Cannabis and Driving in the Netherlands

The basic rule

Driving under the influence of drugs is an offence in the Netherlands. That includes cannabis, and it applies whether you are in a car, on a motorbike, on a scooter or on a bicycle. Coffeeshops are legal to visit, but the tolerance policy does not cover what happens on the road.

How the law works

Police can test drivers for drugs, and the law sets a limit for THC in the blood. Officers may also stop anyone who seems impaired. Penalties depend on the situation and can include fines, loss of your licence, and in serious cases prosecution. Rules and limits can change, so check current information.

Cycling counts

Many visitors get around Amsterdam by bike. Cycling while impaired is dangerous for you and others, and it can lead to a fine. Traffic is fast and busy, and trams and cars do not always give way.

How long does it last?

The effects and how long they stay in the body vary between people and products. Edibles can last many hours. If you are unsure, do not drive.

If you are stopped

Be polite and follow the officer's instructions. Police may ask you to take a test, and refusing can have its own consequences. If you are a visitor in a rental car or on a hired bike, the same rules apply to you as to residents.

Safer choices

• Plan your journey before you go to the coffeeshop, not after.
• Use trams, taxis or walk instead of driving or cycling.
• Do not accept a lift from someone who has been using cannabis or alcohol.
• Remember that mixing cannabis with alcohol increases the risk.

This is general information and not legal advice.

Read about the wider rules in our visitor guide to the law.