We know that many countries have set aggressive climate goals, and actually achieving those isn’t proving to be so easy. So along those lines, local politicians in Amsterdam have just introduced new regulations that are sure to be controversial. I sort of see where they’re coming from, but this all strikes me as being a step too far.
In this post:
Amsterdam rolls out extreme airline advertising ban
As of May 2026, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam has introduced new policies, intended to better align local advertising regulations with the climate goals in the city and country, as flagged by Live and Let’s Fly.
With this, Amsterdam has banned all public advertising for meat and fossil fuel products, so you’ll no longer see any billboards in the city for these kinds of products and services. Amsterdam is hoping to be carbon neutral by 2050, and also to reduce meat consumption by 50% over that time period.
So the idea is that public advertising shouldn’t be allowed to promote these “sins” that are part of a high carbon lifestyle. It’s the same as how many places have banned ads for things like cigarettes, or how cigarette cartons have all kinds of warnings about how smoking kills.
I get the logic, but this seems extreme to me
The Netherlands has aggressive climate goals, and that’s largely commendable. However, I think politicians in the country sure are going to the extreme when it comes to the extent to which they’re vilifying air travel.
In recent years, we’ve of course seen the government try to cap flights at Amsterdam Schiphol, which has been a major headache for flag carrier KLM, given that it’s the carrier’s only hub. The government has largely had to backtrack on those plans, after European Union authorities intervened.
I don’t claim to have a solution here, and I also respect that leadership in the Netherlands isn’t just setting climate goals, and then going “shucks” when they miss their target, because they didn’t actually do anything to achieve them.
At the same time, what’s really the goal here? Does the government in the Netherlands just want that people almost never travel by air, by making it uncool, and by making it more expensive (through constant cuts to flight caps)?
And big picture, what will that really mean for the country? Decreased air connectivity is also tied to decreased economic activity. If you ask me, it would be more logical to incentivize airlines to fly fuel efficient aircraft to the Netherlands, and maybe even include some sort of a carbon offset tax on tickets, so that projects can be undertaken to counteract emissions.
Travel offers a lot of value to society, and I also don’t think that making it something that exclusively rich people can afford is the solution either.
If you zoom out a bit, there’s no denying that anti-smoking campaigns have worked, and have gotten fewer people to smoke. But is this really how we want to frame air travel?
Bottom line
The city of Amsterdam has introduced new regulations around advertising in the city, whereby all public advertising for meat and fossil fuel products is no longer allowed. This includes restrictions on airline advertising.
I get that the Netherlands has climate goals, and wants to actually take action to achieve them. But I can’t help but think there will be a massive societal cost to less air connectivity, less desire to travel to distant places, etc.
What do you make of Amsterdam’s new advertising regulations?
Not surprised by the pearl clutching here
Amsterdam was somehow taken over by idiots a number of years ago. That mayor they got in did things like try to restrict weed and stuff. I guess they didnt like tourist money, so now they dont want ams to be a hub either.
I’m going to laugh so hard when their country is under Sharia law. Europe is toast.
Simply ridiculous! Plain and simple…
BS all around!
Don’t worry understand why everyone here is so triggered by this. I’m happy not to be seeing airline ads. Won’t change my travel patterns.
You can walk around topless and eat magic mushroom truffles but ads for meat and planes are banned. Next time I travel to Amsterdam, I will respect their wishes and take one of the only options available to travel there crossing the Atlantic Ocean, i.e. I will either row across the Atlantic or take seven days in a massive ocean going ocean liner. Last I checked they get about 15 meters per gallon (odd mix...
You can walk around topless and eat magic mushroom truffles but ads for meat and planes are banned. Next time I travel to Amsterdam, I will respect their wishes and take one of the only options available to travel there crossing the Atlantic Ocean, i.e. I will either row across the Atlantic or take seven days in a massive ocean going ocean liner. Last I checked they get about 15 meters per gallon (odd mix of metric and other units). Roughly 250,000 gallons per crossing, or 140 gallons per passenger. Numbers might be a bit shaky.
Eco-Communism is alive and well in the woke-capital of Europe, Amsterdam.
lol can you cram more MAGA buzzwords into that comment, snowflake? Here, I’ll do it for ya:
Happy Mother’s Day to all who celebrate, even the Radical Left Lunatics of the OBAM-MUNIST Woke Capital of the failing EUROPEAN UNION who want to destroy air travel and force everyone to travel by solar boats with HUGE BATTERIES! These boats, the batteries are so heavy they will start to sink in The Middle of the Atlantic Ocean,...
lol can you cram more MAGA buzzwords into that comment, snowflake? Here, I’ll do it for ya:
Happy Mother’s Day to all who celebrate, even the Radical Left Lunatics of the OBAM-MUNIST Woke Capital of the failing EUROPEAN UNION who want to destroy air travel and force everyone to travel by solar boats with HUGE BATTERIES! These boats, the batteries are so heavy they will start to sink in The Middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and then Sharks will SWARM the Boats and the People on them will have to Decide between Death By Electrocution or Death By Shark!!! THE GENDER INSANITY OF EUROPE MUST BE STOPPED! Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Just tax the rich. That is far easier policy to understand and benefits the maximum number of people. Mamdani for President 2028.
Liberals are making it important to live on this planet.
Typical brainwashed greenwashing.
Ben, I'm glad you 'get' the logic.
That's what jumped out at me too, but he's just trying to avoid the wrath and condemnation (or worse) of his green liberal bubble. Classic example of pay attention to my meaningless words, not to my actual lifestyle.
Can’t wait to ride their trans-Atlantic train.
Wait…they don’t have one?
Actually, Donald is doing a great job reducing transatlantic travel. Much more than an ad ban and shaming tactics will ever achieve.
"Transatlantic air travel has shown signs of decline since Trump took office in 2025. Specifically, the number of Western European visitors to the United States fell by 17% in March 2025, with some countries like Ireland, Norway, and Germany experiencing declines of over 20%."
Tree-hugging morons.
"Well, I was going to have a chicken kebab for dinner and then plan our honeymoon in Hawaii, but all of a sudden, I can't remember what chicken looks like or what an airplane is. I guess I'll stay home and have carob instead!"
Another bit of nonsense from political hacks who have to pretend they're contributing something.