Vaping In Netherlands in 2024: Everything You Need To Know

The Netherlands is one of the most popular hot spots for a weekend break away for UK tourists, packed full of culture, musuems and history. But they have also been in the spotlight recently regarding their stance on vaping. Read on to find out everything you need to know about vaping in the Netherlands before you go!

Is It Legal To Vape In Netherlands?

Vaping is legal in Netherlands, but they have restrictions on vape liquid which other EU countries do not.

Vaping is allowed and legal in Netherlands, but the vaping prevelance amongst adults in the country is one of the lowest in Europe, with only 147,000 adults considering themselves regular users of e-cigarettes according to GSTHR. 

However, the importation and sale of flavoured e-liquid is illegal, and there's a strict policy in place as of 2023 that only permits the sale of tobacco flavoured e-liquid which has been made using the approved list of ingredients laid out by the Dutch Government.

The legal age to use and purchase e-cigarettes and e-liquids is 18 years or older.

Can You Vape At Airports in the Netherlands?

There's no vaping permitted inside the Terminal buildings at airports in the Netherlands. 

Much like every other country in this series of blogs for where you can vape, there's no vaping permitted within the open areas of the terminal buildings at Netherlands airports. 

Schipol airport has an outdoor smoking and vaping area located in front of the terminal building, but there is now no enclosed areas inside the building as these have been permanently closed since 2020. 

Eindhoven Airport only permits vaping on the forecourt in front of the terminal building, and there are no areas that permit the use of e-cigarettes after you have passed through security. 

Rotterdam airport does have a smoking/vaping terrace which you can use after you've gone through security. They do not however allow vaping or smoking on the forecourt in front of the terminal building.

Vape Regulations in Netherlands

Whilst Netherlands do follow TPD guidelines, they also have restrictions on vape liquids.

Netherlands follow the same TPD guidelines as every other country within the EU which are:

• E-Liquids cannot excdeed 20mg nicotine strength
• E-Liquids that contain nicotine must not be sold in bottles larger than 10ml
• Refillable Vape Tanks/Disposable Vapes must not exceed 2ml total vape juice capacity
• Product packaging must contain a clear warning that the product may contain nicotine

After much deliberation and false starts, Netherlands finally enacted a flavour ban for e-liquids produced and sold in their country as of January 1st 2024. 

This flavour ban means that only ingredients from a government approved list can be used to produce vape liquids in Netherlands, and the only flavour which can be made from thist list is tobacco flavour e-liquid, making this the only flavour permitted for sale in the country. 

Where Can You Buy Vapes In Netherlands?

Due to the flavour ban and tightening of the restrictions, paired with the Government's stance on vaping and e-cigarettes, where you can buy vape liquids and other paraphenalia is becoming harder to find.

As expected, once the flavour ban came into effect, many vape shops have closed and ceased trading as the demand for tobacco flavour e-liquids just isn't enough for them to remain open and operating successfully. 

Therefore, it might be hard to find where you can buy your vaping essentials whilst you're away on holiday in the Netherlands. 

Some tobacconists will stock a small range of e-liquids, and there are still some vape shops operating in the country, but they are becoming few and far between so we would recommend taking with you enough e-liquids to last you for your trip, but do not go overboard with how much you take as it may end up being taken off you at customs.

Can I Bring Disposable Vapes To Netherlands?

You can take disposable vapes into the Netherlands, but chances are that you will not be able to buy replacement devices whilst there.

The Dutch government really have been tightening the strings on vaping in their country, with the banning of flavoured e-liquid, both in 10ml bottles as well as prefilled vape kits such as disposables. 

The demand for tobacco flavoured disposable vapes is not as high as it previously was for fruity flavoured disposables, therefore a lot of retailers have opted to not stock disposable vapes anymore in Netherlands.

Where Can You Vape in Netherlands?

Despite a flavour ban, vaping is still permitted in Netherlands but with the usual restrictions on where you can use your e-cigarette

Whilst smoking is permitted in specific enclosed places in Netherlands, this doesn't neccesarily mean that vaping is permitted. We've made a short list below of what we could find out, but as always, check with the staff or check for signage to get an understanding before you take it upon yourself to use your e-cigarette.

• Vaping is not permitted in resteraunts but some will allow it in outdoor seating areas.
• Some cafes and coffee shops will permit the use of e-cigarettes inside the building, but check with staff for full clarification before you use your vape to ensure you don't get in any trouble.
• Vaping is mostly prohibited in enclosed public spaces such as resteraunts, bars and clubs.. 
• Vaping is not allowed on any form of public transport such as buses, trams or trains.