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Amsterdam does have drugs, of course, as it does in any place where people gather. Drugs are a reality and part of the experience of contemporary life.

But it's worth bearing in mind that, if it's more evident here in Amsterdam, it's because the Dutch have an open mentality based on Calvinist principles. Dutch children learn from an early age to discern what is "right" and what is "wrong", not through boring moralism, but because they learn to live with reality from an early age. Everyone learns about individual responsibility and citizenship, taking responsibility for what they do and facing up to society's vices and problems with the greatest naturalness in the world, no longer being the paternalistic society we know so well, based on over-protection, the castration of its individuals and fear of Heavenly Father. No one hides anything from anyone, hypocrisy and false morals are left outside. This doesn't mean that everything turns into excessive libertinism, on the contrary, the Dutchman's madness is tranquil. There's a saying here: "Be discreet, because that's crazy enough". In order to be this sophisticated, the foundation of this open-minded nation lies in the cradle education and the social structure put in place.

Incredible as it may seem, this composure derives from the most counter-cultural and rowdy civilization of all time: the pirates of the seven seas! Mercantilists from the start, they had in their blood the need and curiosity to travel and get to know the culture of distant peoples.

Today, Amsterdam, with 700,000 inhabitants, still retains its pirate flag, but is considered a "cybercity" and is ready to enter the third millennium with the title of exemplary city of the European community.
 

AMSTERDAM SURVIVAL MANUAL

When it comes to buying grass, my recommendation is: act natural when you go into a coffee shop. Choose one that's less touristy and less freaky (no more Bob Marleys!), puff out your chest, hold your head high... And go straight to the guy at the counter and ask for the menu. Don't be suspicious, he'll weigh it in front of you and the price is fixed. If you're in doubt about what you've chosen, simply try them all. Don't get carried away by buying 15 grams at a time, one gram is fine to start with. Remember, you're allowed to pop one inside.

I still recommend you try Nepalese hashish, as Moroccan hashish is an average commodity and can be found all over the place.

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Make no mistake, the policy on soft drugs is as follows: it is not legalized, but its sale is controlled by the government. This means that coffee shops and smart drug stores are the only places where it is allowed to be sold. The owner has to declare how much he has and pay taxes, under penalty of forfeiture of bail. As long as the merchandise has not entered the Coffee Shop, it is considered illegal and contraband. Grass and most mushrooms are grown right here in Holland and Germany. Hashish and heroin come from abroad.