The price of a packet of 20 cigarettes went up by almost a euro on Monday to around €11.10 as a part of further government moves to discourage smoking.

A packet of rolling tobacco went up €3.60 to around €24, and further increases are on the cards. Tax on cigarettes now amounts to around € 7.81 per pack, according to finance ministry figures.

Three years ago, research published by Maastricht University showed that the cost of smoking only becomes an issue for smokers when prices go up by an enormous amount, with some 50% saying they would only quit at a price of €60 per pack.

Researchers also say that while the price of cigarettes may have risen steadily over the years, so have wages and that means tobacco products have only become marginally more expensive.

Some 20% of the Dutch population smoke regularly but the government set a target in 2018 of ensuring just 5% do so by 2040.