Amsterdam laws for tourists are progressive and tolerant — but they have tightened significantly since 2023. Cannabis is regulated (5g max, no public smoking in central areas), alcohol is restricted (no public drinking in many streets), cycling has the same blood-alcohol limit as driving, and the city asks visitors not to photograph sex workers. This guide explains everything you need to know to avoid fines, including the 2026 cannabis rules, drinking ages, cycling regulations, photography etiquette, drug laws, and what’s actually illegal vs. tolerated.
Quick Overview: The 12 Most Important Rules
- Cannabis: legal in coffeeshops only; max 5g possession; banned in public in central areas.
- Public drinking: forbidden across the public area of the city centre.
- Cycling drunk: the 0.5‰ BAC limit for drivers applies to cyclists too.
- No photography of sex workers: the city asks visitors not to photograph or film in the Red Light District.
- Drinking age: 18 for all alcohol.
- Smoking: cannabis is banned on the street in central areas; tobacco is still allowed on open-air terraces.
- Public urination: €150 fine.
- Bike lights mandatory at dusk; €75 fine (plus €9 admin fee) if missing.
- Walking in bike lane: technically a fine but mostly just rude.
- Hard drugs: strictly illegal.
- Exporting cannabis: don’t carry it across borders.
- Noise nuisance in residential areas: rowdy groups can be fined.
Cannabis Laws (2026)
- Coffeeshops are legal — sell cannabis to anyone 18+ with valid ID.
- Max possession: 5g of cannabis per person.
- Where you can smoke: inside coffeeshops, in private homes, in some hotel rooms (check the hotel).
- Where you CANNOT smoke (since 2023): De Wallen (Red Light District), Dam Square, Damrak and Nieuwmarkt, marked by signs. €100 fine.
- Cannabis in restaurants/bars: not allowed.
- Hard drugs: strictly illegal — heroin, cocaine, MDMA, mushrooms (psilocybin) all banned.
- Magic truffles: legal loophole — sold at smartshops.
- Crossing borders: leave your cannabis behind when you leave the Netherlands. Schiphol customs prosecute. Trains to Germany/Belgium include border patrols.
- Driving/cycling high: illegal under Opium Act + Wegenverkeerswet.
- Closed-chain pilot: Cannabis Experiment legalises supply chains for selected coffeeshops in 10 Dutch municipalities (not Amsterdam yet); its final phase began on 7 April 2025.
Alcohol Laws
- Drinking age: 18 for all alcohol (beer, wine, spirits).
- Buying: must show ID at supermarkets, liquor stores. Strict checks.
- Public drinking: banned in most of Centrum, Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, De Wallen. €150 fine.
- Where you can drink in public: the rules for King’s Day (27 April) change from year to year, so check amsterdam.nl before you head out.
- Drinking on terraces and in bars: legal.
- Drunk in public: rarely fined unless rowdy or disruptive.
- Driving drunk: 0.5‰ BAC as standard; a stricter 0.2‰ applies to novice drivers.
- Cycling drunk: same limits as driving.
- Last call: closing times vary by venue; in the Red Light District, bars close at 2am.
Cycling Laws
- Lights at night: front white, rear red — mandatory at dusk and at night. €75 fine, plus a €9 administration fee.
- Phone use while cycling: illegal since 2019. €170 fine (€179 with admin costs).
- Earphones: technically allowed but discouraged.
- Drunk cycling: same limit as driving — 0.5‰ BAC; the prosecutor sets the fine.
- Two on one bike: legal if both adults, no front passenger (kids in seats fine).
- No-cycling zones: pedestrianised streets like Kalverstraat (some sections), Damrak.
- Helmet: not legally required; locals rarely wear them.
- Bike lights theft: very common — bring removable lights.
- Tram tracks: cross them at 90 degrees or you’ll fall.
- Always lock: two locks minimum; bike theft is high.
Red Light District (De Wallen) Rules
- No photography of sex workers or windows: the city asks visitors not to take photos or video here. Police, locals, and bouncers will intervene.
- No public cannabis smoking since 2023. €100 fine.
- No public alcohol on the streets of the city centre.
- No guided tours in the Red Light District itself; elsewhere in the centre, tours are capped at 15 people and run only between 08:00 and 22:00.
- No loitering at windows: walk on. Don’t haggle or harass workers.
- Sex work is legal: window workers are typically self-employed; pay tax; protected by law.
- HIV / STI checks: required for sex workers; mandatory licensing.
- Pimping: illegal.
See our De Wallen guide.
Prostitution Laws
- Legal and regulated since 2000.
- Sex workers must be 21+; ID checked.
- Window workers usually work independently and pay income tax.
- Refusing condoms = workers can refuse service.
- Coercion, trafficking, pimping = serious crimes.
- City has gradually reduced window numbers over the years to push out organised crime.
Public Behaviour Laws
- Public urination: €150 fine. Use cafés or paid pop-up toilets.
- Public nudity: not legal except in designated areas (some parks for sunbathing).
- Noise after 22:00 in residential areas: locals report disruptive groups; €150/person fine possible.
- Littering: an offence you can be fined for.
- Vandalism / graffiti: criminal; substantial fines + cleanup costs.
- Smoking in restaurants: banned indoors since 2008; still allowed on open-air terraces.
- Fireworks: consumer fireworks have been banned nationwide since 1 August 2026, apart from sparklers and other F1 items, so NYE 2026/27 is the first under the ban.
- Swimming in canals: technically allowed in some spots; banned in central canals; water quality fluctuates.
Entry & Stay Laws
- Schengen visa: 90 days in any 180-day period.
- ETIAS: not yet in operation, with no start date announced; the EU will publish it several months ahead. Once it launches, visa-exempt visitors will pay a €20 fee.
- Mandatory carry of ID: passport for non-residents; must show on demand.
- Hotel registration: hotels keep a guest register, so expect to show ID at check-in.
- Tourist tax: 12.5% of the room price excluding VAT (since 2024).
See our visa requirements guide.
Photography Laws
- General: photography of streets, buildings, landscapes is legal.
- People in public: legal but not for commercial use without consent.
- Sex workers / Red Light windows: don’t; the city asks visitors not to photograph or film in the district. Will result in confrontation and possible camera damage.
- Inside museums: depends on policy; most allow without flash.
- Drones: highly restricted; recreational drone flights need permits in central Amsterdam.
- Anne Frank House interior: no photography allowed.
Business & Transaction Laws
- VAT rate: 21% standard; 9% reduced for food, books, public transport, art.
- Cash payment limits: since 1 January 2026, traders may not accept cash payments of €3,000 or more for goods (anti-money laundering).
- Card-only shops: increasingly common; some don’t take cash at all.
- Refunds / consumer rights: EU-wide standards apply.
- Tipping: not mandatory; rounding up is common.
Driving & Vehicle Laws
- Driving age: 18 (some categories from 17 with experienced driver).
- Driving licence: EU licences accepted; non-EU need IDP + home licence.
- BAC limit: 0.5‰ experienced; 0.2‰ new drivers.
- Speed limits: 50 km/h urban, 80 rural, 100-130 motorway.
- Phone use while driving: hands-free only.
- Seat belts: mandatory all seats.
- Parking: extremely expensive in centre (about €8/hour, around the clock); use P+R car parks.
- Low-emission zone: central Amsterdam restricts older diesel vehicles.
Short-Term Rental Laws (Airbnb)
- Amsterdam regulations: short-term rentals require a permit; max 30 nights/year per property.
- Booking: only book licensed Airbnbs (look for permit number).
- Illegal rentals: city has cracked down hard; tourists won’t be fined but risk last-minute cancellations.
- Some areas (parts of Centrum and De Pijp): holiday rentals capped at 15 nights a year, against 30 elsewhere, and only with a registration number and permit.
LGBTQ+ & Anti-Discrimination Laws
- Same-sex marriage legal since 2001.
- Discrimination on basis of race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability illegal.
- Hate speech: criminal under Dutch law.
- Public display of affection regardless of orientation: protected.
- Trans rights: 2014 reforms; an X marker in Dutch passports has been granted through the courts since 2018.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
- Weapons: knives over 28cm, pepper spray, taser, brass knuckles — all illegal.
- Self-defence sprays: illegal even for personal protection.
- Hard drugs: heroin, cocaine, MDMA, magic mushrooms — illegal.
- Exotic animal trade: regulated under CITES.
- Counterfeit goods: subject to seizure at customs.
- Tobacco import: 800 cigarettes from EU; 200 from non-EU.
Common Fines Tourists Get
- Cycling without lights at night: €75 + €9 admin fee.
- Smoking cannabis in De Wallen / Centrum: €100.
- Public drinking: nuisance fines in the centre run €100-€650.
- Public urination: €150.
- Phone while cycling: €170 (€179 with admin costs).
- Drunk cycling (above 0.5‰): fine set by the prosecutor.
- Driving drunk: fines graded by alcohol level and set by the prosecutor.
- Littering: €150.
- Noise nuisance: €150 per offender.
- Photographing sex workers: not a fixed fine, but the city asks visitors not to, and bystanders often confront people who do.
Things That Surprise Tourists (But Are Legal)
- Sex work in licensed windows.
- Cannabis purchase & consumption in coffeeshops.
- Magic truffles (sold at smartshops).
- Same-sex marriage.
- Euthanasia (under strict conditions).
- Squatting (technically illegal since 2010 but tolerated in some cases).
- Topless sunbathing in designated parks.
- Nude swimming at specific naturist beaches.
If You’re Stopped by Police
- Be polite — Dutch police are well-trained and English-speaking.
- Show your passport / ID immediately.
- Acknowledge the offence honestly — denial often makes things worse.
- If you are fined, keep the paperwork and follow its payment instructions.
- For arrest: you have the right to a lawyer and a translator.
- Your embassy is notified for serious cases.
Serious Crimes & Penalties
- Theft: pickpocketing — a fine or prison.
- Drug trafficking: heavy fines and prison.
- Assault: up to 3 years in prison or a fine.
- Sexual assault: harsh penalties; consent laws strict.
- Carrying weapons: a criminal offence.
Practical Tips to Stay Out of Trouble
- Carry ID always.
- Read coffeeshop rules — they’re prominently displayed.
- Smoke cannabis indoors only.
- Always lock your bike with two locks.
- Check bike lights work before riding at dusk.
- Don’t argue with cyclists: they have right of way.
- Don’t photograph anyone in De Wallen.
- Stay polite: even disagreements work better with respectful tone.
- Save 112 + your embassy number in your phone.
The rules on guided groups in De Wallen are stricter than most visitors realise — our red light district tours guide lists them, including the 22:00 cut-off and the fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tourists buy weed in Amsterdam in 2026?
Yes — tourists 18+ can buy up to 5g cannabis at licensed Amsterdam coffeeshops; staff check a valid ID at the door.
What’s the drinking age in Amsterdam?
18 for all alcohol.
Can I smoke cannabis on the street?
Not in central areas (De Wallen, Dam, Damrak, Nieuwmarkt). €100 fine.
Is cycling drunk illegal?
Yes — same 0.5‰ BAC limit as driving. The prosecutor decides the fine.
Can I take photos in the Red Light District?
Of buildings, canals, churches — yes. Of sex workers or their windows, no: the city asks visitors not to take photos or record video in the district.
What if I take cannabis on the plane home?
Criminal offence at Schiphol customs. Finish or leave behind whatever you bought before you head to the airport.
Is sex work legal in Amsterdam?
Yes — decriminalised in 2000. Sex workers must be 21+ and ID-verified; window workers are typically independent, while those in clubs and brothels work for a licensed operator.
Final Thoughts
Amsterdam’s reputation for laissez-faire is largely earned, but the city has actively tightened rules around tourist behaviour since 2023. The local rule of thumb: be discreet, be respectful, and consume only inside the coffeeshops or your accommodation. Cycle with lights on; never photograph sex workers; drink only on terraces, in bars, or at home; and treat the city’s residents as you’d want yours treated. Follow these basics and you’ll never encounter Dutch enforcement.
Related Amsterdam guides
- Practical Amsterdam Information — money, safety, laws and logistics before you go.
- Common scams to avoid — the tricks that target visitors.
- Is Amsterdam safe? — the honest read on crime and common risks.
- Money, cards & tipping — currency, ATMs and what to tip.
- Red Light District honest guide — what it is really like, and the rules that apply.
- Dutch culture & etiquette — directness, tipping and the unwritten rules.
- Bike rental in Amsterdam — shops, prices and rules for first-time cyclists.