It is now illegal to advertise meat in this city
Amsterdam bans meat ads in public spaces as part of a broader strategy to cut emissions and promote plant-based food.
Amsterdam has taken a bold step toward a more sustainable and animal-friendly future by becoming the world’s first capital city to ban advertisements for meat products in public spaces. The new ban takes effectMay 1, 2026,
Image from Canva
What does the ban mean?
The ban covers all public advertisements for meat productsdisplayed on the city’s streets, bus stops, billboards, and digital screensthat are under city control. This means images and ads promoting burgers, steaks, and other animal products can no longer appear in these public spaces.
While ads in private stores remain allowed, the ban marks a significant shift in how public spaces are used to influence people’s dietary choices.
Why is this happening?
The decision was proposed by Partij voor de Dieren (Party for the Animals) and GroenLinks (Green/Left) and won majority support in the city council. The ban is part of a broader strategy to reduce the climate impact of animal agriculture and promote a more plant-based food system.
🔹 Climate impact: Animal food production is a major global source of greenhouse gas emissions, and meat contributes significantly more emissions than plant-based alternatives.
🔹 Health: Plant-based diets are linked to lower risks of many lifestyle diseases..
🔹 Goals for the future: Amsterdam has set prior targets that 50% of residents’ diets should be plant-based by 2050, and this ban supports that goal. Seven other Dutch cities are working on similar measures..
A step in a global movement
Amsterdam builds on initiatives from several Dutch cities:
Haarlem was the first city in the world to introduce a similar ban in 2022.
Cities like Utrecht, Zwolle, The Hague, Delft, and Nijmegen have all adopted policies limiting ads for climate- and animal-hostile products.
At the same time, Amsterdam is a co-signer of the Plant Based Treaty — an international initiative for a global shift to plant-based food systems.
Watch members of Partij voor de Dieren celebrate their victory in Amsterdam while standing in the Dutch city of Schiedam, where meat burger ads still go for as low as 1 euro.
What does this mean for us?
As advocates for animal rights and a sustainable transition, this is a crucial victory—not just symbolic but concrete—in creating spaces where plant-based choices are normalized. Amsterdam shows that cities can use political tools to push society toward a more ethical and sustainable future. We all want a livable planet, and at the very least, we can stop promoting products that actively harm it.
