Government measures to discourage smoking

Measures for a tobacco-free generation

The National Prevention Agreement contains measures and commitments aimed at a tobacco-free generation by 2040, including:

• Raising excise duties
  Central government raised excise duties on tobacco on 1 April 2024, following an earlier increase on 1 April 2023. This brings the average price of a packet of cigarettes to €11.10 in 2024. Duties are also being raised on other tobacco products, such as cigars, rolling tobacco, bulk tobacco products and tobacco heat sticks. 
• Reducing the number of sales outlets for tobacco and e-cigarettes
  Sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes are being steadily reduced. 
  • 2023: Online sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes have been prohibited since 1 July 2023. The ban applies to:
    • e-commerce in the Netherlands: the online sale of tobacco products or related products, such as e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems or herbal smoking products, by Dutch businesses to Dutch consumers is prohibited;
    • cross-border e-commerce: the online sale of tobacco products, e-cigarettes or refillable packaging by foreign businesses to consumers in the Netherlands, and by Dutch businesses to consumers in other countries, is prohibited.
  • 2024: As from 1 July 2024, selling tobacco or e-cigarettes in supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and bars is prohibited. In addition, as from 1 January 2024 there is a ban on cross-border online sales of the following products: 
    • e-cigarettes without nicotine;
    • refillable packaging without nicotine;
    • cartridges without nicotine;
    • electronic nicotine delivery systems;
    • herbal smoking products.
  • As from 2025, e-cigarettes may only be sold in specialist shops.
  • As from 2030, tobacco may no longer be sold in petrol stations, but only in convenience stores and specialist shops.
  • As from 2032, only specialist shops may sell tobacco products.
• Ban on flavoured e-cigarettes
  Since 1 January 2023, liquids for e-cigarettes may only contain tobacco flavour. Sweet flavours, which make e-cigarettes more alluring to young people, are prohibited. E-cigarette producers had until 1 January 2024 to sell their existing stock of flavoured e-cigarettes; the sale of e-cigarettes with flavours other than tobacco is now banned completely.  
• Ban on ‘click’ cigarettes and adding flavours to tobacco
  Since May 2017, there has been a ban on adding flavours to tobacco in cigarettes and rolling tobacco. This ban has been in effect for heated tobacco since 23 October 2023. Flavours or aromas may not be added to components of tobacco products, such as filters, paper, capsules and packaging. This also means that ‘click’ cigarettes are banned. As from 20 May 2020 menthol cigarettes are banned in the Netherlands.

Existing measures against smoking

Central government took a range of measures in earlier years to protect young people and ex-smokers from the temptation to smoke.

• Neutral packaging
  Since 1 October 2020, cigarettes have been sold in neutral, dark green-brown packaging.
• Smoking ban at educational institutions
  Smoking has been banned at educational institutions since August 2020.
• Stop smoking programmes exempted from health insurance excess
  Since 2020, primary-care  stop smoking programmes do not count towards the health insurance excess (the amount that people have to pay themselves).
• Expanded smoking bans
  Since 1 July 2020 the smoking ban has applied to all tobacco products and to e-cigarettes with and without nicotine.
• Indoor smoking areas closed
  Designated indoor smoking areas have been banned in all sectors since 1 January 2022. They were already banned in hotels, restaurants and bars and in the public and semi-public sector.
• Cigarettes and rolling tobacco out of sight
  Since 1 January 2021, tobacco products and related products must be kept out of sight at sales outlets. Certain specialist shops that mainly sell tobacco products may continue to display them.
• No cigarette sales in hotels, restaurants or bars 
  Since 1 January 2022, cigarette machines have been banned in hotels, restaurants and bars. The sale of cigarettes from the bar by establishments with an alcohol licence is prohibited under the Alcohol Act. As from 1 July 2024, the sale of tobacco by all hotels, restaurants and bars is prohibited under the Tobacco Act.

Provisions of the Tobacco Act

The Tobacco Act aims to discourage smoking with:

• a ban on smoking in all public areas and hotels, restaurants and bars;
• a ban on selling tobacco products or related products to people younger than 18. This includes e-cigarettes;
• a ban on advertising tobacco products or related products. There are some exceptions for specialist shops;
• a ban on sponsoring by the tobacco industry of, for instance, sport and other events.

A total ban on nicotine pouches is also being prepared, as nicotine is addictive and harmful to health.

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) monitors compliance with the Tobacco Act, such as the smoking bans and the minimum age to buy tobacco products.