Drinking alcohol or smoking weed in the street in Amsterdam: banned zones and fines

The rules in brief

In the Netherlands, drinking alcohol in public is not banned by national law: each municipality sets its own rules in its police bylaws (the APV in Amsterdam). Amsterdam's bylaws contain two bans:

• Everywhere in the city, you may not drink alcohol in the street, in a park or on the water if you are causing disorder or a nuisance.
• In the no-alcohol zones (alcoholverbodsgebieden) designated by the city, you may not drink alcohol, nor even carry an open bottle, can or glass of alcohol, even if you aren't drinking from it. Bar and restaurant terraces are not affected.

For cannabis, it works the other way round: smoking in the street is tolerated almost everywhere, except in a few specific zones in the centre where it is banned. All other drugs remain illegal everywhere.

Alcohol: where is it banned?

The city has 42 no-alcohol zones, spread across every district (except Weesp). The most important ones for visitors:

• The historic core: since 1 March 2024, a large zone called "Stadshart en Haarlemmerbuurt" covers the old centre between the IJ, Central Station, the Singel and the Herengracht, as far as Waterlooplein and the Oosterdok, plus the Haarlemmerbuurt. It includes the Red Light District, Dam Square, the Damrak and the Nieuwmarkt. The area around the Oude Kerk, in the heart of the Red Light District, is where the city records the most alcohol-related offences.
• Leidseplein and the surrounding streets, under a ban since 1999.
• Rembrandtplein, under a ban since 2015.
• Smaller squares and streets in other neighbourhoods, often around nightlife spots.

The zones are marked by round signs showing a crossed-out bottle with the word alcoholverbod, placed at the entrances to the streets concerned. The exact map is published on the City of Amsterdam website. If in doubt, assume it is banned throughout the historic centre.

Outside these zones, a picnic with drinks in the Vondelpark or a beer by a canal in the Jordaan is allowed, as long as you keep it low-key, don't disturb residents and take your rubbish with you.

Alcohol: the fine and what counts as an offence

In a no-alcohol zone, the fine is €110 from age 16 (€55 for ages 12 to 15). It can be issued by the police or by municipal enforcement officers (handhavers). An opened can in your hand is enough, even if you are walking. A closed bottle in a bag, however, is not an offence.

Other alcohol-related behaviour is penalised everywhere in the city:

• Public drunkenness is an offence under the Dutch criminal code, which can lead to a fine or even a few days in detention.
• Urinating in the street (wildplassen) costs €140 when the fine is issued by the police, €160 when issued by the city. Useful addresses are in our guide to toilets in Amsterdam.
• Dropping your can or litter on the ground costs €280 (municipal fine).

Buying alcohol: age 18 and restricted hours in the Red Light District

The minimum age for buying alcohol is 18, for all drinks. Cashiers ask for ID from customers who look under 25. Supermarkets sell beer and wine (under 15% alcohol); spirits are only sold in liquor shops (slijterij).

In the Red Light District, an extra rule targets takeaway purchases: supermarkets, grocery shops, snack bars and liquor shops may not sell takeaway alcohol on Thursdays and Sundays from 4pm to 3am, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm to 4am. During these hours, the beer and wine shelves are covered. This measure is in force until 1 April 2027. For a drink in the centre in the evening, there are still bars and brown cafés, where you drink seated, inside or on the terrace.

Cannabis: the zones where smoking is banned

Since 25 May 2023, smoking cannabis in public has been banned in four areas of the centre:

• the whole Red Light District (De Wallen);
• Dam Square;
• the Damrak, between Central Station and Dam Square;
• the Nieuwmarkt.

The fine is €100, issued after a first warning if you carry on smoking. The terraces of licensed coffee shops in these areas are not affected. Elsewhere, round signs with a crossed-out joint (blowverbod) mark other streets or squares where it is banned, often alongside an alcohol ban.

Even where there is no sign, smoking cannabis in the street is only tolerated: the police can step in if there is a nuisance, and smoking anything is banned in stations and on platforms (tobacco included, since 1 October 2020), as well as on trams, buses, metros and trains. Laughing gas (nitrous oxide, lachgas) has been banned since 1 January 2023: carrying it for use or using it in the street is an offence. The rest of the rules (age, quantities, smoking indoors) are covered in our guide to coffee shops.

On a boat, by a canal

There is no general ban on drinking on a boat in Amsterdam, but the city's boating rules limit parties on the water:

• 13 people at most on board a private or rented boat, crew included (licensed cruise boats are not affected);
• no amplified music on board, except in an enclosed, soundproofed space;
• a blood alcohol level of no more than 0.5 grams per litre for the person steering.

The first two offences cost €160 each. Disorderly drinking on the water falls under the APV's general ban. At night, quaysides without railings are dangerous: every year, visitors fall into the canals after drinking. To rent a boat or choose a cruise, see our guide to canal cruises.

Summary table

Rules and fines checked in October 2026 in Amsterdam's police bylaws (APV) and the municipal fines schedule.

Further reading

Before heading out in the evening, read our guide to Amsterdam at night and the Red Light District rules, which also cover bar opening hours. Behaviour that annoys locals, from the cycle lanes to photographing the windows, is gathered in our guide to mistakes to avoid in Amsterdam, and street traps, including fake dealers, in the scams and safety guide.