Since smoking bans reduced secondhand smoke exposure, the air we breathe is still far from healthy. Research from Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth Netherlands, reveals that on average, Dutch residents inhale pollution equivalent to smoking five cigarettes daily—with stark differences across cities.
Rotterdam has the worst air, equivalent to 6.7 cigarettes per day, followed by Rijswijk at 6.6. Amsterdam and Utrecht average 6.4 each. Vlieland boasts the cleanest air at just 2.8 equivalent cigarettes daily.
In early August, Milieudefensie sued the Dutch government, arguing for urgent improvements in national air quality.
