The Dutch government is preparing to introduce a smoking ban at outdoor locations primarily used by children, including petting zoos, supervised playgrounds and after-school care facilities.
According to sources cited by broadcaster NOS, the proposal is expected to be discussed by the Council of Ministers on Friday.
Although smoking is already prohibited at most venues of this kind, the government wants to close remaining gaps and ensure that all managed playgrounds and similar child-focused locations are completely smoke-free.
The proposal has also received support from the House of Representatives, which has called for the restrictions to cover a wider range of family-oriented destinations, including zoos and amusement parks.
However, extending the ban to these venues may be considered at a later stage. For now, the government intends to concentrate on supervised playgrounds and childcare facilities, where there is broad backing for tighter restrictions.
The initiative forms part of the Netherlands' long-term ambition to create a smoke-free generation by 2040.
The government has already introduced several measures aimed at reducing tobacco consumption, including prohibiting the display of tobacco products in shops, requiring less attractive cigarette packaging and limiting the number of outlets authorised to sell tobacco. Photo by Challiyil Eswaramangalath Vipin from Chalakudy, India, Wikimedia commons.
