Rotterdam Coffeeshops in 2026: Hours, School Rules and Tourists

Rotterdam runs on a coffeeshop policy first adopted in 2013; the version in force today dates from November 22, 2017. It is stricter on hours and location than Amsterdam's, and it explains most of the surprises visitors run into here.

The city has cut its number of shops sharply over time. The policy itself records a fall from 62 coffeeshops in 2007 to 41 in 2013 and 36 in 2017, and the national count for the end of 2024, published in 2025, puts Rotterdam at 39 shops, one of only three Dutch municipalities with more than 20.

Can tourists buy in Rotterdam?

Yes, as things stand. The residents criterion has been national toleration policy since January 1, 2013, and Rotterdam wrote it into its policy. The local "triangle" of mayor, police and prosecutor then decided not to give its enforcement priority.

The same paragraph keeps a door open: if selling to non-residents leads to nuisance, the city may switch to enforcement under its sanctions scheme. So a tourist-friendly Rotterdam depends on tourists not causing trouble.

Opening hours: why most shops close at 22:00

Rotterdam limits hours citywide because early-morning and late-evening visits cause the most complaints, the policy says. It cut opening from 07:00 to 10:00 and closing from 01:00 or 02:00 to 22:00.

The midnight exception was introduced so there would be some supply after 22:00 in the center, where coffeeshops blend into nightlife. Everywhere else, plan to buy before ten.

The school rule that halves some shops' hours

Rotterdam uses a distance criterion from 2007: a shop within 200 meters in a straight line and 250 meters walking distance of a secondary school or vocational college must be closed to the public while the school is open for lessons.

The city sets each affected shop's hours every year from the school's timetable and holidays, and writes them into the shop's operating permit. That is why two shops on the same street can keep very different hours.

1. 2007

   Rotterdam introduces its school distance criterion.

2. 2013-01-01

   The national residents criterion takes effect; Rotterdam includes it but does not prioritize enforcement.

3. 2017-11-22

   The current version of the Rotterdam coffeeshop policy takes effect.

4. 2025-04-23

   The Council of State upholds Rotterdam's limits on coffeeshop Tuda Fruta, which may open only 17:30–22:00 on weekdays because of a nearby school.

In that case the operator argued the limits were disproportionate. The Council of State found the mayor was right to put pupils' protection first, and noted that the shop was not closed, only restricted.

Rotterdam and the weed experiment

Rotterdam is not one of the ten municipalities in the national cannabis experiment, so its shops still buy stock through the illegal "back door" like most Dutch coffeeshops.

In 2022 the government discussed adding one large city, with Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague named, cannabisindustrie.nl reported at the time. None of them appears on the government's current list of participants.

The closest experiment municipality is Voorne aan Zee (formerly Hellevoetsluis) in the Rotterdam region. Shops there may sell only sealed products from licensed growers. See our experiment results report for prices in those towns.

Stock limits and why shops get closed

A shop may keep at most 500 grams of stock on the premises, and holding more is where most enforcement starts. Rotterdam's policy says the prosecutor acts when hard drugs are found or stock exceeds 500 grams.

In March 2026, police reported finding about 16 kg of weed, over 10 kg of hash and more than 3,500 packs of edibles in a garage box linked to a coffeeshop in Rotterdam-Zuid, cannabisindustrie.nl reported. The city, police and prosecutor were discussing measures. For buyers, it is a reminder that a favorite shop can close at short notice.

Before you go: a Rotterdam checklist

• Carry a passport or ID card — 18+ is checked at the door.
• Buy before 22:00 — only the designated central shops stay open until midnight.
• Check weekday hours near schools — some shops open only in the late afternoon on school days.
• Stick to 5 grams — per customer, per day, per shop, weed and hash combined.
• No alcohol — Rotterdam coffeeshops have been alcohol-free since 1997.
• Keep smoking indoors pure — tobacco can't be smoked inside; see our menu guide.

For how other cities compare, see residency rules by city and the Netherlands hub. This guide summarizes public policy and is not legal advice.