Short answer
Most smokers need several attempts before they succeed. Your chances are highest when you combine counselling with an aid such as nicotine replacement or medication. Quitting on willpower alone is the least successful method, but it is also the one people try most often.
All methods at a glance
| Method | What research says | Cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willpower alone | About 3 to 5% are still smoke-free after a year | Free | Light smokers, or people who quit easily before |
| Nicotine replacement | Raises your chances by about half (Cochrane) | €2 to €4 per day | People with strong physical cravings |
| Prescription medication | Cytisine and varenicline roughly double your chances | Covered within a programme (NL) | Heavy smokers, through the GP |
| Counselling (GP, coach) | Proven effective, especially combined with medication | Covered, no deductible (NL) | Everyone |
| E-cigarette | Probably more effective than nicotine replacement (Cochrane 2024), but not recommended in the Netherlands | Varies | See below |
| Hypnotherapy and NLP | Not enough good research to draw a conclusion | €100 to €500 | People who see smoking mainly as a habit |
| Online programme (e.g. Ik Stop Wel) | Combines a behavioural approach, hypnosis and aftercare; success figures come from the provider | €447 to €497 | Dutch speakers who want a complete programme at home |
| Book or self-help | Little hard evidence, but a low threshold | €15 to €40 | People who want to start at their own pace |
Willpower alone
Stopping overnight without help gives you the lowest chance of success. The problem is usually not the first week but the weeks and months after: fixed moments such as coffee, a drink or stress stay triggers for a long time. Some people do manage it. If you want to try this way, read our tips to quit smoking first.
Nicotine replacement
Patches, gum, lozenges and mouth spray give your body nicotine without the harmful substances in smoke. That takes the edge off physical withdrawal while you unlearn the habit. Cochrane research shows it raises your chance of success by about half. A patch combined with gum or spray works better than one product on its own. You can buy them without a prescription at the pharmacy or drugstore; within a covered Dutch programme they are often reimbursed.
Prescription medication
Medicines such as cytisine and varenicline reduce cravings and make smoking less satisfying. They are prescription-only and do not suit everyone. Which medicines are available changes from time to time; your GP knows what is possible now and whether it suits you.
Counselling with a GP or coach
Counselling helps you pick a quit date, recognise your triggers and prevent relapse. In the Netherlands you can get it from your GP's practice nurse (POH), a registered stop-smoking coach or by phone through Ikstopnu. It is covered by basic health insurance without using your deductible. More on this in free help in the Netherlands.
E-cigarette
International research (Cochrane, 2024) shows that nicotine e-cigarettes probably lead to quitting more often than nicotine replacement. Even so, the Dutch government and the Trimbos Institute do not recommend the e-cigarette as a quitting aid: too little is known about the long-term effects, and many people keep vaping. If you already vape, quit that too; counselling can help with that as well.
Hypnotherapy and NLP
Hypnosis and NLP focus on the habit and the unconscious urge for a cigarette. A 2019 Cochrane review found too few well-designed studies to say whether hypnosis works better than other forms of support. That does not mean it does not work, but high success rates from providers deserve a critical look.
Online programmes such as Ik Stop Wel
Online programmes bundle several techniques into one course you follow at home. Ik Stop Wel by Marcel Borst is a well-known Dutch example; it is entirely in Dutch. The method assumes smoking is 90% habit and 10% addiction. You get video modules, hypnotherapy sessions and six weeks of aftercare. The provider reports that 86% of participants are still smoke-free after a year; that figure has not been independently tested. There is a money-back guarantee. Read our full review.
Free
Free webinar: quit smoking in one go (in Dutch)
- Marcel Borst explains his method
- Ask your questions live
- A no-strings way to get to know the approach
Daily support
60-day coaching (in Dutch)
- Daily tips, advice and motivation for 60 days
- Personal support from a coach and team
- For smoking and vaping
Most complete
Online programme: the 4-3-2-1 system (in Dutch)
- Video modules plus three hypnotherapy sessions
- Six weeks of daily aftercare
- 14-day money-back guarantee
Affiliate links: if you buy through these links, we receive a commission. Prices as listed on ikstopwel.nl in September 2026. All Ik Stop Wel products are in Dutch.
What suits you?
- You want it free and proven: see your GP for counselling plus nicotine replacement or medication.
- You speak Dutch and keep relapsing because of habits and stress: choose a programme that targets those triggers and offers long aftercare, such as the 60-day coaching or the online programme from Ik Stop Wel.
- You want to explore first: start with the free webinar or the Ik Stop Wel book (both in Dutch).
You can always combine: a programme alongside nicotine replacement or counselling from your GP is fine.
Sources: Cochrane Reviews on nicotine replacement (2018), cytisine and varenicline (2023), hypnotherapy (2019) and e-cigarettes (2024); Trimbos Institute; Dutch guideline on treating tobacco and nicotine addiction.