Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum
Encyclopedia
The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum is a museum located in De Wallen
, Amsterdam
, Netherlands
. According to the museum, nearly a million visitors have visited the exhibition since it opened in 1987. Dedicated to cannabis
and its many uses, the museum offers visitors information about the historical and modern uses of cannabis for medicinal
, religious and cultural purposes. The museum also focuses on how hemp
can be used for agricultural and industrial purposes, even including clothing accessories and cosmetic products made from hemp fiber in their gift shop.
According to Frommer's
, the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum is located at Oudezijds Achterburgwal 148, open daily from 10am–11pm, and costs €
9 ($
11.50) per adult (children under 13 are free when accompanied by an adult).
in various stages of growth, pipe and roach clip collections, an 1836 Dutch Bible made of hemp, and many other accessories made from the industrial crop. The museum also contains artwork, including David Teniers the Younger
's painting, Hemp-Smoking Peasants in a Smoke House (1660).
. However, Time Out Amsterdam asserted that the museum "tries to be all things to all people and ends up being nothing to anyone". The magazine recognized the museum's success at displaying some interesting information, historical context and benefits of medical marijuana, but claims the "small exhibition lacks cohesion and entertainment value, and comes across alternately as hippyish and – surprisingly – rather po-faced". Similarly, author Rick Steves
wrote that the museum was informative, but "small and somewhat overpriced, educational but not very entertaining".
De Wallen
De Wallen is the largest and best-known red-light district in Amsterdam and a major tourist attraction. It is located in the heart of the oldest part of Amsterdam, covering several blocks south of the church Oude Kerk and crossed by several canals....
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. According to the museum, nearly a million visitors have visited the exhibition since it opened in 1987. Dedicated to cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
and its many uses, the museum offers visitors information about the historical and modern uses of cannabis for medicinal
Medical cannabis
Medical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine...
, religious and cultural purposes. The museum also focuses on how hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
can be used for agricultural and industrial purposes, even including clothing accessories and cosmetic products made from hemp fiber in their gift shop.
According to Frommer's
Frommer's
Frommer's is a travel guidebook series and one of the bestselling travel guides in America. The series began in 1957 with the publication of Arthur Frommer's book, Europe on $5 a Day. Frommer's has expanded to include over 350 guidebooks across 14 series, as well as other media including the award...
, the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum is located at Oudezijds Achterburgwal 148, open daily from 10am–11pm, and costs €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
9 ($
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
11.50) per adult (children under 13 are free when accompanied by an adult).
Exhibits
The museum includes a live cannabis gardenCannabis cultivation
This article presents common techniques and facts regarding the cultivation of the flowering plant cannabis, primarily for the production and consumption of marijuana buds. Cultivation techniques for other purposes differ...
in various stages of growth, pipe and roach clip collections, an 1836 Dutch Bible made of hemp, and many other accessories made from the industrial crop. The museum also contains artwork, including David Teniers the Younger
David Teniers the Younger
David Teniers the Younger was a Flemish artist born in Antwerp, the son of David Teniers the Elder. His son David Teniers III and his grandson David Teniers IV were also painters...
's painting, Hemp-Smoking Peasants in a Smoke House (1660).
Reception
The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum is often cited in travel books as a destination to visit in Amsterdam due to the unique drug policy of cannabis in the NetherlandsDrug policy of the Netherlands
The drug policy of the Netherlands officially has four major objectives:# To prevent recreational drug use and to treat and rehabilitate recreational drug users.# To reduce harm to users....
. However, Time Out Amsterdam asserted that the museum "tries to be all things to all people and ends up being nothing to anyone". The magazine recognized the museum's success at displaying some interesting information, historical context and benefits of medical marijuana, but claims the "small exhibition lacks cohesion and entertainment value, and comes across alternately as hippyish and – surprisingly – rather po-faced". Similarly, author Rick Steves
Rick Steves
Richard "Rick" Steves is an American author and television personality focusing on European travel. He is the host of the American Public Television series Rick Steves' Europe, has a public radio travel show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored various location-specific travel...
wrote that the museum was informative, but "small and somewhat overpriced, educational but not very entertaining".