there's an entire website devoted to coffeeshops, grow shops, transportation, food etc. It's
www.coffeeshopdirect.com. I've been using it since before my first trip in 2001. Some of the members are Brits that go 3-4 times a year..and more. My favorite seed shops are Homegrown Fataseeds, DNA, flying Dutchman and High Quality. De Dampring grow shop, on Prins Henrikkade, is also a great shop, but higher priced. For example, they wanted 70 Euro a pack for Big Buddha strains while High Quality Seeds only charged 59 Euro. that adds up fast. I know of coffeeshop tours, but I've never heard of a grow shop tour. Seed company tours? Contrary to popular American mythology seed companies do not have vast greenhouses growing plants for seed. They, like everyone else, are limited to 5 plants per address. Otherwise they're illegal and subject to being busted...like Sagarmatha Seeds and MOD Seeds a few years ago. They have to farm it out to individual growers doing smaller seed grows. You can learn a shitload between now and when you leave by using that website. Jeez...I spend a month or so glued to that website before every trip. You can print out maps, learn to use the trams, learn who's selling what and how good it is or isn't. You can save a lot of time and money by using that site. After a few days in the Centrum (tourist trap area) you should venture out of there and check out Mellow Yellow and Little on Vijzelgracht. and in De Pijp area (where I stay the most) you have Katsu, Club Media and a little known grow shop (can't remember the name, but it's on the map) where you'll find the harder to get strains that Centrum shops quickly sell out of. Out of the Centrum the prices drop dramatically...you'll pay significantly less for the same quality. same is true of lodging, food and everything else. One of the best buys in A'dam is the Hawaiian Haze at Carmona CS on Tweede Jan van der Heijdenstraat near the corner of Van Woustraat. I suggest taking the train to Haarlem, too. I stayed in Haarlem on 2 trips. The shnelltrein only takes 8 minutes, other trains a few minutes more. There's some good shops there and the prices are much lower than in A'dam. It's more like Holland as well...a real Dutch town and far more laid back. Be prepared to walk 1 Klick south of Centraal Station though...that's the town square and shouldn't be missed. Near Centraal Station you have Birdy CS and Willie wortels Indica CS. Willie Wortels Sativa WAS a great shop, but that's changed since the bust 2 years ago. I'm ramling here. Do your homework and you'll have agreat time without going broke.
im hitting up amsterdam next month (yeah i know its gonna be cold believe me i just bought a new north face - the silverfox triclimate bomber, if anybody cares or needs a winter jacket rec).
