How to Read a Dutch Coffeeshop Menu (2026): Wiet, Hasj, Gruis, Voorgedraaid & More
Confused by Dutch terms on coffeeshop menu boards? Learn what wiet, hasj, gruis, buitenwiet, voorgedraaid, isolator, and spacecake mean, plus how counter pricing works.
Dave Mak
Amsterdam Cannabis Explorer
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Decoding the Dutch Coffeeshop Menu
Walking into an Amsterdam coffeeshop for the first time can be confusing. While most budtenders speak fluent English, menu boards and price cards often feature traditional Dutch terms, shorthand abbreviations, and metric pricing formats.
Understanding these terms helps you find the best value, avoid overpaying for hype, and order with confidence. Here is the complete glossary to reading any Amsterdam coffeeshop menu in 2026.
Dutch Cannabis Vocabulary Glossary
| Dutch Term | English Translation | What It Means & What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Wiet / Nederwiet | Weed / Dutch Flower | Standard cultivated cannabis flower grown indoors in the Netherlands (e.g. Amnesia, White Widow). |
| Hasj / Hasjiesj | Hashish | Compressed cannabis resin blocks, traditionally imported from Morocco (Ketama/Rif) or made locally. |
| Gruis | Shake / Bottom Bag | Loose bits of flower and small trimmings from the bottom of curing jars. Sold at big discounts (â¬6ââ¬8/g). |
| Buitenwiet | Outdoor-Grown Weed | Cannabis grown under natural Dutch sunlight. Lower THC (8â14%), earthier taste, and very affordable. |
| Voorgedraaid | Pre-Rolled Joint | A ready-to-smoke joint sold in a plastic cone tube. Available as 'Pure' (weed only) or 'Mix' (with tobacco substitute). |
| Puur / Pure | 100% Cannabis (No Mix) | Pre-rolled joint without any tobacco or herbal blend. |
| Joint met tabak / Mix | Mixed Joint | Pre-roll blended with herbal mix or tobacco substitute. |
| Isolator / Ice-O-Lator | Ice Water Hash | Solventless extract made using ice water and filter bags. Extremely high potency (45â70% THC). |
| Blok / Polm | Block / Blonde Pollen | Traditional soft blonde Moroccan pressed resin. Mellow, functional, spicy terpene profile. |
| Spacecake / Edible | THC-Infused Pastry | Cannabis-infused brownie, muffin, or cookie. Usually contains 25mgâ100mg THC. Takes 45â90 mins to kick in. |
| Cali / Import | California Genetics | Exotic cultivars imported from or bred from US genetics (Zkittlez, Gelato, Runtz). Top shelf prices (â¬20ââ¬35/g). |
Understanding Menu Pricing Formats
Dutch menus typically display prices in two distinct formats:
1. Fixed Weight Pricing (⬠/ Gram)
- Example:
Amnesia Haze â 1g: â¬13.00 | 5g: â¬55.00 - How it works: You specify the weight in grams (e.g. "Can I please get 2 grams of Amnesia?"). Buying 5 grams often includes a 10â15% bulk discount.
2. Fixed Amount Pricing (Baggy Deals)
- Example:
White Widow â â¬10 / â¬20 / â¬50 bag - How it works: You ask for a monetary amount (e.g. "A â¬20 bag of White Widow"). The budtender weighs out the exact corresponding gram weight (e.g. 1.85g for â¬20).
5 Pro Tips for Ordering Like a Local
- Ask to Inspect the Jars: Don't buy blindly from the board. Budtenders are happy to let you see and smell the cannabis from the glass display jars.
- Look for 'Gruis' for Budget Rolling: If you are rolling multiple joints for a park day, ask for gruis (shake). It smokes great and costs half the price of pristine whole nugs.
- Respect the 5-Gram Legal Limit: By Dutch law, coffeeshops cannot sell more than 5 grams total per person per day. Do not ask for larger quantities.
- Check the Pre-Roll Label: If you don't smoke tobacco, always verify you are ordering a Puur (Pure) pre-roll.
- Compare Live Prices First: Use our DamLive Price Explorer and Live Strains Tracker to check today's counter prices across 140+ shops before you walk in.
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