Paradise Seeds, Amsterdam and Coffeeshop Culture

Amsterdam has been home to the Dutch seed bank Paradise Seeds since its founding in the 1990s. It was around this time that the city became a popular tourist destination. An important part of this appeal—and a powerful symbol of counterculture—is, of course, the coffeeshops.

2020 was certainly not a typical year for Amsterdam, given the COVID-19 restrictions, but travelers who visited the Dutch capital were still able to enjoy the coffeeshops—more often «to go» than «to sit in.» Stories from French travelers overheard on the inevitably quieter streets and in the coffeeshops gave the impression that many «cannasseurs» hadn’t canceled their travel plans over the past few months after all!

It goes without saying that Amsterdam has been the top destination for most cannabis-loving tourists for many years—and for good reason. It’s a European destination where you can stroll around, get high, and meet people from all over the world without fear of hefty fines! The hometown of Paradise Seeds is an integral part of the company’s DNA, which was born out of the vibrant culture of the coffee shops that have made Amsterdam famous.

Recently, this famous Dutch institution has been going through a difficult period. Calls have been launched to reduce the number of Coffees in the capital and introduce more regulations, including restrictions on tourist access. In and of itself, this is just the latest of many obstacles that coffee shops have fought against—and overcome—over the years. If hanging out in an Amsterdam coffee shop is on your bucket list, then add it to your to-do list Post-COVID!

The great cannabis saga in Amsterdam began in 1976 when the Dutch government decided to distinguish between «hard» and «soft» drugs. The coffeeshop, an institution underground Since the late 1960s, it has become a safe place to buy cannabis, and Amsterdam has thus become a testing ground for this new policy of tolerance. Over the following years, the coffee shop scene evolved to cater to virtually every taste in terms of atmosphere, style, music, food, and, of course, cannabis use.

The Coffee Shop and Paradise Seeds

The dynamic activity of the Coffeehops in Amsterdam plays a pivotal role in the history of Paradise Seeds. It was in the coffee shops that knowledge and cannabis seeds from around the world were exchanged in the 1980s, as the city served as a magnet for cannabis-loving travelers from the United States and Europe.

The Legendary Coffeeshop Lucky Mothers was one of those bustling hangouts. It was this Coffee that bought the weed produced by the young Luc Krol, founder of Paradise Seeds, and named Mother’s Milk. As his knowledge of horticulture grew, this young breeder began selecting new varieties and sharing the seeds he produced with an international clientele. Soon, his seeds were traveling around the world, and word of their quality spread quickly!

Encouraged by this positive response, Luc threw himself into breeding with passion, founding Paradise Seeds in 1994. Two of the first three strains he created were Dutch Dragon and Sensi Star. And they’re just as popular today as they were back then!

Paradise Seeds: The Amsterdam Store

Paradise Seeds now exports seeds all over the world, but its roots are firmly planted in Amsterdam. In 2011, the company opened its first Paradise Seeds store, located in the heart of the city, just a two-minute walk from Dam Square, a popular tourist destination home to the Royal Palace. Sharing the space with the Amsterdam Seed Center, the shop not only carries the complete Paradise Seeds collection (nearly 40 varieties!) but also offers a wide range of accessories, vaporizers, and clothing. It’s the perfect place to find all your souvenirs… which, of course, leaves plenty of time to explore the city’s coffeeshops!