Snow blanketed the Netherlands, transforming streets and homes into a picturesque winter scene. For most villagers, this was a common view. However, in one quaint village, a particular house drew the attention of many because its roof remained curiously bare, while the snow covered all the others.
Initially, it didn’t seem significant. The villagers speculated that the homeowners might be undergoing renovations, or perhaps they had installed some unique roofing. Who could say?
Yet, as days went by and fresh snowstorms rolled in, the bare roof became increasingly noticeable.
It turns out that in the Netherlands, there’s a specific explanation for this peculiarity, and it doesn’t have to do with home improvements. Consequently, the villagers notified the authorities.
Cultivating cannabis indoors on a large scale necessitates powerful lamps, heating systems, and ventilation. This setup produces significant heat that escapes through the roof, causing snow to melt almost instantly, even in freezing temperatures.
For law enforcement, this phenomenon acts like nature’s own thermal imaging device. Officers didn’t have to search for long to pinpoint the source. Inside the residence, there was a fully operational cannabis farm, complete with plants basking under intense artificial lights, humid air, and the unmistakable scent of marijuana. The warmth generated by the numerous plants prevented snow from accumulating on the roof, revealing the homeowner’s “little” secret.
This wasn’t the first instance of police uncovering such an operation. In Haarlem, Zutphen, and Arnhem, authorities have utilized snow-free roofs as a cue to launch investigations. Their raids have revealed cannabis farms with numbers ranging from 88 plants in a repurposed bedroom to nearly 500 plants valued at around €50,000.
After these snow-assisted raids, Dutch police utilized social media and local news outlets to encourage residents to report any roofs that appeared suspiciously free of snow, as this could indicate the presence of large cannabis farms. One officer remarked, “Sometimes, the snow reveals more than the neighbors do.”
The explanation is straightforward: cannabis grow rooms generate significant heat from their lamps, which causes the snow on the roof to melt, even during freezing conditions. Often, only the areas above the grow rooms will melt, resulting in a patchy, almost thermal-map-like appearance.
Many foreigners are taken aback to discover that the Netherlands, despite its reputation for a cannabis-friendly culture, imposes restrictions on marijuana cultivation. Individuals are allowed to possess up to five grams and purchase small quantities from coffee shops, but cultivating more than five plants is against the law. Large-scale cultivation, like the farm discovered in the snow-free house, is classified as drug trafficking and is subject to strict legal penalties, which are rigorously enforced by Dutch authorities.
