While recreational use, possession and trade of non-medicinal drugs described by the Opium Law are all technically illegal under Dutch law, official policy since the late 20th century has been to open
Cannabis coffee shop in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Signs in Amsterdam, indicating smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol are prohibited in this particular neighbourhood due to disturbances
Street sign indicating ban of nitrous oxide use in Groningen
Cigarette smokers as a percentage of the population for the Netherlands as compared with the United States, Norway, Japan, and Finland
Netherlands
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The Netherlands, also informally known as Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom o
Drug policy of the Netherlands
…spent trying to minimize harm caused by recreational drug use. As a result of this gedoogbeleid (lit. "tolerance policy" or "policy of tolerance"), the Netherlands is typically seen as much more tolerant of drugs than most other countries. Legal distinctions are made in the Opium Law between drugs with a low risk…
The Netherlands in 5500 BC
A medieval tomb of the Brabantian knight Arnold van der Sluijs
Charles V, Lord of the Netherlands at the Battle of Mühlberg (1547), by Titian
Prince William I of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt, by Adriaen Thomasz. Key