Netherlands: Coffeeshop numbers continue to fall

The number of coffeeshops in the Netherlands is gradually declining. At the end of 2016, there were 573 coffeeshops in the country, compared with 591 in 2014 and 617 in 2012.

Stef Blok, Minister of Security and Justice, released these figures on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. The city of Amsterdam is home to 173 coffeeshops, accounting for 30% of the country’s total number of coffeeshops. The city of Rotterdam, meanwhile, has 40 coffeeshops; The Hague has 36, while the city of Utrecht has only 10.

In Amsterdam, there are therefore one coffee shop for every 4,907 residents, a higher concentration compared to the 102 other Dutch cities that have obtained licenses to sell recreational cannabis. In contrast, the city of Zoetermeer, located 12 kilometers from The Hague, has only one coffeeshop for every 125,000 residents.

Strict criteria for coffee shops

The sale of cannabis in the Netherlands is tolerated, provided that coffeeshops comply with the prescribed rules, or the «tolerance criteria.».

The owners explain that the massive closure of coffeeshops each year is due to decisions made by the city councils of Dutch cities. These councils impose strict criteria on cannabis dispensaries, namely:

• They must not cause noise pollution
• They are not allowed to sell hard drugs
• They are prohibited from selling cannabis to minors
• Advertising cannabis is strictly prohibited
• It is not permitted to sell large quantities, specifically 5 grams per person in a single transaction
• A coffeeshop must not be located within 250 meters of a school

It is this last measure, in fact, that places the greatest strain on coffee shops. The Mellow Yellow, Amsterdam's oldest coffeeshop, was set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017. The clinic has closed its doors a few days before its anniversary. This decision was made by Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan, in agreement with the city council, which wanted to close all coffee shops located within 250 meters of a school, in an effort to discourage young people from using cannabis.

In the Netherlands, a municipal council reserves the right to authorize coffeeshops to sell cannabis within its municipality, subject to certain restrictions. It may also impose additional rules if it deems it necessary.

Mehdi Bautier