I was hoping would be the perfect trip to the point that I would have said "that's it, 6 trips and a perfect final trip, now it's time to move on to other things and places". As it turns out I do feel I will have 1 last trip next year at some point, poss the CC dates.

Anyways a lot of things went wrong for me on this trip some of my own doing and some via personel issues back home. But in any case, I'm always glad to goto Amsterdam no matter what the circumstances are as it's a place I know quite well and can relax and enjoy myself there.

Well, missed the bus to the airport due to having to rush back home for the loose coins I'd had left from my previous trip. So off to the train station near-by, only to find a reduced service due to yet more work on the lines!!!. Was getting rather worried now as I never knew for sure of the times for the airport link bus the other end of the rail route!. And you know when you get that feeling that everything that can go wrong is going to go wrong etc?, well I bloody did today!. So got to the airport with about 30 mins to spare before check-in closed. Flight on time and uneventfull as usual. And for once no hassles getting rom the airport to Amterdam Centraal station. Quick and easy this time, in fact there were no stops at all on this train, nice or what!.

Walking out of Centraal station it's still fairly light, even if it has started to go dark. Now as I've not booked a place on the net my priority is to first changfe some money into Euros and hopefully get my bed sorted for the next 4 nights. So slowly walking out over the road from the train station I gather pace as I walk the length of Damrak. By the time I walk through Dam Square onto Damstraat I'm almost at a fucking slow run to get in and out lol. Great money exchange is still where I remember it being. So swaping some money I go round the courner to my usual hotel (Bulldog), after first stopping a few doors down onto Oudezijds Voorburgwal at a shop for a nice cold can of beer to drink while I grab a shower and get cleaned up (a total fucking rip-off at €2.50 (£2.12) for a half litre can!). No worries getting a bed sorted at the Bulldog as the waman said is fairly quiet after the weekenders have left on the sunday that time of year. Funny enough the woman behind reception recognises
me from my last visit which rather surprised me seeing as it was near 21 months since I'd last been!. Then again, very little surprises me about Amsterdam these days.

Shower had and beer drank I get my arse into gear and head out into the Amsterdam night. I was to be at Siberie coffeeshop for 18:30 for a meeting with a few chaps. Only I had to go and want to make a stop at Anyday on route. Add to this I stopped off for some ciggs while walking up Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and then got into a chat on the fone to back home etc. The result was I never did find Anyday and got into a bother trying to find Siberie. I should have gone directly there from the hotel up
the Singel (as I knew that way better). But oh no, I had to fucking think I knew better did'nt I!!!!!!!.

Eventually found (after asking the guy on the door at Popeye) Siberie and walked in only 13 mins late. I had a look round and could'nt see anyone looking like they were waiting for someone to arrive. So either they were running a little late to or they were to stoned to make it I assumed. In fact it seems I wrongly assumed they had not got there yet as it seems they were there just I never spotted them. Obviously in looking back and what I've been told since they must have been the ones sitting at the back of the place. I wrongly assumed they, or at least 1 of the 4 that were there would have read the message I left to say what I'd be wearing to make sure they would recognise me.

Anyways, I goto the counter to make a buy, look round and dont see a menu!. I ask the dealer where is the smokes menu?, he says just in front of you, just press the button and the glass\mirror thing will light up. So thinking it's a touch sensative activation I start to tap the top of the glass!. The dealer says er no the button is under your belly!!!!!. What a fucking soft cunt I felt I can tell you. So looking at the menu being not to familiar with anything much on there I ask him for a recomendation for something to get me propper high!. He suggests the Lavender, which at €8 per g seemed very reasonable these days.

I also get myself a coffee and goes to sit and wait for others to arrive. I'm siting at a table by the smoking room looking into that little smoking room thinking fuckin hell, there is only 3 people in there and no room
for me. They are not even playing the chess\checkers set lol A bit of a double fucking hell really seeing as here I am in my first coffeeshop in the best part of 2 years and I cant roll-up due to the tobacco ban. And seeing as there is no visable mixer on the counter I'm a little pissed off that I failed to buy some in 1 of the shops on route!!!!. Well there was no fucking way I was going to sit there and not smoke my first joint of the trip. So rather cautiously I decided "what the fuck" and proceded to roll myself my first ever pure joint!!!!!!!!!. Well about half a grams worth anyways, and was much easier to roll than I thought it might be. Well, that rolling comment might sound a little silly, but seeing as I'd not even rolled a ciggy in that time between trips some might understand how chuffed I might have felt at my effort.

However my first mistake of the trip was not so much doing half gram as a pure J, but more in what I chose to buy to put into that J. I mean it was the first joint for about 17months, and after a fairly experienced past of knowing my cannabis I really should have known better for fuck sake!. For had I realised the effect the bloody Lavander would have on me I'd have surely have asked for a much lower grade gear to build upto the
Lavander.

For I felt fine and rather enyoyed the "pure" experience. So meet guys missed (or so I thought) apart I decided to split. It was'nt untill I even left Siberie I realise where I was, just off the Singel!. Dont quite know what happened there as I seem to have had an outer body experience feeling for a good hour or 2. I wanted to go towards the Centrum area and stick to that for the first night, you know, The Coin, Hill Street Blues, Hunters etc, just round that area seeing as it was the first night and only a street back from the hotel!. But my poor bastard of an excuse for feet decided on other fucking ideas the stupid fuckers!!!. And as a result of my feet wanting to go for a fucking walk on there own I had to go with them of cause!. It was quite scary at 1 point I can tell you. Fuck me, the fuckers took me everywere and all I wanted was to get a fucking beer and have a sit down for a bit!!!.

So I thought if I head towards Dam Square my head might clear just enough to get my ass back to the hotel to chill for a while. But every time I thought I was heading in the right direction I ended up by bloody Centraal Station again!!!. I later worked out that I'd spent a good 90 mins just pure walking. Though looking back now it was a rather interesting experience, just left me a little concerned that I might end up in the bloody water or something, partly to being on my own this trip!.

Finally got back to the hotel after near 2 hours of walking that should only have took me 15 mins top. Though still suffering from a kind of outer body experience kind of froze when I hear the woman behind reception call to see my pass (even though it was the same woman who signed me in a few hours earlyer and somehow recalled me from a trip near 20 months previous). Anyways next thing I knew I came to standing on the spot with my hotel pass held out. Must have looked a right fucking idiot as when speaking to the woman the next afternoon it turned out I was stood there in reception froze on the spot with my pass filled arm out for a few minutes!!!!!.

Get myself an over-priced Mars out of the vending machine and stagger over to the bar to get an equally overpriced small glass of coke. 20 mins later I felt pretty much fine. So much that I dig out a 1.8 gram of something I picked up somewhere I cant really recall, but fairly sure it must have been along 1 of the Damstraat coffeeshops seeing as I know I popped into 1 for a drink of something. That stuff got me in the mood for a little walk so spent an hour just walking round seeing as my faverate coffeeshop, Hill Street Blues was closed due to being packed out I guess. And I was'nt in the mood to go elsewere for some reason. So a munchie fill later I found myself back in the hotel bar. The rest of the night was consumed with smoking what I'd bought that evening, 2.8 grams in 1 night. Which I felt was fucking good going seeing as I'd not smoked in a good 17 months. Dont have a bloody clue what time I got to bed that night except my last memory of the night being me phone being dead so had to slowly feel me way round in pitch black to me bed as no light on me phone!.

A few pics from the plane on the way in:

First sight of holland


Getting closer


Is this the main river into Holland?


Slight editing, rather proud as it was a cheap compact digital camera


Glad there was enough light to take the pics and enjoy the flight in

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Day 2:

Awoke fairly early for me for an Amsterdam trip first morning, about 8.30 I drag my body downstairs for breakfast. Kind of took advantage of the free juice by having 2 cups with my breakfast and grabbing 2 more cups to have while I text home and wrote up some notes etc. Funny how with each day in Amsterdam the amount of notes I make seem to drop somewhat. So I must really appolagise for what must seem a fairly incomplete report from here on in.

Was wandering to chance going on a train trip to Haarlem, but decided to keep it as a mid trip visit. So gagging for a smoke I wander off to Hill Street Blues via a quick perv up a rld side street and passing some of the never changing Warmoesstraat sex shops, grabbing a pack of ciggies on route to replace the ones I lost the night before.

Hill Street Blues was fairly empty and had certainly lost something of the place since getting rid of the alcohol. Still the looza juice was also a firm faverate in there so not to much of a loss. Dont recall what I bought but almost cartainly the house special. Was a bit heavy smoking the special that time of the morning. But being able to smoke it at the back overlooking the boats parked on Damrak more than made up for that. Needed the loo so stagger down the steps to what has to be the worst toilets in Amsterdam, so bad in that for some strange reason I just gotta love seeing them at least once per trip. I'd have thought they would have put a window in the gents by now, so it's still somewhat un-nerving having a shit as you see people walking past through that big gap in the door where I can only assume there was a frosted window at some point.

Spent the next hour just walking round enjoying the sights of visiting an old friend again after so long. Problems back home again so I think fuck it and go for a beer. Was fairly close to the hotel at this point so go it the smallest pub I've been into in my life on Damstraat. Grab something to eat then off for a few beers in Suzies Sallon or was it Ricks?, probably
Ricks. Where after only a half pint decide to do something I've never done before, grab a full pint take it outside and do my first ever outside joint sat by the canal. Fuckin loved that to and stayed there for a good hour with 2 more beers and another 2 joints. Looked at the time and thought to have a look over at Grey Area to see if it was open as in the previous 5 trips I never been that way and seen the place open. This time I was in luck, had a chat with the nice guy there and decided the Yellow Cab was good for what I wanted so get myself 2 grams worth. Probably my faverate of the trip from memory. But as near all say the place was packed so I dordle back to Ricks. Grab another cold beer and go outside and roll up a fucking nice joint of the Yellow Cab. Must have been leaving day for 1 group as 3 people from what was probably Newcastle or Sunderland can in, got some beer and sat on the table next to me. Could not understand a fuckin word they were saying once they got started lol. But another beer and rolling another Yellow Cab I started to try chatting to them. Seemed a nice group and had a bit of a laugh outside smoking and a beer with them. Just casnt recall what the hell we talked about. Probably usual stoners chat. They then had to leave as they realised they were running a little late I think so they wished me well for the rest of my trip and said goodbye.

Realising in talking my joint had gone out I light it back up. Next thing I recall was the barmaid coming out to clear there table looking round to me she says something I dont recall, smiles and I start having a bloody laughing fit for the next 10 minutes or so. Fucking loved that Yellow Cab.

Grab something else to eat, think I go and get changed and out for a few more hours. No futher notes to mention anything else from this day but prob bought something from Abraxas as I had some memory of visiting the place at some point.

Hang on yep there is, got the munchies big time after buying another gram of something from god knows where. So nipped round the corner from the hotel onto Damstraat. Half way down there on the left was an over priced place where you can get cakes etc. Knew it was overpriced but wanted a chocolate waffle. On the way back I also notice a place that sells pizza slices. Never eat it during the day but after loads of walking and smoking I needed more than a waffle. Besides got the pizza from there loads over the years and always seemed to do the job. So sitting on the bench just outside the Bulldog hotel I proceed to eat the slice of pizza. Only the topping had loads of cheese on and as I took the first bite most of the topping came off the pizza and seemed to have welded itself from my mouth, down my chin and neatly tooked itself underneath thanks to the above average temp tomato sauce on the base!!!. Can
laugh now but it fuckin hurt at the time!.

Prob finished the night with a couple of joints and a beer in the hotel bar.

Cheers for the report DJ i can remember at the time you were going your excitement etc its good to read the result of that

Good report man

Day 3:

Today was the day I was planning on going to Haarlem for a few hours later in the day. But circumstances at home changed this I nearly had to end my trip early. Thankfully by mid afternoon the situation had changed and I was ok for the rest of the trip. Except I never did make it to Haarlem in the end. Todays report does not reflect any troubles I had back home.

I recall there was supposed to be a meeting in Hunters at about 9 or 9.30 (only cos it was written in my pre notes). But cos of not getting up till just before 9am and was starving I must have just missed the meeting by less than half hour. As by the time I got to Hunters the place was pretty much empty apart from a couple of guys at the bar area which looked like they might slap me if I started to interupt them to try and talk to them. Anyways I guess the meet went elsewere once everyone met up.

So I go and buy something (did'nt note what) and sit by the window with the looza juice rolling my buy and taking in the place that I'd been to countless times over the years.. Always amazes me how different some of the coffeeshops feel when you go there with very few people in. Either way notes mention I enjoyed spending an hour there watching the
coming and goings in this decent coffeeshop.

Notes then mention I walked back to Hill Street Blues about 11am so must have had a walk round seeing as there is little chance I could make a joint last about 50 mins. This place was also fairly empty for the day. For once there were more people by the bar than there was out back overlooking the great view.

Dont recall buying anything except a looza juice. BTW also found a bottle of ice tea and a bar of chocolate in my pocket. So probably went via Dam Square to AH and bought that there. No sooner did I light up than some sweedish guy (think he was sweedish anyways) came and sat on the comfy chairs by me. Dont know what the hell he was going on about but was laughing and saying something with him when I felt I should do. Noted he was well stoned so having a good time I guess. Then again I was wrecked myself to.

Next notes say I tried twice to get to NES Caffe, it only being open the second time. And trying to enquire with a local the first time if he knew what time it opened came to nothing. Prob went to Ricks for a beer while I waited I think.

Once I did get into NES I was the only 1 there, grabbed a beer (noted they only do small cant be right that?) and went on the touch screen gaming machine. Got another beer, tried chatting to the guy seeing as I was still the only 1 there but as he seemed to be going up and down doing what I cant recall him doing I went back on the gaming machine. As nobody else had came in for the probable half hour I was there I left and prob went to the hotel to crash for a while. A shame really I'd good memories of a previous visit and memories of the place and always good things said on the forums about NES.

Crashed at hotel for a while. Must have been a deep sleep as was awoke about 5pm (I think) by the shower in the dorm. Must
have been a woman in there as there was womens clothers (and underwear) just outside the shower room ready to be
used!!!. Not knowing what to do lieing there for near 10 mins I guickly changed myself in the dorm and went down to the bar as to save any
embarrasment if she came out and never noticed me under the covers in the first place.

Notes mention wanting to check out Anyday again as they seemed to have a decent menu price wise?.. But having had a joint in the hotel bar I again could'nt find it (never took the bloody map out that night) and ended up stumbling into Prix D'ami. Not a bad thing as I'd forgot being impressed by the menu in this place. Could very easily have got carried away here as there were many things I'd have liked to try. Did deffo recall getting 2g of Orange bud as it was my first ever smoke in Dam and not noticed it elsewere. Know I bought 2 others here, a green and a hash. Not to sure what else but prob a haze on the green and the word haze often chanted in the back of my mind when thinking of a buy. Had a drink here while I let the memories flood back over a rather nice joint of Orange Bud while trying to make some notes from the day. Think I made a second joint of Orange here but put it out after half as my body felt like
it was putting on weight with each and every go!.

Must have got some details mixed up seeing as I'd also detailed having gone to the AH store on Nieuwmarkt this afternoon and got a couple of bottles of beer and some munchies?.

Went to Hill Street Blues on Warmoesstraat. Was busy but found myself a seat and had a joint of the haze? with a looza which was great. Think I finished the haze off here with another looza.

Did not note anything for the rest of the day except that I must have gone elsewere cos I recall having had a couple of beers with a smoke and stuffing some sugar based pruduct down my gob. Prob finished off the night in the hotel bar sat on the sofa trying to work out what film was on the tv.

Sorry to hear you had problems back home during this trip, but your clarity is impressive even with vague notes! I'm struggling to recall after a few days

Day 4:

Well this was the last full day and I hope to make the best of it. Sitting having breakfast I realise I've not really taken any photos of Amsterdam yet. So made a promise to myself not to get to carried away untill I'd some photos taken. Problem was the weather was a bit dodgy today. So had to have a joint or 2 while waiting for the weather to calm and decided
I'll have to go out now as if I dont I'll probably loose the ability to use the camera if I leave it till the afternoon. So walk to Nieuwmarkt where I take a few snaps. Then by pure chance I notice the other Hill Street Blues near by. So camera in pocket I decide gotta try it as a new coffeeshop I've not been to. First thing I notice it very different, very clean and unlike a coffeeshop at all really. Prob would not have given it a second look as a coffeeship has it not said Hill Street Blues. Buy White Widow here and get a looza and sit on the raised bit at the back to roll and smoke as it's a nice view overlooking the shop from there as I noted.

Having had 3 rather quick joints I really had to go take a walk and get some photos taken. So thats probably pretty much what I did for the next hour or so . Though recall not being able to walk to far as the white widow seemed to have took a hold on me for some reason!. Think I must have took the camera back to the hotel as I know I get carried away with smoking the later in the day it gets as the beer also plays a part when the bars open lol. More so in that it was the last full day of the trip. Recall
spending a bit of time in the hotel bar (bar was not open yet though) having a smoke or 2 playing a few games of pool. was not playing pool to bad when I think I'd been during to. But after 4 games enough was enough and had to get out as I never like staying in the same place to long.

Wanted to try some new places out today as I seemed to be slowly running out of time as had not been to nearly as many different coffeeshops as I originally intended. So to save going back and to I probably went to get changed again early afternoon before the last afternoon\evening out. Dont recall the next 2 places I went to or even if I bought anything. But next notes suggest I was bloody starving and went to grab some chips half way down on Damrak.

From there I have no notes what so ever and not really any memories of the night at all except some rather sore feet so prob did a fair bit of walking.

Day 5: Well off home today and to be honest I was probably ready as it was the first time away from my daughter. Out of bed for breakfast by 8.30 I put my remaining money in my pocket and the 2 half bags of gear I had left and head down for breakfast. Have myself a joint (which by now was probably half gram joints) to wash the breakfast down with and think 2 smallish joints worth is not going to last me in the slightest. So about 10am I find myself wandering about thinking where to go for a last buy. Abraxas or Dampkring?, Fuck it, Dampkring (well think it was Dampkring and not Abraxas or another place) had a better choice on the menu I thought. Dont know what I bought tbh but deffo some green as that seemed to be easier to smoke over the trip this time.

Walking back to the hotel I realise SHIT I'd not packed and checked out. Double quick I get back just after half 10, but no worries for them as it's fine. Packing everything and grabbing my jacket for the day I take my case down to the locker room as I dont need to leave for the airport till about 5.30pm.

Off to Hill Street Blues for a smoke of what I'd just bought. Thankfully I never bought anything more here just the juice because when I went to the leather seats at the back to roll up not only do I find my new buy and the other half buy from the previous day but also 4 other bloody bags of other gear in the other jacket pocket that had partly been used!. At a guess I estimated I had about 4 grams worth left. Shit, thats at least 8 1/2 gram joints to smoke in about 7 hours I think to myself. Spending the next 45 mins between smoking the first joint in there I proceed to roll the rest of the gear into a futher 7 joints, meaning 8 decent strength (for me anyways) joints before checking in about 6pm. Must have had another joint in Hill Street Blues before heading out again saying the bar staff I'd be back later. Did'nt note where else (prob just walking round the city 1 last time for a while) I went as such except for having 2 of the remaining joints sat outside Ricks with 2 nice cold pints of beer.

I know I then went to collect my case and had the cheek to have a quick rest in the hotel bar and having another joint and half. Off the Hill Street Blues for 1 last visit, By this time the real seats were fully occupied so spent the next couple of hours chatting to the bar staff about anything having the other half a joint and slowly making my way through another 2. Loosing the ability to even think straight let alone walk straight I decide I best get going now while I have the thought to allow for extra time to get the airport. Say my goodbye to the staff and I'm off. I get to the airport with a little under an hour before checkin in openes. Well after I find where the blood hell they have put the Easyjet checkin anyways. Seems they either moved it or I did'nt recall from the last trip it was on a kind of raised part right down the other end of the airport!!!.

Realising I still had 1 last joint on my I see the nearest exis and thankfully it's not to busy an area and so find a slightly secluded spot which is probably used by many to light up a last smoke before home. Also have a couple of ciggies just outside the entrance\exit while chatting to
some getting a Glasgow flight I think it was.

And thats it, another trip over with. Sorry if this sounded a bit of a bore report but I never do seem to get the grip of better detailing about which coffeeshops, which buys, prices and thoughts on the smokes etc.

After Thoughts:

Well I never did make it to Haarlem due to situations back home etc. Which was probably the worst part of the trip. If ever I willor even get another trip remains to be seen. Allough a lot of what I'd have done and wanted to do was not done because of home issues that followed me I'd still have gone and had the trip I did than have not gone at all.

I also regret not having made the 2 meets that were on while I was there, not taking more detailed notes on where I went, what I bought, the prices and what I thought of my buys for the trip. There was a number of other coffeeshops I wanted to visit but never got round to. Prehaps this is it, the last trip, will never go again as was on a bit of a downer for part of the trip and do not want to ruin the menories of enjoying other past trips by the same happening again. Dont gret me wrong I did enjoy the trip
very much. But was simply left feeling there should have been far more to the trip than there was.

Sep 2010:

22 months on, well things and situations have changed a lot to a point. The gf has not got the same problems she did the little un is now in school. The possablilty of going again before my passport runs out is far better than it would have been even 6 months ago. Maybe, just maybe there is another trip in the near future about march or april next year as there is unfinished things still to do in Amsterdam.

Glad to hear all is well with your family m8 ... I'm off out April/may next year maybe meet up if your out at same time dude .... take care

Thanks mate, looks certain that I'll be going the 18th-22 april 2010. As thats the only real dates that really work out round family before my passport runs out.

I was gonna try and get dates for 4/20 next year ... will have to meet for a session m8

Nice report mate. Glad all family issues are sorted. Nothing worse than being away with family issues juggling around in your head. Get out there again next year before that passport runs out. You know you deserve it !!!!