Believe it or not Holland is one of the cheapest places to buy a car. Of course you’d want to buy a European model, like a Mercedes to get a good deal. The population density of Holland and the lack of parking spaces in cities like Amsterdam have forced the Dutch to favor small cars. You’ll see some of the smallest vehicles ever made on the streets of Amsterdam. So if you’re looking for something unusual you might find it here. If you’re planning a long drive through Europe you can buy a car in Holland and either sell it or ship it home when you’re done. Each country in the E.U. has different regulations regarding the purchase of cars by tourists. In some cases you can avoid paying sales tax and registration fees. Check with the authorities before buying anything since the rules are subject to change.
The “coffeeshop” is a unique Dutch institution. For over 20 years, coffeeshops have operated with quasi-legal status in the Netherlands. Although there is no law that allows for the production and distribution of large quantities of marijuana and hashish, the Dutch tolerate the presence of coffeeshops because they separate the soft drug users from the hard drug dealers. This makes it less likely that someone desiring cannabis would end up purchasing a more dangerous drug, and keeps a whole market away from the illegal drug trade. The Dutch attitude towards drugs is very straight forward. If you have a drug problem they want to help you, not persecute you! Recreational use of soft drugs is seen as being less harmful to society than persecution and incarceration.