History Of The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum In 1 Minute
Humans have been cultivating cannabis since antiquity, and the plant has played an important role in world history. This heritage is often overshadowed by cannabis’ psychotropic nature, with scientific study overlooking its fascinating history and instead focusing on the plant’s recreational uses. Amsterdam’s Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum is devoted to dispelling the myths that surround cannabis, researching the plant as an important historical entity in order to amend cultural misconceptions.
The museum was co-founded by Dutch entrepreneur, Ben Dronkers, and American horticulturalist, Ed Rosenthal, in 1985. The pair aimed to create an institution that could fairly portray cannabis’ cultural significance, documenting the plant’s global influence and historical importance. For them, cannabis was much more than a narcotic, and represented human ingenuity. Cannabis’ versatile hemp fibers were one of the principal forces behind many of history’s greatest inventions and were woven into paper, clothing, and canvases; moreover, the plant has been used for medicinal purposes since prehistory.
In the 17th century, the plant made its way to Northern Europe where it was used to create durable ropes and sails, advancing naval technology and allowing the Dutch to quickly amass large fleets of powerful ships. Cannabis’ role in Dutch and world history, Dronkers and Rosenthal believed, had been too frequently ignored – a fact that they were eager to amend. A week after the museum opened, it was forced to close because of a personal order from the Dutch Ministry of Justice. Dronkers successfully contested this decision and a week later reopened the project.
The museum began as a relatively small enterprise, displaying items from Dronkers’ personal collection. Over the years, its inventory has steadily grown to over 12,000 pieces, illustrating humanity’s multifaceted relationship with the plant. Its exhibitions trace the history of cannabis by presenting diverse sets of objects, including pipes, medical equipment, propaganda, and Dutch Golden Age paintings. In 2009, the museum decided to divide its collection over two sites and opened an adjacent gallery that was dedicated to the hemp industry. Three years later, its interior was completely renovated and then reopened by the Dutch Minister of Education, Science and Culture, indeed symbolizing a sea-change in culture’s perception of cannabis.
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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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