Some 150 bars and restaurants across the country have added sunscreen to their menus, courtesy of insurer Zilveren Kruis.

The factor 30 sunscreen “shots” have been specially made for bars and restaurants and are meant to remind people to protect themselves from the sun’s harmful rays.

“People often forget to bring their sunscreen when they are out and about and that is worrying,” Den Bosch bar owner Peter Forger told local broadcaster Omroep Brabant. The campaign is a success, he said, because the tubes are being emptied quickly.

Slapping on the sunscreen is important to keep skin cancer at bay, dermatologists say. Some 28% of skin cancers are caused by people getting sunburned on café terraces or in the garden, research has shown.

Bars and restaurants are getting the sunscreen for a friendly price and are not allowed to make a profit on it. Owners can also choose to offer it for free.

For a map of all sunscreen dispensers, including at festivals and hospitals, click here.