Listen to your mother and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Local Custom Tips

as mentioned before: With such a densely populated city, what I picked up on, from a cultural standpoint, is the locals are very big on respect of others and cleanliness. Too many visitors come in to get trashed, and that is how they leave the place. Simple things, like cleaning up after yourself, and when leaving a coffee shop, if the door is closed, then close it behind you. Sounds simple, but depending on you state of mind, it can easily be forgotten. This will also help you when you return to your favorite spots, because the employees, will probably remember you if you were a fool.

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The Dutch can take almost a snobbish attitude when it comes to at least one of their cash crops. (Not referring to Tulips – but probably that as well) I guess it is what happens when it become part of the culture as opposed to the counterculture. (even though, probably close to same percentage of the population between the ages of 20 and 35 smoke between Holland and California to Washington) The only people that used pipes and water pipes (i.e bongs) in Holland were the tourist and travelers (what seemed to be mainly from the States). The locals mix their bud with tobacco and roll it up in a rather large, usually cone shaped, joint with a “filter.”

While sitting with someone from Georgia, who rolled a States side J, I heard remarks from the locals stating, “you can tell who’ve rolled a j before.” Also I had some of the coffee shops employees and regulars ask to see mine, and commented how good it was. Then proceeded to show me different methods…

I even witnessed a local telling a traveler, “that has got to be one of the most pitiful joints I have ever seen, can I PLEASE roll you one?” and with that, the local, rolled what could have been a piece of art, and said, “it’s a Dutch thing”

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