From January 2020, cigarette packages sold in the Netherlands will all have the same shape and neutral colours, NL Times reported.

State Secretary Paul Blokhuis of Public Health announced this as one of the measures to make smoking less attractive. In addition to the usual health warnings, cigarette packages may only contain the name of the manufacturer and information about the type of cigarette. These regulations will also apply to packaging for loose tobacco, and from 2022 likely also to cigars and e-cigarettes, the report said.
According to Blokhuis, cigarette manufacturers can currently still draw attention to their products with colours and logos, making tobacco more attractive to young people. The State Secretary also wants to extend the smoking ban from 1 July 2020. This would include the ban on e-cigarettes in the same public spaces as regular cigarettes, NL Times reported.
Smoking will also become more expensive. From next year a pack of 20 cigarettes will cost one euro more than now, the report said.