The Netherlands is often described abroad as a place where cannabis and prostitution are simply “legal.” That is too crude. Dutch law frequently combines national criminal or regulatory law, tolerance policies and municipal licensing.
Cannabis: tolerated is not the same as legal
Cannabis is regulated under the Opiumwet. The government tolerates coffeeshop sales under strict criteria rather than making ordinary cannabis retail generally legal. Current national policy says possession of up to 5 grams of cannabis and up to 5 cannabis plants is normally not prosecuted, but this is a prosecution/tolerance policy rather than a declaration that possession is unrestricted legal conduct. Municipal coffeeshop rules can add restrictions.
Hard drugs
Hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, ecstasy and GHB fall under List I of the Opiumwet. Do not extrapolate coffeeshop policy to other drugs.
Sex work
Adult sex work is legal within a regulated framework, but the rules depend on matters such as work status, immigration status and municipal licensing. Coercion, exploitation and human trafficking are criminal matters. A client is criminally liable where they know or have serious reason to suspect that a sex worker is being forced or exploited. Paid sex with a person under 18 is criminal.
Change warning: in 2026 the government announced legislation/policy to raise the minimum age for sex work from 18 to 21. Until legislation takes effect, do not present the announced future age as already-current law; recheck before publication and at every review.
The editorial rule
BorderlessAdvice should use “legal / illegal / tolerated / licensed / locally restricted” precisely. If the answer depends on a municipality or a law that is changing, say so rather than turning Dutch policy into a tourism myth.