First smoke free coffeeshop in The Netherlands

January 30, 2008 - Amsterdam

The smoking ban in the catering industry will only take place after the 1st of July, but coffeeshop Boerejongens, in Amsterdam, is not waiting for the ban.

From Friday on it’s forbidden to light a joint or a cigarette in the whole place. According to the owner, Martijn van Bennekom, this will make it the first smoke free coffeeshop in The Netherlands.

''I don’t feel like waiting for the smoking ban, I want to take action myself'', explains Van Bennekom about his remarkable decision. He is actually not against the new law. ''I think it’s great, not just for myself but also for my employees''. Clients can still come and buy marihuana in the catering industry in the area of Baarsjesweg.

In order to keep attracting clients to his business, van Bennekom is now thinking about investing in coffee. He is already arranging a special coffee corner. And his employees and himself have already taken a course on how to prepare good coffee. ''Like this I expect to get a whole new range of clients''.

The catering industry is allowed to have a special smoking area after the 1st of July. However employees are not allowed to go in there.