10,000 people will gather for this King’s Day event; now 300,000 people are petitioning against it

As the excitement about King’s Day grows stronger, so do the concerns about the upcoming trial coronavirus events in the Netherlands. In Breda, these escalated into a petition against a King’s Day party which is planned to take place on April 24. 

The petition against 538 Oranjedag — an event that is organised by Radio 538 to celebrate King’s Day was initiated by the employees of the Amphia hospital in Breda. 

According to the petitioners, the event is “a slap in the face of the healthcare providers in the hospital 400 meters away.” As of this morning, the petition had more than 300,000 digital signatures. 

The petitioners are calling to cancel this “ill-considered pseudo-experiment.” The hospital already had to scale down its regular care due to the pandemic, reports the NOS

Another reason for concern is the potential run-up to the emergency room. “It’s a party, so people drink, or maybe use other substances,” says a spokesperson.

Voices of hospitality

Healthcare providers and concerned patients are not the only ones who are baffled by the fact that the event is being organised at this time when hospitals are overflowing with coronavirus patients. Restaurant and bar owners also feel “stabbed in the back.” 

“The fact that this event can take place at a stone’s throw away from the catering industry, which as a sector is not allowed to do anything, is very stinging,” says the vice-chairman of the Breda department of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, Johan de Vos. 

Decision is up to Breda

Radio 538, the organizer of this event, understands that the healthcare system is currently under immense pressure. However, if the government backs the event, Radio 538 will be “honoured to carry it out in a responsible manner,” says a spokesperson. 

Tonight, the municipality of Breda will be discussing whether the event gets a green light. Paul Depla, the city’s mayor, wants to carefully consider all the advice and perspectives before making a decision.

Over a million interested people

The interest in the event was immense, with more than one million people trying to get one of the 10,000 available tickets. Some tickets were offered for over 15,000 euros. The last tickets were also auctioned for charity. 

Government to continue with trial events 

Despite the criticism surrounding Oranjedag in Breda, the Dutch cabinet wants to continue with the so-called field lab events, reports NU.nl

The government emphasizes that these events are not just ordinary parties. They serve as a way to find out how we can organize large gatherings safely again, reports the NOS. More trial events are planned in the coming weeks.

How do you feel about the events in Breda? Which side do you stand on? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Apdency/Wikimedia Commons/CC1.0

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
Originally from the Czech Republic, Jana moved to the Netherlands for her studies. She fell in love with the local biking culture, and you’ll see her drifting through the streets of Rotterdam on her pink bike even in the worst possible weather (think rain, snow, hail, or all three). Besides advocating for Rotterdam as the best Dutch city, she likes to wander around with a camera in her hand.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related posts

Latest posts

Pollen, allergies, and hay fever in the Netherlands: how to survive it

Ah, the sun is shining, birds are singing, and spring is on its way. But you know what else is coming to the Netherlands?...

A 14-year-old just took his ex-employer to court… and won

A fourteen-year-old Dutch boy was fired after failing to show up for his part-time job in a Tilburg butcher’s shop. He took his employer...

Living in Hoofddorp as an international: everything you need to know

So you want to live near Amsterdam and are curious about what it's like living in Hoofddorp as an international? We can’t blame you; it’s...

It's happening

Upcoming events

The latest Dutch news.
In your inbox.