Since April 2025, the Netherlands has been in the final phase of a pilot project, involving about 80 coffeeshops in ten municipalities. For the first time, the country seeks to establish a fully legal and regulated cannabis supply chain - from cultivation to sale.

This scenario, marked by the thin line between legality and illegality, is the backdrop of the series Amsterdam Empire, released on Netflix on Thursday (30). The series follows Jack van Doorn, the charismatic founder of the "The Jackal" coffeeshop network. Throughout his career, Jack has faced rivals, criminals, and legal loopholes to build his empire - without realizing that the biggest threat was within his own home.

After discovering a betrayal, Betty (Famke Janssen), a former diva and his ex-partner, devises a revenge plan to take what Jack values most: his empire. With seven episodes, the first season delivers a narrative of love, hate, and ambition.

The real-life inspiration behind Amsterdam Empire

The series uses family dramas to address the complex drug policy of the Netherlands.

Since the 1970s, the country has adopted a policy of tolerance (gedoogbeleid), which allows the sale and personal consumption of cannabis in licensed coffeeshops. However, this policy has created a contradiction: sales to consumers are tolerated, while cultivation and supply remain illegal.

Currently, there are about 570 coffeeshops in 102 cities in the Netherlands. Despite being cultural symbols, these establishments operate in a fragile system full of legal uncertainties.

To address this impasse, the government launched the "Cannabis Legal Experiment" in 2022. The proposal creates a closed circuit, in which licensed producers can supply cannabis legally and controlled to selected coffeeshops.

The goal is to combat the gray market, ensure transparency, strengthen security, and protect public health. Cities like Tilburg, Maastricht, and Groningen are already participating in this final phase of the project.