Smoking is the largest preventable cause of death in the Netherlands. More than 20,000 people die in the Netherlands each year from smoking-related illnesses. Thousands of people also die every year from being exposed to passive smoking. The Dutch government has finally passed a bill (that went into effect in July 2007) to ban smoking in all cafes, pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels. Coffee shops (that sell cannabis) are exempt from the ban except in the zone where ‘soft drugs’ are sold, which must be a smoke-free area. It is still possible to smoke in the places mentioned above, but the areas have to be closed off and employees are not required to serve food and drinks there.

If you need help quitting smoking there are many alternatives available, from over-the-counter nicotine substitutes (gums, patches and lozenges sold at pharmacies and druggists) to hypnotherapy, laser therapy, support groups and counselling. If you would like more information you can ask your GP or contact Stivoro, a smokers’ information organisation (0900 9390, www.stivoro.nl). The website is in Dutch, but they speak English on the hotline. Another possibility is to post a notice on either Elynx (www.elynx.nl) or Expatica (www.expatica.nl), which are English websites for expats living in the Netherlands; both offer a wealth of information on current groups and activities.