Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Forums

Probably not many off this forum (I'd still go but not as much) but a lot of Amsterdams visitors go for everything but cannabis, my parents have been a few times and didn't even know about coffeeshops until I told them

True, some folks do go to Holland for other reasons.

I am not saying that no one would ever visit Holland, if there were no coffeeshops, but we do know that the coffeeshops bring in most of the tourists. (A torpedo only has to punch a small hole in ship to sink it even if the ship is mainly, intact. Getting rid of coffeeshops would punch huge holes in the ship! Intentionally turning a huge profitalbe indusrty into a small one, does not make sense to me.)

Furthermore, the closing of coffesshops would indicate a sharp move to the right, and so the entire vibe of the country would be different. Hence, other non-cannbis-consuming folks, who currently enjoy Holland, might no longer be willing to spend time in a such an environment.

My family history includes the Netherlands and I greatly enjoy Holland, so I appreciate the Netherlands, from many angles. However, when looking at it from a strictly tourism point of view, I fail to see how they would bring in large numbers of repeat customers.

What are the main reasons for going on vacation?
To relax?
To sightsee?
To try something differernt than at home?
To educate oneself about cultural differences?
If these are some of the main reasons, then IMO, unfortunately, a Netherlands without coffeeshops, would likely struggle for tourists, given all the other competition.

Consider the cultural institutions (galleries, museums, historical buildings, natural wonders, monuments, and so on); There are some very nice ones in Holland, but so too are there in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, South America, US, Africa, Asia, Middle East, and so on.

Tourism Score: Other places 1, Holland zero

Now consider sun, surf, and sand. The Netherlands has some nice beaches. However, they can only really be used in the summer months. Places with much better beaches: Thailand, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, South Pacific, Jamaica (also has great herb) and other Caribbean countries, California, Florida, Hawaii, and so on.

Tourism Score: Other places 2, Holland zero

Consider winter activities: I can just imagine the advert "Ski the Dutch Alps".... France, Canada, Italy Switzerland, US, and so on all have great winter activity vacation spots.

Tourism Score: Other places 3, Holland zero

Thus, IMO, it would take an advertising genius to keep the Dutch tourism as strong as it is currently, with the coffeeshops.

As has been mentioned the "Dutch only" coffeeshops idea has been previously put forward and and shot down. It would bring up a huge mess about discrimination and human rights.

Finally, as we all know, prohibition does not work and, indeed, has severe negative consequences. To destroy an industry, with a policy that has failed everywhere it has ever been used, seems incredibly idiotic.

I really dont think the cannabis brings in nearly as many tourists as you think.

Boner wrote:I really dont think the cannabis brings in nearly as many tourists as you think.

The hotel owner i know sounds worried lets put it that way.

Kingdoc wrote:

Boner wrote:I really dont think the cannabis brings in nearly as many tourists as you think.

The hotel owner i know sounds worried lets put it that way.

I suppose that would depend on what sort of clientel the hotel wants, I doubt the Amstel would be affected if they did change the law where as say the Greenhouse Effect would be affected by it.

Boner wrote:

Kingdoc wrote:

Boner wrote:I really dont think the cannabis brings in nearly as many tourists as you think.

The hotel owner i know sounds worried lets put it that way.

I suppose that would depend on what sort of clientel the hotel wants, I doubt the Amstel would be affected if they did change the law where as say the Greenhouse Effect would be affected by it.

Yea i suppose,I wont come to nothing anyways i shouldnt think! i know they wont stave without us but it would be a blow to them like,Just like it would be here.

I really dont think the cannabis brings in nearly as many tourists as you think.

Maybe so. (However, I have heard that upwards of 25% of Dutch tourists pop in to try the coffeeshops. That figure might even be artificially low, given that some folks wish to remain in the cannabis closet. Even if the number is as low as 10-15% that is still a substantial number of tourists.)

Now, if we pretend that I am someone who has no family/cultural ties to the Netherlands, sell me on spending my vacation dollars in Holland instead of say, having a beach vacation, or a cultural vacation (in say, Paris, London, Rome, etc) or a "natural wonder" vacation (say Grand Canyon, Himalayas, Amazon, etc), a historical sites vacation (say Egypt pyramids, China great wall, European castles, machu pichu, Ankor Wat, etc.), or activity vacations such as ski resorts, hiking trails (eg Vail, Whistler, the Alps, etc), and so on.

There is a lot of competition for the vacation money. If we exclude the coffesshops and related entities, what has Holland got to offer, that would draw folks from the other vacation suggestions, as per the above?
Would this draw repeat visits?

For the folks in Europe, it is pretty easy (and inexpensive) to get to any other European country, but for those folks in North America, Aus/NZ, and farther afield, what would justify spending tons of money to go to Holland, instead of say, France, UK, Italy, Spain, or elsewhere?

In the fall/winter, even Europeans, might not want to leave their rainy cool hometowns only to stay in another rainy cool town, with no other substantially better cultural institutions, restaurants, or activities.

I love the Netherlands, but without the coffeeshops, I don't know how I could convince someone else to spend their vacation money on Holland, instead of some other palce. In your view, excluding cannabis related entities, what does Holland offer that is superior to other vacation locations?

Ingwey Gooblebogger wrote:what does Holland offer that is superior to other vacation locations?

Umm...windmills and tulips?

Having not been fortunate enough to vist Amsterdam yet, I can't really say what other real draws there are. I'd have to agree with you and say that if coffeeshops were outlawed it would certainly deter tourism.

The canals are pretty cool, no?

Let it be "...may NEVER end" lol ^)

Its like the rest of Europe, a good place to spend a couple of days in if there was no coffeeshops. I spend a couple of days there with coffeeshops, i just get less done in the city because of the coffeeshops. i would still go for sure, its a cool place with cool nightlife. Its important to party in as many countries as possible, regardless of the stance on cannabis.

You know what I actually feel quite sorry for people who only go to Amsterdam/Holland for the weed, the city/country offers so much, I've been all over Europe and I cant think of a single place that has the same attitude that Holland has, it certainly isn't the weed that does it either as I've been to several towns/cities that dont even have coffeeshops and the attitude is just the same.

I would still go if they were no weed,Or be it less often! + most people can get polm & skunk & that @ home anyways so this argument we only go for the weed is total BS,I could buy a shitload of weed & just stay @ home if i thought like that! like someone said "its nice to see other countries",But on the other hand do you really expect people to travel all the way from america like 3 times per year just to look @ windmills & tulips? i dont,Respects Doc.

Boner wrote:You know what I actually feel quite sorry for people who only go to Amsterdam/Holland for the weed, the city/country offers so much, I've been all over Europe and I cant think of a single place that has the same attitude that Holland has, it certainly isn't the weed that does it either as I've been to several towns/cities that dont even have coffeeshops and the attitude is just the same.

Your right man there certainly is a unique vibe in Amsterdam. I think its the same with most of Europe though, thats what i love about travelling Europe. Each country ive been to has a totally different and cool vibe than the last.

I too have been all over Europe and out of all the cities i've been to Amsterdam has it all culture,history,vibe you could easily spend a week there and not set foot inside a coffeeshop.......the weed is just an added bonus

Toker70 wrote:I too have been all over Europe and out of all the cities i've been to Amsterdam has it all culture,history,vibe you could easily spend a week there and not set foot inside a coffeeshop.......the weed is just an added bonus

Irelands an interesting European country, the vibe in Dublin is so different to that of cork, which is in turn different to that of Galway, which is so different to vibe in the North. Its one of the few countries ive been to like that. The US is another example. But thats not in Europe.

personaly i am looking forward to seeing antwerpen for a day next time,Ive seen photos/videos & it looks a superb little place like.