Dutch café renamed smokers’ church

16 July 2008

THE NETHERLANDS – The Dutch are not going to giving up fighting against the recently-enforced smoking ban.

A pub in the southern city of Maastricht forms an association for smoking members.

Cor Busch from the northern town of Alkmaar has taken the idea further by renaming his Café Lindeboom the True Universal Smokers’ Church of God in Amsterdam.

Visitors can join the congregation and receive a pass to honour God with smoke, fire and ashes. Dozens of pub owners have joined the Smokers’ Church in order to avoid the smoking ban on the grounds of religious freedom.

[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]

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