Every so often Paul and I lock up the shop in Gloucester, pack a bag and go looking for inspiration. But this trip was extra special: for the first time ever, members of our Cosmic Tree community joined us. And for many of them, it was also their first time travelling abroad as medical cannabis patients, which made it a big deal for all of us.
Our destination? Amsterdam, a city that has been close to our hearts (and our stock list) for as long as Cosmic Tree has existed.
Travelling as a patient? Planning is everything. Before you book, have a read of our guide: Travelling with Medical Cannabis.
All aboard the Eurostar 🚄
We skipped the airport and took the Eurostar from London straight to Amsterdam. It’s comfortable and relaxed, and you get to watch the countryside roll by instead of queuing at security. It was the perfect start to the adventure.
Home sweet houseboat
You can’t do Amsterdam properly without living on the water, so we stayed on a houseboat. It had a beautiful outside deck and seating area, and that deck quickly became our favourite spot. We spent mornings with a coffee, evenings watching the canal lights, and plenty of good conversation in between. It felt like our own floating Cosmic Tree. 🛶
A little coffeeshop history
Amsterdam’s coffeeshops date back to the early 1970s. In 1976 the Netherlands brought in its famous “tolerance policy”, which allowed licensed coffeeshops to sell small amounts of cannabis to adults. Fifty years on, they’re part of the city’s culture, and each has its own personality, from cosy living rooms to full-on art installations.
What struck us most was how normal it all felt. Nobody judged anyone. It was simply part of everyday life, and that’s the open attitude we try to bring to Cosmic Tree.
Our coffeeshop shout-outs
We visited a lot of coffeeshops on this trip (it would have been rude not to!), but a few deserve a special mention:
🌀 Abraxas. A true Amsterdam classic, open since 1992. Its handmade mosaics, warm colours and winding layout give it a magical, laid-back hippie feel. We loved it.
🥊 Tyson 2.0. Mike Tyson’s cannabis brand opened its first European coffeeshop on Spuistraat in 2023. It’s big, bold and a must-visit, and Paul even got to sit in Mike Tyson’s favourite seat, signed by the man himself! 🏆
A huge thank you to Jack at Plug Utopia 💚
We want to say an enormous thank you to Jack, the owner of Plug Utopia.
Plug Utopia sits in the heart of the city on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal. It used to be the Utopia coffeeshop until it was taken over and reborn as The Plug in 2018, with roots linked to The Plug cannabis club in Barcelona. It has since grown into one of Amsterdam’s best-respected names for quality.
What matters most to us, though, is how Jack looked after our group. Many of us were travelling as patients for the first time, and he gave us a supportive, safe and welcoming space where everyone could relax and feel comfortable. We’re also very grateful for the support of The Plug Medical Group. It meant a great deal to everyone on the trip, and we’ll keep supporting Jack and the team in every way we can.
Thinking about becoming a patient yourself? Our guide covers it step by step: How to Get a Medical Cannabis Prescription in the UK.
Art, culture and a ferry to the North
We managed some culture too!
🌻 Van Gogh Museum. Seeing Van Gogh’s paintings up close was breathtaking. The colours, the swirling brushstrokes and the energy in every piece are even more alive in person. As an illustrator, I found it hugely inspiring.
✏️ Sketchbook in hand. Of course, my sketchbook came everywhere with me! I loved drawing on location: canal houses, bridges, bikes and the little details that make Amsterdam so unique. Some of my favourite drawing time was back on the houseboat deck, sketching the water and boats drifting past with a cuppa in hand. Amsterdam has always inspired my work. Its colour, creativity, quirky architecture and free-spirited energy find their way into my art, and this trip has filled my sketchbook with new ideas.
You can see more of my work, from art cards and prints to coasters and workshops, in the Kelly Noble Illustration collection. Who knows what Amsterdam-inspired designs might appear next… 👀
⛴️ Over to Amsterdam Noord. We took the free ferry from behind Centraal Station across the water to North Amsterdam. Over there we visited the STRAAT Museum, a huge old shipyard warehouse full of incredible street art and graffiti from artists around the world. We also spent ages at the flea market, hunting for treasures. It felt like a completely different side of the city.
We even rode the bikes! 🚲
When in Amsterdam… yes, we braved the bikes! If you’ve seen the cycle lanes there, you’ll know this is no small thing. There was plenty of wobbling, plenty of laughing and maybe the odd near miss with a tram bell, but we did it and loved it.
What community means to us 🌳
Cosmic Tree has always been more than a shop. It’s a community, and this trip showed what that really means.
Supporting each other. Nobody on this trip was on their own. We looked out for one another, from planning the journey to checking in on how everyone was feeling each day. When someone needed a rest, we slowed down together.
Creating opportunities. For some of our group, a trip like this once felt out of reach. As a community we can make things possible that might feel too big to do alone.
Facing our fears. Travelling abroad as a patient for the first time takes real courage. So does navigating a new city, or hopping on a bike in Amsterdam traffic! Everyone faced something that felt daunting, and everyone came through it, with people cheering them on.
Living well with chronic conditions. Many of us live with chronic pain and long-term health conditions. A diagnosis shouldn’t mean giving up on adventure, joy or new experiences. With the right support, the right treatment and the right people around you, it’s possible to have a good quality of life: to travel, explore, laugh and make memories.
That’s what Cosmic Tree is about. Our roots support each other, and together we keep growing.
Bringing a little Amsterdam home
We came home to Gloucester with full hearts, tired legs and heads full of ideas. Most of all, we came home proud of our community. Watching people travel confidently as patients for the first time, somewhere they felt safe and welcome, was the highlight of the whole trip.
If you’re living with a chronic condition and looking for a friendly, understanding community, you’ll always find one with us.
Come and join us! 🌈
Would you like to get involved? We’d love to see you. From events and workshops in the shop to trips and adventures further afield, there’s always something happening in the Cosmic Tree community.
👉 See what’s coming up on our Events page.
👉 Fancy joining us on the next adventure? Take a look at our On The Road Events.
Or simply pop into the shop for a chat, or browse the full collection online. We’ll put the kettle on. ☕
Peace & love,
Kelly & Paul x
Cosmic Tree
