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Saturday 26 May RNW - NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE NETHERLANDS IN 10 LANGUAGES, WORLDWIDE 24/7 ON RADIO, TV AND ONLINE
RNW Soft drugs dossier. Photo: Flickr/Splifr

Soft drugs in the Netherlands

The Netherlands' tolerant policy on the use of cannabis has worked well for decades, but is coming under strain due to the free flow of people within the European Union.

Video: Weed pass sparks new problems

The introduction of the 'weed pass' earlier this month in the south of the Netherlands is leading to growing problems. Since 1 May, only Dutch residents are able to purchase soft drugs in coffeeshops. Foreigners are barred.   In...

Article: Dutch Press Review Wednesday 2 May 2012

Human rights in Ukraine comes under the spotlight, courtesy of Euro 2012. Dutch youth is all the happier for toeing the parental line, there’s an internet manhunt and cannabis ‘weed pass’ emotions run high.

Video: Fresh protests as weed pass takes effect

There are mounting protests in the south of the Netherlands against the introduction of the 'weed pass'. As of 1 May, coffeeshops in southern Dutch cities are only allowed to sell marijuana and hashish to Dutch residents with a special...

Video: Belgians fear consequences of new Dutch weed pass

The Belgian authorities fear that the new Dutch 'weed pass' law will lead to an increase in marijuana cultivation in their country. The law prohibits the sale of soft drugs to foreign tourists and coffeeshops are only allowed to sell...

Article: Court rejects cannabis policy challenge

On Friday, a court in The Hague ruled against 19 coffeeshop owners and other interested parties who are against the introduction of the compulsory ‘weed pass’. The pass will mean that ‘coffeeshops’...

Coffeeshop licence
Netherlands Netherlands Article: Weed pass clash on the cards

Article: Weed pass clash on the cards

Come the first of May, southern towns in the Netherlands are going to defy the national government in The Hague. Local councils in Limburg, North Brabant and Zeeland have said they will ignore a law which will take effect on that date...

Video: The Netherlands to ban the sale of hash

The conservative coalition partner VVD wants to ban the sale of hash in Dutch 'coffeeshops'- outlets where small amounts of cannabis products can be sold to the public. The sale of Dutch-grown 'weed' - dried cannabis flowers - would not be...

Article: One hundred years of the war on drugs

One hundred years ago today, the war on drugs started in The Hague. On 23 January 1912, twelve countries met to sign the first international agreement regulating the drug trade, the International Opium Convention. Little has changed in...

Utrecht coffeeshop Hi & Lo
Netherlands Netherlands Video: Coffeeshops go up-market

Video: Coffeeshops go up-market

Dutch coffeeshops are getting increasingly chique with design furnishing and fittings replacing the inevitable Bob Marley posters and cool jazz instead of reggae or hip hop. Hi & Lo, newly-opened in Utrecht, prefers to call itself a...

Article: Netherlands to end sale of soft drugs to tourists

Dutch drugs policy is changing. The image of this country as a paradise for those wanting to enjoy soft drugs without looking over their shoulders is slowly but surely going up in smoke. The most far-reaching change is a new policy making...

Video highlights

Fresh protests as weed pass takes effect
There are mounting protests in the south of the Netherlands against the...
Belgians fear consequences of new Dutch weed pass
The Belgian authorities fear that the new Dutch 'weed pass' law will lead...
The Netherlands to ban the sale of hash
The conservative coalition partner VVD wants to ban the sale of hash in...
Coffeeshops go up-market
Dutch coffeeshops are getting increasingly chique with design furnishing...
RNW - News and analysis from the Netherlands in 10 languages, worldwide 24/7 on radio, television and online