The province of Noord-Holland has decided not to ban advertising for meat, fish, air travel and fossil fuels from its bus shelters after all.

The plan was launched to great fanfare in 2023, and would have covered some 170 bus shelters owned by the provincial council, most of which are located outside built-up areas.

The plan was drawn up by GroenLinks officials at the time but there is no longer majority support for the plan, the Telegraaf reported on Wednesday.

VVD councillor Jeroen Boer told the paper the ban would have been “a sort of censorship”. “Our residents can decide for themselves how they want to go on holiday,” he said.

The new contract drawn up with the company responsible for placing the posters does not include any ban, which would have cost the council €20,000, the paper said. Advertising in bus shelters generates some €200,000 a year for the council coffers.

Several Dutch cities have banned advertising for fossil fuels from their bus shelters.