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Het Ballonnetje Roetersstraat 12, Amsterdam |
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| Street | Roetersstraat |  |
| District | Eastern Main Canals and Jodenhoek | |
| Town | Amsterdam | |
| Province | Noord Holland | |
| Postcode | 1018 WD | |
| Telephone | 0031 (0)20 6228027 | |
| Open | Daily 10:00-00:00 | |
| Map | Amsterdam Map ref: J10 | |
| "Official" Site | www.channels.nl/amsterdam/balon.html | |
| Tram | From Centraal Station, Dam Square or Rembrandtplein take tram 9 or 14 to Artis Zoo. From Leidseplein tram 7 stops right on Roetersstraat whereas 6 and 10 stop at nearby Weesperplein where there's also a metro station. |
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An old favourite of mine, Ballonnetje was first recommended to me by a Dutchman I met on the train taking me to Amsterdam for the first time in the 1980s. This is a great place to spend an afternoon away from the tourist centre. There is a balcony-style upper level and a terrace. The best place to be, though, is the table in front of the window where you can look into the vivarium and spot the small, brightly-coloured, frogs.
Toasties and other food are available.
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Doody from USA. Sent 28 Oct 2005.
Bear from USA. Sent 13 Nov 2004.
One of the highpoints of my trip. The perfect coffeeshop for me. Quiet and laid back. Felt like a normal cafe (with great smokeables). I had the NL ice at 9 euros a gram. Great taste, great stone. We were the only non-Dutch in the place, which I enjoyed. The staff wasn't particularly friendly and the barmaid didn't seem to notice or care that we were leaving and couldn't muster a "tot ziens". All the same, a great place that I look forward to visiting again!
Mary from USA. Visited 2-8 Nov. Sent 9 Nov 2004.
The White Widow was good! Friendly dealer and right across from the University of Amsterdam! Actually pretty easy to find. I walked there from Leidseplein! Nice walk, but have good shoes. I wanted to go back and try other stuff, but my God, a person can only smoke so much weed and/or hash in a week! It's worth the hike!
Patrick from USA. Visited Oct '04. Sent 6 Nov 2004.
My absolute favorite coffeeshop in Amsterdam! Right infront of the University of Amsterdam, a great stop before hitting the Artis Zoo (Recommend). Walk in and a slit level with a huge window in front. Everyone has view of the outside. To your right is the menu. About eight selections of weed, and I got the Snow! Only 6 euros. It was the whitest bud, I'd ever seen. And it gave me the best "happy" buzz, that I hadn't felt in a long time. The best bud I'd ever smoked! I sat upstairs, and it's extremely tricky getting up the stairs. There are several tables upstairs with, yes, Ms. Pacman! Nothing like a good stone and playing Ms. Pacman. There are other games in the corner. But after getting high, watch the steps going down!
Doody from USA. Visited May 26 - June 7. Sent 20 Jul 2004.
My favorite shop has gotten even better! A larger menu, still the best prices anywhere, now offering 10 or more types of weed and 12 or so hash varieties. I tried the Ice, Gronic and White Russian all mind blowing at 6.80 euro a gram! Also the Blonde Moroccan (6 euro gm.) and Dutch Delight (9 euro gm.) are both amazing hashes. They also have pre-rolled joints now, both mixed (2.50 euro) and pure (3.00 euro). Still the best staff, drinks, and most laid back shop in town.
Ryan from USA. Sent 10 Jul 2004.
This place is great. A true locals coffeeshop, in fact, the dealer told me I was the first tourist he'd seen in there in a while. The staff was amazing: very friendly, very knowledgeable, and very willing to sit and chat about the dam. The dealer (who I think may have been the owner) would chat with me everytime I went in there (about 4 times) and taught me how to roll a perfect Dutch hash joint. I don't think too many other dealers would take the time to do that. Weed selection was small, but the product was great (and cheaper than in the center of town). I tried the Bio-Skunk weed and the ICE weed all on their recommendations. The ICE was amazing. Great taste, super smooth high. I also tried their Blond hash on the recommendation of the dealer. Awesome stuff. It was my first time smoking hash, and it was great. I highly highly recommend this place, my favorite coffeeshop of my trip.
IzerTWO from Germany. Sent 17 Apr 2004.
A good place with friendly people, nice coffee and good weed.
This was the most frequented coffeeshop my friend and me visited, most likely because it was quite near to the hotel.
Anyway, a great place to stay, no frogs anymore though.
Bubbalicious from Canada. Visited 26-30 Mar 04. Sent 5 Apr 2004.
Great first experience. Very clean, well run, and the cheapest food and drink encountered, likely because they are right across the street from the University. 2 cappuccinos cost 2.20 euro for 2. Grass selection was good, staff was nice. Didn't purchase, as I had too much already. Lots of locals choose this place, they would stop in, grab a bag, and go. A few tables outside were very nice to sit at, just felt a bid weird smoking a spliff as families walk by to go to the zoo just up the street.
Dano from Ireland. Sent 8 Mar 2004.
Well worth finding. Great Moroccan Katama, great ambience and a totally new locale for me in Amsterdam. The staff were very friendly and we will go back there.
Doody from USA. Sent 1 Sep 2003.
The best coffeeshop experience I have ever had!!! I was staying in an
apartment just down the street so the Het became my "Basecamp" so to speak.
The staff was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable on their products, as
well as making excellent cappuccinos. It is a less touristy coffeeshop that
caters mostly to locals as I saw several people pulling up in cars or bikes,
coming in for a bag, and then off they went. Also, for three days I was the
only American person I saw in the place, besides my bandmates. It is in a
nice neighborhood, across from the Universiteits-Gebouwen, and nestled
between two canals. For a nice walk, head North (left out the front door)
across two canals, then follow the tram tracks up the Plantage Kerklaan to
the Artis Zoo, a 5 minute walk at most. The weed at the Het is very high
calibre, with all the varieties you would want. I asked for the strongest
and the fellow behind the counter suggested the Jack Herrer. I also tried
the Bubblegum and the Edelweiss, and here's the best part, all at 6.80 euros
a gram!!! They also had Ketuma hash for 3.00 euros a gram!!! There is a
beautiful balcony up a very small, but unique staircase that looks out to
the high windows to the street, and there are also terras seats outside, two
great places to enjoy your smoke and watch all the people walking by going
about their day. While I was there they were playing Eminem, some trance and
a local radio station, depending on what time of day you went. On the main
floor they have a big table and barstools plus a terrarium with frogs and a
beverage bar as well that serves all types of coffee drinks, plus sodas,
juices, energy drinks and a great choice of teas. You can also get toasties
and broodjies and other light snacks. They don't serve alcohol, but just
down the street is De Bamboeseur, Eik En Linde, and cafe Koosje, all on the
Plantage Middenlaan between Kerklann and Parklann, with De Bamboeseur terras
right across from the Wertheim Park. the Het is really not that far out and
in my opinion, is a much better experience than some of the over crowded,
and over priced shops elsewhere, so a trip here is definitely worth your
while. Considering the beautiful staff, the quality weed, the prices, the
cappuccinos, the good music, the location, and the most laid back and
enjoyable ambiance anywhere, I give the Het Ballonnetje 5 stars!!! A must
visit!!!
Jason from USA. Sent 6 Jan 2003.
Het Ballonnetje has everything you want if you're in search of a REAL Dutch coffeeshop that's away from the tourist areas. Catering to a mostly Dutch clientele and one of the oldest coffeeshops in town, Ballonnetje is located right across the street from the University of Amsterdam in a beautiful and tranquil tree-lined neighborhood. It has a very native Dutch feel to it inside, and you're just as likely to find professors lighting up while talking about classes as you are the regular off-duty Amsterdam policeman enjoying a smoke.
This shop offers a very solid selection of weed, most of it quite potent and reasonably priced. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and is willing to answer your questions whether you're a beginner or if you've smoked weed all your life. The vibe is very laid back, yet extremely funky. There are several tables downstairs as well as a few upstairs with some vintage video games. In addition, several benches and tables on the sidewalk outside make for a truly enjoyable visit as you watch the street traffic and people walking by.
They serve light meals, tons of juices, and dozens of kinds of tea, but there's also an Italian joint a block away if you've got the heavy-duty munchies. Overall, this is a must-visit coffeeshop if you're in Amsterdam. The atmosphere, extremely friendly staff, great weed, and beatiful neighborhood make Het Ballonnetje one of Amsterdam's best-kept secrets. It's away from the tourist center, and you can enjoy a nice cup of tea and a killer joint as you get the chance to chat and mingle with native Amsterdamers. Get high and "get native" all at the same time. It's hard to find a more laid-back coffeeshop than Het Ballonnetje.
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ACD rating 80% (Click here for info on ratings) | |
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Rated as one of Amsterdam's Top 40 Coffeeshops by Kip in his book 'Mellow Pages' | |
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Recommended by Joe Pauker in his book 'Get Lost!' The Cool Guide to Amsterdam | |
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