Amsterdam 1975

[Lemming]

This map of the nascent cannabusiness in 1975 was sent to me by Bedge (from Nol van Schaik’s book The Dutch Experience).

The locations shown are:

The original Mellow Yellow, the prototype for all subsequent coffeeshops.

Lowlands Weed Company, the first ever grow shop on Kees Hoekert's boat De Witte Raaf (The White Raven). Apparently there was also a dealer on a neighbouring boat.

Bulldog No.90 and neighbouring merchandise shop (88), which was the first commercial coffeeshop, opened in 1975.

Rusland, now Plug XXX, which also opened in 1975.

I'm intrigued by Spui being emphasised. Maybe that was also significant to hash in the 70s?

[DjShaggy]

I love stuff like this, the history is fascinating. It really does make me wonder what the spui connection is, and I never realised Rusland was so significant either. Great post.

[Nuggz]

I love stuff like this, the history is fascinating. It really does make me wonder what the spui connection is, and I never realised Rusland was so significant either. Great post.

Rusland was indeed one of the first shops. Legend has it (according to the words of a true old-school Amsterdam hippie, RIP) that back in these days there was no real "main bud counter" there was usually a house dealer(s) with a briefcase, tucked semi-discreetly in the corner of the café somewhere.

In any case, the following details are a bit fuzzy, as it was a few years ago I was told the tale, by now - but one of the dealers whether initially having the blessing of Rusland management or not, lost said blessing and was banned from the shop.

The peddler having been exiled from Rusland (Dutch for "Russia") naturally opened a competing shop, naming it Siberië (Siberia) in honor of his exile from Russia...

[DjShaggy]

I love stuff like this, the history is fascinating. It really does make me wonder what the spui connection is, and I never realised Rusland was so significant either. Great post.

Rusland was indeed one of the first shops. Legend has it (according to the words of a true old-school Amsterdam hippie, RIP) that back in these days there was no real "main bud counter" there was usually a house dealer(s) with a briefcase, tucked semi-discreetly in the corner of the café somewhere.

In any case, the following details are a bit fuzzy, as it was a few years ago I was told the tale, by now - but one of the dealers whether initially having the blessing of Rusland management or not, lost said blessing and was banned from the shop.

The peddler having been exiled from Rusland (Dutch for "Russia") naturally opened a competing shop, naming it Siberië (Siberia) in honor of his exile from Russia...

Stories like this need preserving before they are lost forever.

[bedge]

High the reference to the spui is referring to the so-called happenings that happened around a statue of a street kid.
i think its still there. The happenings were protests where lots of cannabis was smoked.
It was setup by a group known as the provos who had an underground publication of the same name.
see
http://www.marijuanalibrary.org/HT_provos_0190.html

https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2020/ ... provo-man/
hope this helps
bedge

[HitTheNorth]

Brilliant thread great find that @Lemming and @Nuggz what a story! Makes perfect sense.

[Ghost]

Quality Map and info there guys, thanks for sharing it