First Smoke-Free Playground in Voorschoten

Alderman , Hubert Schokker, officially opened Voorschoten’s first smoke-free playground today by unveiling a sign in Burgemeester Berkhoutpark. Later this month, the municipality will also install the “smoke-free generation” sign at the 25 other largest playgrounds.

Alderman points to the sign in the park

“Seeing people smoke makes you want to smoke,” says Hubert Schokker, a member of the “ Alderman ” (Smoke-Free Generation), repeating the well-known saying. “That’s why it makes sense to place the ‘Smoke-Free Generation’ sign at playgrounds. After all, especially if there are benches there, the temptation to light up a cigarette or vape is strong. We chose this playground in Burgemeester Berkhout Park as our first location. It fits in nicely with the planned renovation. But we’ll also be putting up the sign at other playgrounds. If we want to work together to achieve a smoke-free generation, we have to do whatever we can.”

Smoke-Free Generation

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of illness and death. In the Netherlands, 20,000 people die each year from the effects of smoking or secondhand smoke, while nearly 700,000 people suffer from diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and COPD. Yet young people are still taking up smoking or vaping. We’ve known for decades that smoking is harmful, but it’s also becoming increasingly clear just how harmful and addictive vaping is. That’s why the municipality is committed to a smoke-free generation, in which all children have the opportunity to grow up smoke-free.

Smoke-Free Environments

Making public spaces smoke-free helps reduce the number of young people who start smoking, helps former smokers stay smoke-free, and prevents harmful secondhand smoke exposure. In recent years, the municipality, in collaboration with Hecht GGD Hollands Midden, has focused primarily on areas frequented by children. As a result, all schools, daycare centers, and sports clubs are smoke-free, as are the Boy Scouts, the swimming pool, and the petting zoo. In addition, on World No Tobacco Day, Alderman Schokker opened the first partially smoke-free patio in the Voorschoten “ centre ” at La Casita.

Quit smoking or vaping?

Would you like some help quitting smoking or vaping? Call the toll-free Stoplijn at 0800-1995 or visit www.ikstopnu.nl, the independent website of the Trimbos Institute.