Only 61% of the Dutch agree that second hand smoke is dangerous to non-smokers, compared with 96% of the French and 89% of Germans, according to new research by tobacco control group ITC Project.

And only 9% of Dutch smokers think about the harm they cause to others ‘often’ or ‘very often’, compared with 42% of British and 34% of French smokers, the research shows.
‘It is not surprising that in the Netherlands, where knowledge of the harm caused by tobacco is so low, that the comprehensive smoke-free law has been weakened by the government,’ said Florence Bertelli Kemp of the EU tobacco control group Smokefree Partnership.
The new government has scrapped the ban on smoking in small bars. Research shows that the ban is ignored in about half the country’s bars, cafes and night clubs.