What are some interesting things about Amsterdam?

Answer 1

In Amsterdam it is legal for cannabis to be sold in "coffee shops" ("Koffieshop"), which are regulated by Amsterdam city council. Do not confuse a "coffee shop" with a "cafe" (in Amsterdam this term means a bar) or a "coffee house" ("Koffiehuis"), which is where you can drink coffee. You can smell the smoke coming from the coffee shops as you walk down the streets. The cakes or biscuits sold in these places (sometimes called "space cakes") contain marijuana or hashish (anyone who eats these should drink lots of sweet liquids). Note that these drugs are illegal outside of the Netherlands - you must not try to carry them with you when you leave the country (you could be arrested or fined Amsterdam is famous for having more liberal attitudes to sex than in many countries. This is obvious if you walk around the red light district, which is located close to the main train station (Amsterdam Centraal), around Oudezijds Achterburgwal and Warmoesstraat. As well as various sex shops, cinemas and sex shows, there are also two museums: the Sex Museum (Damrak 18) and the Erotic Museum (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 54). Amsterdam has a lively gay and lesbian scene, centred mainly around Reguliersdwarsstraat, Amstelstraat and Warmoesstraat. There are many gay nightclubs, bars, shops and hotels. Prostitution is legal in Holland. You can see these women through the windows, with a red light on in the room (when they are busy, they close the curtains). Do not take a photo of a prostitute: if you do, a gang member may approach you and destroy your camera's film or memory card.