Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Forums

Very much enjoying this thread. Keep the history coming please.

Yeah, I meant it looks like they were separated by a door or two... Semsemah being opposite where Wok to Walk is now... Maybe?

... Again, I'm just guessing for shits and giggles...

...I love playing the, "find the place in the photo on Google maps", game!

Fantastic photos Roccy! Thanks very much for sharing

Lemming wrote: Mon 16th Feb 2026 02:55 pm Dutch Dream was opposite Dutch Delight, somewhere near where the "Semsemah" sign is in the picture above.

As you can see, Kip says it used to be part of a cinema. Maybe it was Semsemah in between being a cinema and a coffeeshop. Or maybe that was a different building?

Hi,
I'm pretty sure that Dutch Dream was at number 1a on the opposite side of Kolksteeg just a few doors up from Dutch Delight (later Ben) at No 10. Dutch Dream I believe became Coffeeshop Wolkewietje which closed in 2004, it is now a Chinese Takeaway.
Cheers

Loving this thread and the old pictures! Thanks for contributing.

Yes, Dutch Dream was at Kolksteeg 1a. It later became La-Stonato and, finally, Wolkewietje.

Dutch Delight/Ben is now a burger bar. Next door to that is Wok to Walk, then a shop, then Aura smartshop. Dutch Dream was opposite the shop and Aura.

In the Dutch Delight picture above there's a sign that appears to be outside what's now Aura saying something like "Grillroom Coffeeshop", which is intriguing. The "Semsemah" sign looks like it could be outside what is now Mister Vapes at 1E or what was Dutch Dream at 1A.

Lemming wrote: Tue 17th Feb 2026 06:19 pm
Yes, Dutch Dream was at Kolksteeg 1a. It later became La-Stonato and, finally, Wolkewietje.

In the Dutch Delight picture above there's a sign that appears to be outside what's now Aura saying something like "Grillroom Coffeeshop", which is intriguing. The "Semsemah" sign looks like it could be outside what is now Mister Vapes at 1E or what was Dutch Dream at 1A.

In the picture I put up a few days ago I recently zoomed in on it for a close up look and outside 'Semsemah' there is actually a tradesman with a step ladder at the frontage, also noticed a sign above the entrance just like the one in the 'Kip' picture, albeit end on. It looks like this modern illuminated box sign has been fixed over the original flat sign and wondered if they were in the process of changing it into Dutch Dream.
I have added another picture below from from the same time with the tradesman up the ladder attending to the sign.
It looks fairly certain that Semsemah was at 1a operating as a small snack bar diner selling meals, burgers, kebabs, ice creams etc.
The Grillroom higher up the street from Dutch Delight on the left was another middle eastern Egyptian based shoarma kebab burger felafel snack bar - there were loads of these places in Amsterdam at this time and great to visit at all times of day and night when the need for 'munchies' kicked in.
From what I witnessed over the years, shops in Amsterdam changed hands frequently year on year.

All the best RTnB

Just as a side note - is that bunting made out of pants?

Great spot on the Grillroom Coffeeshop sign Lem. I wonder if these small felafel/kebab places did a little sideline in under the counter hash and so put coffeeshop on their signage. I assume these images are taken before proper licensing?

I lived off felafel from these type of places on my first few trips. For some reason I always felt like I was in Blade Runner - the hustle and bustle, neon, tight spaces, probably raining , street food. I also was very stoned and have an overactive imagination

Right, here's one for you.

Haussmann 2

https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/haussmann2.html

From my 2nd visit (around 1996) I remember walking to a shop early one morning, it was more like a diner than a rustic coffeeshop. I seem to recall blue and chrome details. It was at the end of the row and there was a slight right turn before entering and the buildings were more modern. I also remember some open space in front of the building. From my extensive research it's possible it could've been Haussmann 2, which is now Pancake Corner near Terps 2.

I suspect we walked up Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen, before turning the slight right to enter.

Aside from the ACD entry I can find nothing about this place. Does anyone remember it? What years was it open? Surely not photos but any info at all may help to plug some gaps in my memory. Or prove that memory is essentially flawed and we are all just imaginations of ourselves. Or that I shouldn't be smashing this Blue Lobster at 6am

HitTheNorth wrote: Wed 18th Feb 2026 06:45 am Just as a side note - is that bunting made out of pants?

Hi HTN, yes they do look like pants, could be wash day! They are in fact small children's sweatshirts on display, the end shop was Bambino's kids clothing retailer, I bought some souvenir sweatshirts from them for my kids who were small at that time.
Amsterdam streets and alley ways were great to explore in those days, such a wide variety of things you could see side by side, from the every day to the weird and wacky.
Loved it! Happy days.
All the best

HitTheNorth wrote: Wed 20th Aug 2025 02:49 pm
Bulldog:
Screenshot 2025-08-20 at 14.44.35.png

HTN, I’ve just noticed that this photo you found of The Bulldog is located at Hekelveld 7 which is now Coffeeshop Resin.

The Bulldog > The Pooldog > Resin

More incarnations

Whilst researching The Bulldog, I found a few pictures from when they operated in Den Haag in the 80s.

Prinsenstraat 84 (which is now Cafe-Coffeeshop Cremers) &

Wagenstraat 142 This black and white photo from the Wagenstraat location looks so fucking cool in my opinion. Love the logo on the window with the spliff smoke turning into ganja leaves. Fucking great

avfc-herbalist wrote: Wed 18th Feb 2026 10:55 am

HitTheNorth wrote: Wed 20th Aug 2025 02:49 pm
Bulldog:
Screenshot 2025-08-20 at 14.44.35.png

HTN, I’ve just noticed that this photo you found of The Bulldog is located at Hekelveld 7 which is now Coffeeshop Resin.

The Bulldog > The Pooldog > Resin

More incarnations

Well spotted!
I think I missed that batch before.
Where the hell is that Grasshopper?

Lemming wrote: Wed 18th Feb 2026 02:11 pm Where the hell is that Grasshopper?

I think it was the first Grasshopper at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 59.

You’ve got it in the Directory mate https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/grasshopper-ams.html

Maybe the perspective makes it look much smaller then. No conservatory on the front, obviously.

Lemming wrote: Wed 18th Feb 2026 02:54 pm Maybe the perspective makes it look much smaller then. No conservatory on the front, obviously.

Yeah, I’d say it’s the perspective, Lem. I went off the picture below and noticed the number 59