Can you smoke weed in Rotterdam? Cannabis, cigarette and vape rules

ROTTERDAM, 30 September 2026 – Cannabis is not technically legal in Rotterdam, but the Netherlands tolerates possession of small amounts and sales through coffeeshops under strict conditions. Public cannabis use is prohibited in Rotterdam, while cigarette smoking and vaping are allowed outdoors in many places but restricted indoors, on public transport and in designated smoke-free areas.

Last checked: 30 September 2026.

Smoking rules at a glance

• Is weed legal in Rotterdam? No. Cannabis remains illegal, but possession of up to 5 grams for personal use is generally tolerated.
• Can you smoke weed in public? No. Rotterdam prohibits open drug use in public places.
• Can you buy weed? Yes, through coffeeshops operating under the Dutch toleration system. You must be at least 18.
• Can you smoke cigarettes outside? Usually, unless the location is designated smoke-free.
• Can you vape? Vaping follows the same smoking bans as cigarettes.

Is weed legal in Rotterdam?

No. Cannabis is not technically legal in Rotterdam or elsewhere in the Netherlands.

What the Netherlands has instead is a toleration policy. Possessing a small amount of cannabis remains against the law, but in practice you will generally not be prosecuted for having no more than 5 grams for personal use.

The same principle explains why coffeeshops can sell cannabis. Selling weed and hash is technically an offence, but authorities tolerate sales by coffeeshops that comply with strict national and local rules.

Rotterdam is not part of the Netherlands' controlled cannabis supply experiment. The standard Dutch coffeeshop toleration system therefore continues to apply in the city.

Can you smoke cannabis in public?

No. Rotterdam prohibits open drug use in public places.

That means you should not light a joint in the street, on a square, in a park or in another publicly accessible space simply because possession of a small amount is tolerated. Rotterdam's local public-order rules prohibit public use of substances covered by the Opium Act.

This is an important difference between cannabis and an ordinary cigarette. Cigarette smoking is still permitted in many outdoor public spaces, while public cannabis consumption is not.

Can you buy weed in Rotterdam?

Yes, cannabis is sold through Rotterdam coffeeshops under the Dutch toleration policy. A coffeeshop in the Netherlands is a cannabis business, rather than simply a café serving coffee.

You must be at least 18 years old. Coffeeshops may sell no more than 5 grams of cannabis per person per day, cannot sell hard drugs or alcohol and must comply with rules intended to prevent nuisance.

National policy formally states that coffeeshops may only admit and sell cannabis to residents of the Netherlands. Rotterdam's current coffeeshop policy does not prioritise enforcement of that resident criterion unless drug tourism results in demonstrable nuisance.

That does not guarantee entry to visitors. Take valid identification with you and follow the rules of the individual coffeeshop.

Some coffeeshops allow cannabis consumption on site. Their own house rules apply, and the national indoor tobacco and vaping bans still apply. Do not assume that being inside a coffeeshop means you can smoke a cigarette there.

Can you smoke cigarettes outside?

In many ordinary outdoor spaces, yes. Rotterdam does not have a blanket ban on cigarette smoking across its streets or city centre.

There are, however, an increasing number of designated smoke-free places. All Rotterdam playgrounds are smoke-free, as are tram stops in the city centre. Other smoke-free areas include Wilhelminakade and several locations around schools, healthcare facilities and other organisations.

Look for smoke-free signs and respect restrictions set by the owner or operator of a location.

Can you smoke on a Rotterdam terrace?

Sometimes. Smoking and vaping can still be allowed on genuine outdoor terraces, but national rules determine what counts as an outdoor terrace.

A terrace must be in the open air and have at least one side completely open. A fully enclosed terrace, conservatory or indoor terrace is covered by the smoking ban. Smoking must also not cause smoke to enter the indoor hospitality area.

Cafés and restaurants are free to make their own terraces completely smoke-free, so check the signs before lighting up.

Smoking and vaping indoors

Smoking is prohibited inside cafés, restaurants, bars, workplaces and public buildings. Designated indoor smoking rooms are no longer allowed.

The same restrictions apply to e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free vapes. If smoking is prohibited somewhere under the national smoking ban, vaping is prohibited there too.

Hotel public areas are also covered by indoor smoking rules. Hotels and other accommodation can impose additional restrictions on their own property, so check the house rules before smoking on a balcony or elsewhere at your accommodation.

Can you smoke on public transport?

No. RET's buses, trams, metro vehicles, platforms, stops, lifts and metro stations are smoke-free.

Rotterdam Centraal and other railway stations are also completely smoke- and vape-free. The prohibition applies to platforms as well as indoor station areas.

There is no need to hunt for a smoking area on the platform. Dutch railway stations have not had designated smoking zones since 2020.

What are the vaping rules?

Vaping is legal for adults, but it is subject to many of the same restrictions as smoking. You cannot vape inside hospitality venues, workplaces, public buildings or on public transport where the smoking ban applies.

There are also increasingly strict rules around buying vapes. Since 2026, e-cigarettes can only be sold through specialist tobacco shops, and the minimum purchasing age is 18. Flavours other than tobacco are prohibited.

So, where can you smoke in Rotterdam?

If you smoke cigarettes, an ordinary outdoor location is generally fine unless it is marked smoke-free or the owner has introduced a smoking ban. Keep an eye out for restrictions around playgrounds, public transport, healthcare and educational locations.

If you mean cannabis, the answer is different. Do not smoke weed in Rotterdam's public streets, squares or parks. Cannabis may be bought under the coffeeshop toleration system, but public consumption is prohibited.

The simplest rule is therefore: cigarettes outdoors are usually permitted unless signs say otherwise, while cannabis should not be smoked in public.