{"id":25884,"date":"2026-01-01T09:54:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T08:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamredlightdistricttour.com\/?p=25884"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:26:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T13:26:01","slug":"new-law-weed-smoking-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamredlightdistricttour.com\/de\/news\/new-law-weed-smoking-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Amsterdam Implements Strict Weed Ban: \u20ac100 Fine for Smoking in Red Light District"},"content":{"rendered":"

Breaking: New Amsterdam Law Targets Weed Smoking in Red Light District<\/h2>\n

From today you can get a fine of 100 euros for smoking weed in Amsterdam Red Light District.<\/p>\n

Last Updated<\/strong>: 24 March 2026.<\/p>\n

Not sure how this fits into Dutch \u201ctolerance\u201d rules? Read: Is weed legal in Amsterdam?<\/a> (the difference between tolerated use, coffee shop rules, and public smoking limits).<\/p>\n

As of today, weed is no longer allowed on the street<\/strong> in the city center of Amsterdam. The rule is intended to reduce nuisance caused by drug use in public spaces, especially by tourists.<\/p>\n

The ban applies to the Red Light District, Dam Square, Damrak and Nieuwmarkt<\/a>. Anyone who lights a joint there and ignores a first warning can be fined 100 euros. The same applies to residents. Terraces of coffee shops<\/a> are excluded.<\/p>\n

Large signs were put up in the city center this week to point out the ban and the fine to people. The municipality previously warned that if the nuisance caused by a smoking ban does not decrease enough, “we will also look into the possibilities of banning smoking on terraces at coffee shops<\/a> in the area”.<\/p>\n

At the end of last year, the municipality presented the measures to reduce the nuisance caused by tourists in the Red Light District. Other measures mentioned earlier are tightening the alcohol sales ban and closing catering and Rotlichtfenstern<\/a> earlier.<\/p>\n

Forecast Number of Tourists<\/h2>\n

The Amsterdam city council determined that additional measures must be taken if the expected number of overnight stays in Amsterdam exceeds.<\/p>\n

The capital saw the number of overnight guests increase by 21 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, to 9 million. The number of international guests in Amsterdam accommodations rose by 26 percent, while the number of guests from the Netherlands increased by 8 percent. International guests in Amsterdam came primarily from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany. In Rotterdam and Utrecht, the number of guests increased by 19 percent. In The Hague, this number rose by 11 percent. (source<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Other measures Amsterdam Red Light District<\/h2>\n

To tackle the nuisance in the Red Light District, the city council wants to tighten the closing times on weekend nights. This is done at the request of the residents.<\/p>\n

Catering establishments must then close at 2 am, with no new visitors being admitted from 1 am. Window prostitution should close at 3am. According to alderman Mbarki, residents get rest earlier on weekends.<\/p>\n

Alcohol has been banned in the Red Light District for years. Recently, the restrictions on alcohol sales by shops, cafeterias and liquor stores in the Red Light District have also been tightened and the closing times for the catering industry and der Prostitution angesehen werden.<\/a> have been brought forward. The so-called ‘Stay Away’ campaign was also started to keep nuisance tourists away.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n