Restaurants will be allowed to open separate smoking rooms, but many establishments are too small and owners fear they could lose trade.

A number of European countries, such as Ireland, Norway and Italy, have already introduced a smoking ban. The Netherlands will join them on 1 July, although 70 percent of restaurants and three quarters of hotels have decided to become smoke-free from 1 January. A Dutch catering association says they have done so because it is a popular New Year's resolution to stop smoking.

By Copyright Radio Netherlands 2007