Smoking is a sensitive topic and causes a lot of discussion among people. Smoking is banned in more and more places in the Netherlands and areas are becoming smoke-free. One thinks the smoking ban is great and the other thinks it is patronizing. Since August 2020, smoking has also been banned on school grounds. The smoking ban applies to the grounds of primary schools, secondary schools, secondary vocational education institutions, colleges and universities. They have also started making the platforms at Dutch stations smoke-free at the NS and ProRail. The elevators, stairs, station halls and tunnels, with the exception of the smoking zones on the platforms, have already been banned from smoking since 2004. 

Smokers can light a cigarette or cigar for another month before boarding the train. From 1 October, the NS and ProRail want to remove all smoking facilities on the platforms and all stations must be smoke-free in the Netherlands. There are approximately 390 smoking poles and 120 smoke grids at approximately 100 train stations in the Netherlands. As of October 1, we have 400 train stations in the Netherlands that are smoke-free for travelers. The associated smoking zone signs with 'smoke' house rules on them will also be removed. Other signs are posted that the stations are non-smoking.

Travelers who do not feel the need to comply with the rules from 1 October risk a fine of 95 euros. Earlier this year in April, the Dutch Railways stopped selling smoking and tobacco products in its own kiosks and Stationshuiskamer, which they say cost a lot of money. That is a total of 136 sales locations of the Kiosk and the Stationshuiskamer. No new lease contracts are being concluded with tenants who want to sell tobacco at the stations. The NS and ProRail are helping in this way to our government's intention to work towards a smoke-free generation in 2040, together with other organizations.

Photo above: NS image bank

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