Mahmoud Hanachi stands proud behind the numerous awards Dutch Passion has achieved over the years. Photos courtesy of Dutch Passion.
Mahmoud Hanachi has been the driving force behind the multi-award-winning seed bank Dutch Passion. We walk down memory lane and find out firsthand why The Netherlands is so renowned for its thriving scene and its old-school way of life.
Emerald: How did Holland become the first cannabis capital of Europe?
Mahmoud Hanachi (MH): It was due to some Dutch pioneers that smuggled the first loads of hashish from Morocco to The Netherlands, combined with the liberal Dutch approach towards cannabis products back in the 70s. This gave us a headstart compared to most other countries in Europe where suppression was much more present.
Back in the old days, there would be some local coffee and tea houses where there would be a guy in the back selling hash and later cannabis, hence the name ‘coffeeshop’ we still use today.
Emerald: Who were some of the original breeders and pioneers at that time?
MH: When it comes to breeding and cannabis seeds in The Netherlands, some of the pioneers were people like Henk van Dalen (founder of Dutch Passion), Neville Schoenmakers (The Seedbank), Ben Dronkers (Sensi Seeds), Karel Schelfhout (Super Sativa Seed Club) and Wernard Bruining (Positronics).
The liberal approach in The Netherlands also attracted people from other parts of the world, like the American people such as Sam the Skunkman and Shantibaba. In the coffeeshop space, Henk de Vries (The Bulldog) is one of the real OGs and a true pioneer.
Emerald: When did Dutch Passion first start and who was the force behind it?
MH: Dutch Passion was officially established in 1987 by Henk van Dalen. But Henk already started collecting his seeds in the 70s. He went on a hitchhiking trip towards the East and visited many countries along the way.
Henk collected seeds wherever he encountered them and his trip took him from Eastern Europe to Turkey to Iraq. From Iraq to Iran and onward to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India to eventually end up in South East Asia, visiting countries like Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. In that period many hippies like Henk went on trips in those regions for the good vibes and great hash.
Emerald: What are some of the classic Dutch strains?
(MH): Some of the Dutch Passion varieties we still carry today in our catalog were a big hit in the Dutch coffeeshops. Cultivars like Power Plant, Blueberry and Orange Bud did very well and millions of tourists who came to visit our small little country enjoyed these classics during their holiday in The Netherlands. Other classics from that era were White Widow, Edelweiss, Skunk #1 and #11, and many more.
Emerald: How did Neville Schoenmaker influence cannabis genetics?
(MH): Neville influenced the Haze scene by crossing the elite Original Haze which he got from David Watson aka Sam the Skunkman with some of the other cultivars he had collected over time. By doing so, he created his cultivars of which some had strong Haze traits. Cultivars like Northern Lights Haze, Super Silver Haze, and Silver Haze were some of the results of his crosses and many can still be found today.
Emerald: Were there any other breeders who worked with the original Haze?
MH: Originally this variety was brought to The Netherlands by David Watson aka Sam the Skunkman. David also brought Skunk #1 and most of the breeders from that era worked with these genetics or the offspring of these genetics.
Most likely all commercial cannabis cultivars available today have their roots from these cultivars. People would maybe bring back seeds from landraces from their trips to exotic places and cross them with the cultivars in The Netherlands with the intention to breed in some power, yield, or higher THC percentages.
Emerald: Was it possible to buy seeds to grow in the old days and who were the first seed banks?
MH: Neville was a true pioneer and was the person who established the first real cannabis seed bank called The Seedbank. He placed an ad in High Times and from that moment, orders started to flow to Neville who was based in The Netherlands.
American customers would ship an envelope with cash and their order and Neville would ship the seeds to the U.S. However, there was a warrant issued for the arrest of Neville as the DEA grew aware of his business targeting US citizens. Neville then stopped his business and fled to Australia.
Emerald: Which strains were mostly grown indoors in Holland in the 90s?
MH: The number one go-to strain in the 90s for commercial purposes indoors was Power Plant by Dutch Passion. But one cultivar that made her debut in the 90s and instantly became immensely popular and still is one of the most commercially grown varieties in The Netherlands is Amnesia.
Amnesia is a Haze variety that’s easy to grow and has a high leaf-to-bud ratio. The origin of Amnesia is somewhat of a debate. But I assume that it was created by the team of Hy Pro/Super Strains, crossing a Neville’s Haze with an Afghan Indica.
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