Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory

	Every year the two major harvest festivals attempt to identify the best buds and coffeeshops in the Netherlands.
	Cannabis Cup	Cannabis Cup results 1989-2007 Organised by the American magazine High Times via their tour company subsidiary 420tours. It takes place around the time of the American "Thanksgiving" holiday in November.
	Hempfair	High Life Cups 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 By Dutch magazine, High Life. The 2007 event was held at Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre from 23 to 25 February.

Glossary of Categories

Bio		Weed grown in soil
Hydro		Weed grown using hydroponics
Outdoors		Weed grown outdoors
Hashish		Imported hash
Nederhash		Hash made from Dutch weed
Indica		Genetic classification (see here)
Sativa

Health Warning

The Cannabis Cup is a commercial event rather than an objective competition. Originally it was about the best strains and was awarded to seed companies. Over time it has evolved into a competition principally between coffeeshops. Most of the coffeeshops don't enter the cup but those that do take it very seriously. In its early years the Cannabis Cup was accused of a heavy bias towards companies that advertise in High Times. It's now more democratic but no less controversial.

Above all the Cup is a holiday. Thousands of Americans are flown over on package deals that include flights, hotels and judges passes. Over their week-long visit they are entertained with various events including the opportunity to vote in the various categories of the Cup. It's great fun for the judges and its influence on the Amsterdam coffeeshop scene has, generally, been positive. Some of the judges are extremely enthusiastic, arriving weeks before the event officially starts, they take copious notes and attempt to apply scientific methods to their assessments.

Despite everything, the strains and shops that have collected awards are among the best. There are, however, many excellent shops and buds that have never won a prize.