The Dutch Recreational Cannabis Transition: Key Learnings from the GKK Experiment
Explore key insights from the Dutch GKK experiment and the transition to regulated recreational cannabis. Learn what’s working, what’s not, and how policy, supply chains, and quality control are shaping a new era for the industry.
Speakers
Marcel Zethoven is a safety and political expert with extensive experience in various roles with the Dutch National Police and was involved in the enforcement aspects of cannabis policy in the Netherlands.
Nowadays Marcel Zethoven is a senior management- and policy advisor for Dutch municipalities. He advises mayors on cannabis policy. He has extensive experience in municipalities operating under the typical Dutch tolerance structure, as well as administrative experience within the national experiment with closed coffee shop chains.
Rick Bakker is CEO of Hollandse Hoogtes, one of the Netherlands' leading companies operating within the regulated cannabis supply chain. With a background spanning strategic leadership, commercial operations, and legal and financial oversight, Rick has been building and scaling a professional, compliant cannabis business from the ground up, navigating the complexities of the GKK experiment firsthand.
His work bridges two worlds: the emerging regulated cannabis sector and the broader agri-tech industry, where he is also active in professional vegetableseed production through Bakker Seed Productions. This dual perspective gives him a grounded, operationally informed view on what it takes to build sustainable, quality-driven supply chains in highly regulated markets.
At GreenTech Amsterdam, Rick speaks from direct experience, on what the GKK transition has delivered in practice, where the gaps remain, and what the industry needs to mature into a fully professional sector.
Born and raised in a Dutch greenhouse, Sonny developed a passion for plant cultivation from an early age. Growing up surrounded by horticulture laid the foundation for his deep understanding of plant science and commercial growing operations. Sonny has been consulting growers for years on cannabis cultivation in countries where medicinal cannabis is legalized. His cultivation experience and expertise is strengthened as result of his involvement in trials at Wageningen University.
Sonny holds a master’s degree in plant science from Wageningen University & Research, specializing in greenhouse horticulture. He understands the importance of collaboration between the pharmaceutical, horticultural and hobby industries within the cannabis sector. Through his extensive international network and hands-on experience, he has learned that cultivation expertise is a critical factor in the success of professional growing facilities.
Simone is the chairman of the Union of coffeeshop retailers in the Netherlands, kandidate for the European Parlement and working at the national and international level to advance regulation of cannabis and to professionalize the emerging industry. She is ons of the key figures who advocates on the legalization on a European level.