Smoking would be banned at children's playgrounds

The cabinet wants to ban smoking at children's playgrounds, health minister Sophie Hermans (VVD) said on Friday. She said the ban is meant to "set a norm".

Smoking is already banned on school playgrounds, Hermans said, and playgrounds will now be added. The minister said the aim is to make clear where smoking is acceptable and where it is not.

Hermans said the past period has looked at where else a ban could be introduced. "In places where children come, play and are outside, it is not normal to come into contact with smoking," she said. "Our focus is on letting children grow up healthy."