The Grand History of Cannabis | The Dutch

To introduce the art and book about the Grand History of Cannabis: The Dutch, I let Derrick Bergman — journalist, cannabis activist, and chairman of the VOC Nederland (Bond voor Opheffing van het Cannabisverbod / Alliance for the Repeal of the Cannabis Prohibition) — do the honours. Derrick has been our editor, and basically a living cannabis encyclopaedia, fact checker, and myth buster throughout this project. Especially when it comes to the subject of Holland, Derrick figures as an expert in this topic. Without Derrick’s help, we could not have done this work. This article was written by Derrick as the introduction to our book.

Let Derrick take it away.

The Netherlands; a tiny country below the North Sea that played a big role in modern cannabis history and culture in the current era.

Foreword by: Derrick bergman

For decades, the Netherlands was the only country in the world where anyone aged eighteen or older could buy a small amount of cannabis and smoke it, without any problem or risk of police intervention. Millions of cannabis lovers have travelled to Amsterdam, the once proud cannabis capital of the world, to experience and celebrate this freedom in the coffeeshops. 

A lot of foreign visitors and a surprising number of Dutch citizens assume that cannabis is legal in this tiny country, that has also legalized same sex marriage, prostitution and euthanasia. The truth is different and quite confusing. The only thing that is legal when it comes to cannabis, is consuming it. All the rest is tolerated at best. The unique Dutch cannabis policy originates in a fundamental change to the Opium law in 1976. A legal distinction was introduced between soft drugs -meaning hash and cannabis flower- and hard drugs like heroin, speed and cocaine. Penalties for hard drugs went up, while soft drugs were decriminalized for personal use. 

It’s a misconception that the coffeeshop was invented or even envisaged by politicians. It was not. We have the people who are pictured in this book to thank for this wonderful invention. Pioneers like Wernard Bruining, Koos Zwart, Henk de Vries and Ben Dronkers. People who pushed on despite adversity and opposition, because they were convinced they were doing something good by selling cannabis in a safe and friendly atmosphere.

Not just coffeeshop owners, but growers, breeders, activists and a handful of politicians. You can meet almost fifty of them on the pages of this amazing book. Some are no longer with us, but most are still alive today. I’ve had the honor of meeting pretty much everybody who is portrayed in this book since I started writing about cannabis culture in 1994. They had and still have a profound influence on my life and work. Stefan van Swieten and Mossy Giant have done a splendid job in portraying these remarkable and colorful characters, who shaped the history of Dutch cannabis.

They recount this extraordinary history in over fifty short chapters and from many angles, touching upon themes like Amsterdam’s Cotton Club, the Provo movement, the Den Uyl government of the 1970s and 17th century Flemish painter David Teniers de Jonge. Mossy Giant’s intricate and colorful drawings mirror the richness of the text in detail and scope. It’s a vibrant, mind-blowing trip on paper.

The day after the exhibition of the Dutch at La Creme Gracia, 2024 Barcelona Spain. From left to right; Derrick Bergman, Wernard Bruining, Mossy and Stefan van Swieten.

Different from some of my fellow countrymen I have always been proud of the Dutch cannabis culture. I believe it’s a culture that we should cherish and that has brought inspiration and joy to countless millions around the world. History is essential to any culture. That’s why it’s so important to document the history of Dutch cannabis culture and pass it on to future generations. 

As the world slowly turns away from cannabis prohibition, we should learn from the past and honor the brave women and men who have been leading the fight for cannabis freedom. This book is a great way to do just that. 

And besides all that: The Grand History of Cannabis - The Dutch is perfectly suited to wander around and get lost in when you’re as high as a Flemish parrot, as we say over here. So sit back, light up and enjoy the ride…