A fire alarm triggered a dense cloud of smoke at Tobacconist van Gijsbert van Vliet, a tobacco shop in Woerden, Netherlands, on Wednesday afternoon, according to local reports.
While initially appearing as a possible marketing stunt, the incident was confirmed as accidental. The cause of the alarm and subsequent smoke release remains unconfirmed, but the event occurred amidst a growing trend of illicit tobacco sales in the Netherlands.
Across the country, particularly in Amsterdam and Breda, illegal tobacco vendors are increasingly utilizing flyers and courier services to distribute cheaper cigarettes, circumventing high Dutch taxes. A slof of Marlboro cigarettes can be purchased for approximately 50 euros through these channels, significantly lower than the 120 euro cost in regulated stores following recent tax increases, as reported by the Algemeen Dagblad.
The rise in illegal sales coincides with a shift in consumer behavior, with more Dutch citizens turning to online foreign webshops to purchase cheaper tobacco products. This “tabaktoerisme,” or tobacco tourism, bypasses Dutch regulations and tax controls.
Simultaneously, the number of registered tobacco shops in the Netherlands has surged. In the past year alone, over two hundred new establishments have opened, bringing the total to nearly 1,675 as of the latest data. This increase follows a decline in cigarette sales within traditional retail environments, such as supermarkets.
