Experiment for legal cultivation and sale of marijuana

Within the experiment, coffee shops in the ten participating municipalities are required to purchase their products from pre-designated growers. A maximum of ten growers will receive a license to grow cannabis legally. They may then supply their products only to the coffee shops in the ten participating municipalities. The growers undergo extensive selection and screening. In addition, throughout the experiment they are under intensive supervision by the Ministry of Justice and Security and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. Thus, the rijksoverheid will not grow cannabis itself but will ensure that the process from grower to consumer is legal and as agreed.

The two designated growers in the municipality of Voorne aan Zee have received permission from the rijksoverheid to start a cultivation company at two different locations in Hellevoetsluis. Both growers must of course comply with strict rules, such as in the area of security. 

Why this experiment?

The experiment was initiated by the rijksoverheid to answer the question "whether the current cannabis tolerance policy can be organized differently. For participation in the experiment, the city council of the former municipality of Hellevoetsluis named a number of starting points.

Tackling crime

By requiring coffee shops within the experiment to purchase from legal growers, criminal growers are cut off the pass. If a good alternative exists, the earning model of criminal cultivation is largely eliminated. In addition, the municipality hopes this will prevent potentially (fire) dangerous situations associated with illegal cultivation.

Public Health

By making cannabis cultivation legal, there will be more oversight of the substances contained in cannabis. The use of cannabis naturally carries health risks. Monitoring for the absence of pesticide and sometimes even heavy metals, may reduce some of these. Within the experiment, we are also looking at the THC content in the cannabis. This is the active ingredient in the product.

The rijksoverheid also considers it important to make people aware of the health risks of using cannabis. A number of rules have been established for this purpose. These include warning messages on cannabis packaging and coffee shop employees are trained to provide information.

When to launch

Since April 7, 2025, the two coffee shops in Voorne aan Zee, the Barbershop and John & Co, have only been allowed to sell regulated cannabis. On that day, the experimental phase of the Closed Coffee Shop Chain Experiment began. Until September 1, 2025, the sale of illegally produced hashish will not be enforced. From September 1, 2025, this will be enforced. This means that only regulated cannabis products may be present and sold in coffee shops. 
 

In total, the government has designated ten experimental municipalities and ten growers. The growers have been given permission to cultivate the supply for the coffee shops in the experimental municipalities. Two cultivation locations Voorne aan Zee designated in the municipality Voorne aan Zee . 

Euro nuisance cannabis cultivation Hellevoetsluis

Since the opening of the cultivation site in Hellevoetsluis in the fall of 2023, there have been reports of odor nuisance. The Rijnmond Environmental Protection Agency (DCMR) keeps track of the reports and takes Voorne aan Zee action against the odor nuisance on behalf of the municipality Voorne aan Zee . 

On September 10, 2025, the preliminary relief judge ruled that the special rules previously imposed on the cultivation company due to odor nuisance will remain in force for the time being. The municipality Voorne aan Zee DCMR are satisfied with this ruling. Thanks to these customized rules, which have now also been recognized by the court, DCMR can monitor how much odor the company emits and enforce this if necessary. For more information, see the news item on the DCMR website.

The municipal council understands that local residents are bothered by the odor and is doing everything it can to improve the situation, within the rules of the law.

In addition, the municipality would like to keep local residents and interested parties informed of important developments via a digital newsletter. You can subscribe via the page 'sign up for newsletter on odor nuisance from cannabis cultivation in Hellevoetsluis'.

DCMR keeps all information about this case on the DCMR website.

Important documents