The Dutch make two distinctions with drugs: hard and soft.

Hard drugs are anything with a potential for abuse like heroin, cocaine, LSD and ecstasy.

Hard drugs are illegal and the Dutch police like to arrest people for having them.

Soft drugs such as marijuana and magic mushrooms are semi-legal in Holland (see cannabis laws for details).

They can be bought them from specially licensed 'coffee shops' and 'smart shops' which often have the word Chill, Green, or Flower in their names.


choose your interests
» coffee shops
» coffee shop etiquette - a guide
» smart shops
» cannabis laws