In Argentina, Hollands Hope took first place in 2013, though not as flower: at the Copa Del Mar, according to Dutch Passion, a butane extract (BHO) that a local grower had made from the strain won the Best Hash category. The indica-dominant plant was bred for outdoor cultivation. In the Netherlands it has been grown outdoors since the early 1980s and is regarded as one of the first strains designed specifically for wet and changeable summers. The name is said to allude to the fact that it promised local outdoor growers reliable harvests under such conditions.
Genetics and Origin:
Who originally bred the strain is not clearly established. Dutch Passion lists Hollands Hope in its own range, dates its development to the 1980s and names no parent strains. Another strain description attributes its creation to the White Label Seed Company, a partner of Sensi Seeds. Still other entries trace the Dutch Passion line back to Hollands Hoop by Positronics, a cross of Viking and Skunk #1, with Viking presumably descending from Afghan indica. MSNL and Growers Choice give Afghani and Skunk for their versions, and Growers Choice specifies an early-flowering Dutch Skunk #1. White Label puts the indica share at 90 %.
The strain appears as a parent in Reclining Buddha by Soma Seeds, bred from Super Skunk, Big Skunk Korean and Holland's Hope. Mighty Irish Seeds lists Mighty Irish Hope as a cross of Mighty Mite Indica and Hollands Hope but records the lineage only as probable.
Versions from Different Breeders:
Several breeders offer their own versions under the name, and their figures differ markedly:
- Dutch Passion: feminized and regular seeds, 7 to 9 weeks of flowering, outdoor height of 1.5 to 2.5 m, 100 to 1000 g per plant depending on conditions.
- White Label: regular seeds only, 50 to 60 days of flowering, indoor height of 90 to 150 cm at about 300 g/m², outdoor up to 200 cm at about 500 g per plant.
- MSNL: feminized seeds, 8 to 10 weeks of flowering, 400 to 500 g/m², height of 180 to 220 cm, up to 18 % THC and under 1 % CBD.
- Growers Choice: feminized seeds, around 56 days of flowering.
- Positronics, as Hollands Hoop: 8 weeks of flowering, never released as feminized seed.
Black Label, Ceres Seeds and Ministry of Cannabis are also listed with versions of this name.
Cultivation:
Mold resistance is highlighted across breeder descriptions and grow reports. Dutch Passion describes the strain as resistant to fungal attack and to cold, wet late summers, rates it as easy and advises against indoor cultivation. According to the breeder, harvest at Dutch latitudes falls in late September to early October. Dutch Passion describes compact, bushy plants with strong branches and a fir-tree shape, whose flower clusters reach 30 to 50 cm in length; the strain tolerates topping, LST and defoliation well. White Label cites flower clusters of up to 50 cm and recommends lollipopping and supercropping.
Community Experiences:
Outdoor reports confirm robustness against rain and mold. A grower at 52° north saw flowering begin in late August and harvested a bushy plant 2.5 m tall in mid-October, with thick side buds and purple coloring, which needed hardly any fertilizer. Another report from a high-rainfall location describes compact buds densely covered in trichomes and an intense smell. Purple leaves after heavy rain are also mentioned for the White Label version.
The only indoor report is less favorable: 77 days of flowering, hardly any side shoots, low yield, one plant with hermaphrodite traits.
Aroma and Flavor:
Dutch Passion describes a fresh, fruity scent of lemon, pine and wood and a slightly tart, woody taste with a spicy note. White Label foregrounds a strong skunk aroma with earthy undertones, and MSNL lists earth, tea and apricot. Consumers report a sweet, floral smell with citrus notes. One grower compared smell and taste to weed from the 1980s; another noted lemon, musk and rose in the scent and tobacco and honey when smoking. One strain description lists terpinolene as the dominant terpene, followed by caryophyllene and pinene.
Effects:
Even the breeders describe the effects differently. Dutch Passion speaks of a heavy, predominantly physical effect in which some energy remains alongside the relaxation. White Label calls its version strongly relaxing for body and mind, whereas MSNL describes it as uplifting. In user reports, relaxation and sleepiness come first, alongside good mood, euphoria and creativity. One consumer describes that the heaviness only set in once they came to rest; one grower reported a stimulating start that turned into relaxation. Outdoor-grown flower is described as long-lasting, while the indoor report calls the effect light and short with quick tolerance build-up. Side effects mentioned are dry mouth and dry eyes, occasionally also paranoia and anxious tension.
Tea 
Pine 
Spicy 