All Amsterdam cannabis cafes within 250 metres of a secondary school will have to close their doors during school hours from January next year, the Parool reports on Friday.

The 31 so-called coffee shops affected will be able to open from 18.00 but can keep regular hours at weekends and during school holidays, mayor Eberhard van der Laan is quoted as saying by the Parool.

The measure is the first step in the eventual closure of the cafes. ‘This cannot be true. It’s going to cause problems and distance from a school is a non-issue,’ said the local association of cannabis retailers.

‘This policy is directed at school pupils but the under-18s don’t get into a coffee shop anyway because of the tough controls,’ the spokesman said. ‘But our regulars will have to wait until 18.00 hours.’