As of October 1, cigarettes in Netherlands may only be sold in neutral (plain) packages. This means leaving off brand specific logo’s, colors, and typefaces. This applies to all producers and importers of cigarettes and rolling tobacco, and owners and employees of shops selling cigarettes and rolling tobacco
According to government guidelines, plain packaging means dark green-brown packaging with: 1) the name of the manufacturer in a standard typeface; 2) information in the type of cigarette; and 3) the mandatory health warnings (text and picture).
This rule will apply for cigarettes and cut tobacco (rolling tobacco) and started in October 1, 2020. Retailers are allowed a grace period to sell out old stock.
Plain packaging for e-cigarette and cigars will be required from January 1, 2021. Netherlands joins neighboring countries where plan packaging started in the UK and France in 2017 and in Belgium as of January 1, 2020