The Netherlands: why truffles, not mushrooms
The 2008 mushroom ban, the truffle exemption, and why fresh versus dried matters.
Figures from the listings, updated 27 October 2026.
Fresh psilocybin truffles (sclerotia) are outside the Opium Act; mushrooms, fresh or dried, have been banned since December 2008.
The law
- The Decree of 17 November 2008 (Staatsblad 2008, 486), in force 1 December 2008, added hallucinogenic mushrooms to List II of the Opium Act. The explanatory note says freely available fresh mushrooms differ little in effects and risks from dried ones, which were already controlled after a 2002 Supreme Court ruling. [Staatsblad 2008, 486 - Besluit van 17 november 2008 ... plaatsing op lijst II van hallucinogene paddenstoelen, Overheid.nl Officiele bekendmakingen, 2008-11-17, read 28 September 2026]
- The current List II entry 'Paddo's' covers "paddenstoelen die van nature de stof psilocine of psilocybine bevatten" (mushrooms that naturally contain psilocine or psilocybine), followed by a list of named species. It does not mention sclerotia. [Opiumwet, Lijst II (version valid 1 January 2026), wetten.overheid.nl, 2026-01-01, read 28 September 2026]
- In an answer to parliamentary questions received on 28 December 2011, Health Minister Schippers wrote that psychedelic truffles or sclerotia do not fall under the Opium Act, and that this was known when 186 mushroom species were placed on List II on 1 December 2008. [Aanhangsel Handelingen II 2011-2012, nr. 1032 (Kamervragen), Overheid.nl Officiele bekendmakingen, 2011-12-28, read 28 September 2026]
- The Jellinek addiction service states that selling fresh sclerotia (truffles) is not prohibited, but dried truffles are treated as prohibited. [Truffels & paddo's en de wet, Jellinek, read 28 September 2026]
So a Dutch retreat should be serving fresh truffles. A centre offering “mushrooms” in the Netherlands is describing something the ban covers.
What the Dutch drug information service says
- Truffles and mushrooms ('paddo's') contain the same active substances, psilocybin and psilocin, but truffles may be sold legally in the Netherlands while mushrooms have been banned as a hard drug under the Opium Act since December 2008. [Wat is het verschil tussen paddo's en truffels?, DRUGSinfo (Drugs Infolijn), Trimbos-instituut]
- DRUGSinfo notes that smartshop staff can advise on truffle strength, but the strength of truffles is known to vary from pack to pack. [Wat is het verschil tussen paddo's en truffels?, DRUGSinfo (Drugs Infolijn), Trimbos-instituut]
- The Trimbos Institute's DRUGSinfo warns that nobody checks the quality of truffle or mushroom ceremonies, including intake, aftercare or the number of sober people present, and that a truffle ceremony can be dangerous for people who take medication or have psychological complaints. [Paddo's: Risico's, DRUGSinfo (Drugs Infolijn), Trimbos-instituut]
- DRUGSinfo states that advertising ceremonies as treatment for mental health problems is not allowed and not correct, that evidence is far too limited, and that many people have more complaints after a ceremony. [Paddo's: Risico's, DRUGSinfo (Drugs Infolijn), Trimbos-instituut]
- DRUGSinfo states that mushrooms and truffles can trigger or worsen psychosis, mainly in people who are susceptible, for example because it runs in the family or they have had a psychosis before. [Paddo's: Risico's, DRUGSinfo (Drugs Infolijn), Trimbos-instituut]
- DRUGSinfo advises against combining truffles with other drugs: alcohol increases the chance of a bad trip, and cannabis can make the trip stronger, longer or less controllable. [Paddo's: Combinatiegebruik, DRUGSinfo (Drugs Infolijn), Trimbos-instituut]
Retreats in the Netherlands
8 are listed. Published prices run from €1,750 to €3,750. Programmes run 2 to 5 nights. 7 of 8 describe medical screening on their sites.