Tobacco and fossil fuels are both leading commercial drivers of mortality, yet academic collaboration with these industries is treated differently. While the WHO and many academics recognise an “irreconcilable conflict” between the tobacco industry and public health interests, many universities justify fossil fuel collaborations if linked to the energy transition. This report draws lessons from the history of tobacco industry collaborations in the Netherlands to inform current debates on fossil fuel ties in academia. We examine the evolving policies and attitudes toward tobacco in the Netherlands, the industry’s historical and ongoing influence on academia, and parallels with fossil fuel strategies—such as casting doubt on health risks, leveraging industry-funded research, shifting blame, and emphasising consumer responsibility and economic importance.