At last night’s press conference the government announced that nightclubs will be able to reopen from September 25, but they’ll have to close at midnight. People aren’t too happy about this — and are calling it a “kid’s disco”.
The cabinet has announced a new set of measures and relaxations which will take effect on September 25. These will include having to show a coronavirus pass (proof of vaccination, negative test, or recovery) at venues such as restaurants, cafés, theatres and cinemas.
Nightclubs and discos will also be allowed to reopen, but only until 12 AM. We’re not sure which part of that sentence is more controversial — reopening clubs when infections are still high? Or the fact that everyone will be kicked out at 12 when the night is still young — sacrilege? 🕺
Criticism and a kid’s disco
RTL Nieuws reports that Partygoers aren’t very happy about the idea of being sent home at midnight and have taken to Twitter to vocalise their frustration and confusion at the new clubbing curfew — does anyone else feel like a teenager again? 😅 👀
While most people don’t leave for the club until at least 12 AM, these new measures will have people grabbing their coats and drunk friends when the clock strikes 12 — did someone say Cinderella? 🎃
Another Twitter user pointed out that these new measures suggest that “Coronavirus slumbers in the depths of the disco until 12, so it’s safe to party before that.” Didn’t you know coronavirus only starts its night shift after 12? 🤷♀️
The mayor of Amsterdam has an issue with this too
All jokes aside, it isn’t just partygoers who are taking issue with this new advice. The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema fears that these arbitrary new rules will affect the government’s credibility in dealing with the coronavirus, and says, “Why should the system of only letting in vaccinated or tested people work at 11.30 PM but not at 12.30 AM?”
Early to the club and early to bed? 🌜 💤
There are also some clubs that have tried to put a positive spin on the matter. Like Club Perron in Rotterdam which will be opening a little earlier, from 6 PM – 12 AM.
Let’s be honest, there’s always that one person in a friend group who can’t stay awake in the club but has too much FOMO not to go, so we’re sure there are some people out there who are delighted by this new rule. 😂
What are your thoughts on the reopening of clubs with a curfew? Tell us in the comments below!
So you bought a house in the Netherlands — congrats! But life happens and things have changed. You may need a bigger home, you may have decided to move country or you may be getting a divorce. Good changes or bad, you’ll have practicalities to take care of: one being what to do with the home you own.
That’s why DutchReview has decided to address some situations that you may find yourself in after buying your home. Yes, it’s aftersales time! 💪
🍼 You’re expecting again? Congratulations! Now you need to make your house bigger
Say you just had a second kid and you can use a little more space and you might be tempted to find yourself a new home. However, as we all know housing prices are pretty high here in the Netherlands right now — so maybe just staying where you are is your best move.
How can you stay put but also get some extra space? Simple, by renovating your home! “Well, duh,” we hear you say, “that’s easier said than done.” But did you know that you can use your current mortgage to fund that extra space you need?
Now we’ve got your attention. How do you do this? There are two main ways that homeowners can make the most of their current mortgage and fund some home refurbishment and renovation:
Bouwdepot— This is a loan that can be taken out of your Dutch mortgage to finance the renovation or construction of your home. Think of it as a loan that you organise alongside your mortgage. A certain amount of money is put aside which can then be used to finance a facelift for your house.
When setting up your bouwdepot, you may have to pay notary costs. We recommend that you speak with a mortgage advisor to determine whether or not this is the case.
Refinance your mortgage — While it is possible to arrange for a bouwdepot even after you have settled the conditions of your mortgage, many current homeowners opt for this option in order to fund a little more wiggle room. By refinancing your mortgage, you can reduce your monthly payments. This additional equity can then be used to fund the renovation of your home or even finance a snazzy new car or holiday home!
📦 What to do with your mortgage in the Netherlands if you’re moving back to your home country
So you’ve decided to move back to your home country and you don’t want to own any property in the Netherlands anymore. You want to stop paying your mortgage, or you’re just looking to upgrade.
Perhaps you’ve bought a home in the Netherlands — but you’ve decided to move to a different country. What should you do? Image: Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
Selling your home in the Netherlands
Whatever your reason may be, most of the time you will have to sell your home in order to stop paying a mortgage in the Netherlands. Selling your home in the Netherlands has a lot of important steps.
Firstly, you might want to find yourself a registered real estate agent. They should be associated with the trade association, Dutch Association of Estate Agents (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Makelaars or NVM). It is a recognised supervisory body that will be able to give you a list of registered agents in a specific area.
Once you’ve done that, your agent will do an assessment of your property for you and give you a figure for the value.
Once both of you have settled on the asking price, you will then have to negotiate on the commission fees, start-up costs, and the agreed-upon sale price.
The agent will then put the word out through different channels (social media or websites like Funda) so that potential buyers hear about your place.
Once they find people who want to see your property, the agent will accompany them on their viewings (so there’s no need for you to be there at all, which is handy if you’re in another country prepping for the move.)
When a potential buyer makes an offer, the agent will negotiate on your behalf. You don’t have to accept any price you don’t want to. You can even give a counteroffer, so don’t worry about not having control over the negotiations.
When an offer has been accepted, a purchase agreement is drawn up in consultation with a notary. The buyer can withdraw their offer without any penalties within three days of signing the agreement. Once this has passed, the lawyer will set a date for completion.
On completion, the property is signed off to the buyer through a Transfer Contract. Once you have this piece of paper, you can stop paying money towards your mortgage.
If you still want to have some income on the side, or if you plan to come back to the Netherlands, you might actually be considering renting your home out. But is that an actual possibility?
Can you rent out your house in the Netherlands?
So you have invested in real estate but you no longer can or need to live in the property you bought. If you don’t want to sell it, you might be thinking of renting it out. It could seem like a sweet deal where the money you get through rent might be higher than what you pay for your mortgage, but hold your horses there! It may not be the best deal for you.
If you’re under the impression that you will be getting more money out of this, reconsider. When you’re looking to rent out your property, it is always best advised to do it through a rental agent and agency.
Like a real estate agent, they will do everything on your behalf: property management, finding risk-free tenants and helping you determine the rent amount. However, they do cost money. Additionally, any maintenance cost that has to be carried out will be paid for through your bank account.
Also, if you do rent out your property in the Netherlands, then you will be taxed on the value (WOZ value) of the property. The rate of taxation will be around 30% annually but it all depends on whether you’re living in the Netherlands, the WOZ value and more. For more information, check out the Dutch Tax Authority’s website on investing in immovable properties.
It might seem like a sweet deal on paper but the numbers don’t always add up. Your income would be through the monthly rent, but your expenditure would be your agency costs, maintenance costs, and your mortgage.
Furthermore, and perhaps not what you heard around the watercooler, but you do officially need permission from the bank in order to sublet your house. And, as you can imagine, that’s not as easy as just a quick call.
Anybody who rents a place in the Netherlands has ‘rental protection’ (huurbescherming) — which means in practice that the renter has a pretty good amount of rights. Whatever the rental contract says, the banks don’t like this and consider a property to be worth a bit less when it’s rented out.
Note: It’s also important to remember that if you are no longer living in the house yourself, and will not do so for a long time, you are going to have to refinance your residential mortgage as an investment mortgage.
♻️ Switching mortgages in the Netherlands, is it a good idea?
Speaking of refinancing, let’s talk about changing your mortgage. With the low-interest rates of today, you might think it’s a good idea to get another mortgage with lower interest rates. And yes, that’s indeed a good idea — especially if you hope to use the additional equity to better your home.
But the question is whether there will be any additional equity. Sadly we don’t live in a land built on fairytales and you need to be realistic when making the decision to switch mortgages. You signed a 10, 20, or 30 year contract with a bank for a fixed mortgage rate — and they’re not going to let you hop onto another mortgage very easily.
We can write an entire article about switching mortgages, but let’s focus on two main reasons why you may not want to change your current Dutch mortgage.
The costs of switching mortgages
First, remember that there are also certain costs involved when switching mortgages. When you decide to switch mortgages during your contract, you must pay a ‘penalty fee.’ The fee is often a reason why some people will choose not to refinance their mortgage as it can be quite high and sometimes outweighs the benefits of reduced monthly payment.
However, there is the possibility that you can actually use your new mortgage to finance this penalty fee! On top of that, you can also deduct this penalty fee from your taxes. Your mortgage advisor will advise you on your options surrounding this — and it’s definitely worth looking into. 👀
On top of this fee, there’s also consultatory fees and notary fees to pay. So changing your mortgage is only worth your while if you have significant decreases in your mortgage rate to look forward to.
Are the interest rates worth it?
This brings us to the second thing to consider, namely your current mortgage rate. An extremely blunt rule of thumb would be that it isn’t worth changing your mortgage if you secured a mortgage in the Netherlands after 2016 — that would likely mean that your interest rate is already pretty low.
The ‘loan-to-value’ ratio: how it can help your Dutch mortgage
The concept of loan-to-value ratio (LTV ratio) is a little complex, but it’s can be a great way to save yourself a bit of money once you have settled into your mortgage. We’ve got a simple explanation to get you started:
When you first apply for a loan the bank considers what risk is involved. They’ll compare the ratio of the requested loan to the value of the house. This gives the client a risk level, called the Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio.
You should talk to a mortgage consultant and consider whether your LTV ratio has decreased. Image: Goodluz/Depositphotos
The higher the loan is in comparison to the house value, the higher the risk for the bank, and the higher the eventual interest rate for the client.
But, the LTV ratio decreases as the loan is slowly paid off, or as the house gains value. That means that once the LTV ratio has changed you can request a discount from your bank for being a less risky customer — cha-chingg. 💶
What could this look like? For example, if you took out a loan of €200,000 for a €200,000 property, you have an LTV ratio of 100%, but, after five years of paying off that loan and your property increasing in value, perhaps your LTV is now only 85%. That could give you a sizable discount on your loan repayments if you request it from your bank.
💔 Getting a divorce? Here’s what will happen to your Dutch mortgage as an expat
Did you and your partner take the plunge together to put your names down for a joint mortgage — but then took another and decided to get a divorce? We’re sorry to hear that.
Along with dealing with the emotional trauma, you have to take care of some practical matters when it comes to your home.
One of the main things you will need to concern yourself with is a financial evaluation. You will have to submit yourself for this at your bank. They will then determine how well you or your ex can carry the load of paying the mortgage. You do have to be patient with this process though: it could take anywhere from three months to up to a year before it is processed.
Until one of you takes over the mortgage or refinances it, both you and your partner will remain responsible for paying the mortgage — regardless of who remains in the house. However, it is recommended that one partner eventually takes over the mortgage on a house, if both remain liable, then the chances of you or your partner taking out a second mortgage on another property can become complicated.
Have you done aftercare for your Dutch mortgage? Thought about switching mortgages? What did you change? Let us know in the comments below!
Following the continuous leaking of new coronavirus measures throughout the week, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister for Health Hugo De Jonge have officially confirmed and clarified the latest restrictions and easings.
As of September 25, the Netherlands will indeed see a number of relaxations come into play. However, Rutte emphasised that this is not the day that the country flips the bird at coronavirus measures, saying:
“I immediately add, that is not the day when everything is back to the way it was before corona. There are still too many infections and hospital admissions for that. There are also too few people immune and that makes the autumn uncertain.
That being said, the Dutch prime minister has confirmed significant developments when it comes to clubs, festivals, concerts and multi-day events. Let’s run through what’s next for the Netherlands.
Goodbye 1.5-metres
We will indeed be waving doei to the 1.5-rule. Opening the press conference, he spoke of how integrated the phrase 1.5-metre has become in Dutch society, saying this can be tough in a time when we need a hand on our shoulder. For this reason, the Dutch cabinet has decided to ditch this measure.
Rutte has confirmed that, as of September 25, you’re going to have to wave goodbye to social distancing. In relaxing this measure, the Dutch cabinet hopes to make way for fuller capacities at large scale events, as well as make way for more emotional support for people.
“Corona pass” needed for entry
While we may say goodbye to the 1.5-metre rule, we will be welcoming a “corona pass” requirement before entering indoor restaurants, cafés, cinemas, and theatres.
This usually involves showing a QR code in the CoronaCheck app which confirms that you are either vaccinated against coronavirus, you have tested negative or you have recently recovered from the virus.
Rutte added that testing for access will remain free for now and that the “corona pass” is hopefully only a temporary solution. The cabinet will revisit the use of the pass on November 1.
He also stated that municipalities will receive funding to help with the pressure of checking these passes in bars.
Festivals, concerts and multi-day events possible under certain conditions
Grab your festival fits, according to sources in The Hague, the Netherlands will also welcome the return of festivals and multi-day events.
As of September 25, you can get your boogie on. Festivals and concerts will open with 75% capacity without fixed seating. However, at festivals and sports events with fixed seating, the capacity can be completely full.
Fuller capacity at large scale events
It has also been confirmed that football stadiums in the Netherlands will be returning to full capacity. According to the KNVB, the 1.5-metre rule was already being broken with the current 2/3 capacity — so why not go all-out?
However, those who do want to stand shoulder to shoulder and spectate live will have to submit a vaccination certificate or a negative coronavirus test before being allowed entry.
Clubs reopening once again
It won’t be all welly boots and marquees either. As of September 25, clubs and discotheques throughout the Netherlands will be allowed to swing open their doors once again. However, they will be expected to close them again at midnight.
Let’s hope this is a more smooth transition than the era of “Dancin’ with Janssen.” 😳
Education to be free from measures
The education sectors will no longer have any coronavirus measures. This applies to all levels of education.
Work from home remains for now
While you may be able to bust a few moves, you’ll have to wait a while before demonstrating to your colleagues. For now, the prime minister has urged that workplaces should continue to encourage working from home.
“Working from home when possible, at work when necessary.”
Face masks to remain on public transport
The requirement to wear face masks when travelling on public transport in the Netherlands will remain. However, there is a twist, it is no longer compulsory to wear a mask on train platforms.
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The RIVM has released its weekly coronavirus figures from September 7 to September 14. The number of hospitalisations and deaths have decreased even further compared to the previous week.
Over the past week, the RIVM has reported 15,976 new infections in the Netherlands. This is a decrease compared to last week’s report of 17,890 infections.
The percentage of positive tests also decreased to9% compared to 10.8% the week before.
Deaths
The number of patients who have died from coronavirus-related complications has decreased. This week, 35 people passed away, compared to 38 people the previous week.
Hospitalisations
Hospitalisations have continued to decrease as well. The same pattern is true for the number of admissions to the ICU. The past week saw 280 new admissions to the nursing ward and 75 new patients in the ICU. The week before, there were 300 and 88, respectively.
Dutch hospitality sector against asking to see peoples’ Corana Check app
The government has announced the possibility that, from September 25, people will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to dine indoors or gain access to cultural venues.
This would be in the form of a QR code in the Dutch Corona Check app.
The Netherlands is red on the European coronavirus map once again — but the cabinet is hopeful
The latest travel advice seems contradictory to many. In the most recent update, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) forecasted that the Netherlands will remain red on the EU’s coronavirus map for the coming week.
Meanwhile, the Dutch government want to relax travel restrictions and open up the possibility for easier travel outside of Europe.
New coronavirus measures announced tonight
Tonight, Mark Rutte and Hugo de Jonge will step on the podium once again to announce the future of restrictions in the Netherlands.
The expected changes include an end to social distancing, fuller capacity at large-scale events, and the reopening of multi-day events, festivals, and concerts (under certain conditions).
However, it will not be the last coronavirus press conference in the Netherlands — working from home and wearing masks in public transport continue as the norm for a while longer.
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Have you been working on your DIY skills in lockdown? Well, now you can use them when collating your travel documents. Residents in the Netherlands can use the CoronaCheck app as a vaccination certificate to enter large scale events, dine or drink indoors and travel.
This is good news for your nasal cavities. You’ll no longer have to provide a negative test to enter events if you’ve been fully vaccinated.
As of July 1, the CoronaCheck app has been used by residents of the Netherlands to show a “corona pass” before entry to large scale events and before travelling to a different country.
Corona pass needed before entry to restaurants, cafés, cinemas and theatres
As of September 25, a “corona pass” will also be needed in the Netherlands before people can dine or drink indoors or go to the cinema, theatre or a concert.
Speaking at a press conference, the prime minister hopes that this will only be a temporary measure. The cabinet will revisit the issue on November 1.
How can I get a “corona pass”?
It’s simple, you log into the app with your DigiD and retrieve your vaccination or test data. Your certificates will be given in the app and each will have a QR code which is scanned before entry.
If you were vaccinated or tested in the Netherlands, and you have a DigiD, then you don’t have to worry. The CoronaCheck app is linked to your DigiD, and the GGD will enter your vaccination status or test result into this system for you.
Put simply, this means that in order to get your corona pass, all you should need to do is log in to your CoronaCheck app, head to “My certificates” and click “View QR”. this code will be scanned by security at the venue you wish to enter and will grant you access (if you are indeed vaccinated, have tested negative or have recently recovered from the virus.)
The certificate will contain personal information including your name, date of birth, and which vaccine you have received — but it is the QR code that will be scanned.
The European travel card can’t be used in the Netherlands because the Dutch consider the sharing of this information an invasion of privacy. Unlike this card, the Dutch travel ticket contains less information, which will not specify whether the user has been vaccinated, tested negative, or has antibodies from previously contracting the disease. Instead, it will only indicate whether or not they are safe to travel.
Ironing out the kinks
There have been some issues with people registering their vaccinations. Those who have received a vaccine directly from their GP may not have their data stored in the national CIMS system yet.
This has prevented a number of people from creating a vaccination certificate in the app. You can log in to this webpage on the RIVM to check whether or not your registration has been successful.
Need a paper version of your vaccination certificate? You can arrange this on the Dutch government website.
Will you be downloading the vaccination passport? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in June 2021, and was fully updated in September 2021 for your reading pleasure.
On Saturday evening, disturbing images circulated on social media of a group of young people walking around in Nazi clothing in the entertainment centre of the Dutch town, Urk.
The group of at least eight were dressed in evocative Nazi-like military uniforms with moustaches and guns. They posed in the Hitler salute, with one person dressed as a prisoner with a star of David on the chest.
In another set of images captured by a surveillance camera, the “prisoner” was being held kneeling at gunpoint, while in others, the group was terrorising pedestrians on the street.
News sources are conflicting on whether the group was participating in a protest against coronavirus measures in Urk, or were attending a costume party. Either way, the municipality has been left outraged.
Investigation
The group apparently issued an apology statement to the community, clarifying they’re not anti-Semitic, against Jews, or in support of the Nazi regime.
But the Urk municipality is not having it. In an official statement by Urk’s mayor Cees van den Bos, the municipality called out the group’s actions as objectionable, highly inappropriate, and hurtful.
“We are currently in consultation with the police and the Public Prosecution Service to get a complete picture of the situation”, says a spokesperson for the municipality of Urk, Françoise Bisschop.
On the criminality of this situation, professor of criminal law and criminal law process, Theo de Roos, explains that if this incident is examined as a protest against measures then the whole situation will be viewed in the context of freedom of speech.
According to De Roos, if this is the case “they wanted to indicate that what the government is now doing with the corona policy is just as bad as the Nazi regime.” says De Roos. “It is disgusting and tasteless. But that does not automatically mean that it is punishable.”
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The Māori Party of New Zealand wishes to officially change the country’s name, which is of Dutch origin.
Instead, members of the Māori Party wish to change the name of New Zealand to Aotearoa — and they aren’t alone. The use of the Māori name is becoming more popular among New Zealanders.
Aotearoa means “land of the long white cloud” and it is what the Māori people call the island in their native language: Te Reo Māori. ☁
Dutch name
The name New Zealand comes from Dutch Nieuw Zeeland. The island was “discovered” in 1642 by a Dutchman named Abel Tasman, who also named Tasmania after himself. 🙄
Also, he thought New Zealand was an island in South America when he first arrived (just sayin’.)
Te Pāti Māori leaders, Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer tell The Guardian, that “it’s well past time that Te Reo Māori was restored to its rightful place as the first and official language of this country[…] We are a Polynesian island.”
The leaders continued in their statement, “New Zealand is a Dutch name. Even the Dutch have changed their name – from Holland to the Netherlands, for Christ’s sakes!” 🤡
Town and city names asked to be restored
The party is also petitioning for all of New Zealand’s towns and cities to be restored to their Māori names by 2026.
“It is the 21st century, this has to change,” said the party.
What do you think of the petition? Let us know in the comments below!
The housing crisis in the Netherlands has taken another depressing turn after Rabobank economists have revised their previous predictions for the development of Dutch housing prices.
They now expect the price rate for a home in the Netherlands to rise even faster for the rest of this year and the next, reports RTL Nieuws.
Start saving yesterday: €90,000 more expensive
Concretely, the Rabobank experts foresee houses in the Netherlands becoming 14,4% more expensive in 2021 alone. The increase in house prices will then continue at a rate of 11,5% in 2022. 😱
This is a dramatic revision of their latest prediction — only dating back to June — in which they predicted prices to rise by 11% this year and 4,6% the next.
Could we please go back to June? 😅
The new economic forecast says an average Dutch house bought in 2022 will be 28% more expensive than the already ridiculous prices. That means hopeful house-hunters will need to bid on average €90,000 more for a home in the Netherlands.
Monthly payments are incresing
“A buyer who buys a home in 2022 is a lot worse off than someone who bought a home in 2020.” That’s the grim message from Rabobank housing market economist, Stefan Groot.
Although interest rates are currently low in the Netherlands, the expected increase in house prices still means a significant increase in homeowners’ monthly costs.
Specifically, future homeowners can expect €300 more in monthly payments if paying off a 30-year mortgage. “Being able to buy a house at a slightly later time affects the financial space that households have for decades,” says Groot. 🏠
The calculation is based on interest payment on the higher prices and extra repayment costs.
For once, Amsterdam is not the fastest mover
There are significant regional differences in the rate of price increases across the Netherlands.
The biggest surge in house prices is expected in Flevoland, where the Rabobank experts predict a 20% increase this year and a 15% increase in 2022.
If you’re hoping to buy your Amsterdam canal house in the coming two years (we can only dream), there’s some good news though! The increase in house prices is expected to be least steep in the capital region — because prices have already soared. 🙃
What’s your experience of the Dutch housing market? Tell us in the comments below!
Ahmed Aboutaleb, the mayor of Rotterdam has just been named the best mayor in the world for 2021 by the London City Mayor’s Foundation.
The London City Mayors Foundation — an international think tank dedicated to local governance — has presented this award every two years since 2004. Ahmed Aboutaleb is the first Dutch winner of the prize. 🥳🏆
A commitment to all things good
Aboutaleb shares the World Mayor 2021 prize with Philippe Rio, mayor of the French city of Grigny, The NOS reports. Both winners will be presented with a sculpture in recognition of their achievements — gotta have something to put on the mantlepiece.
The jury explained that both mayors have “a strong conviction that peace, freedom, equal rights, and dignity are extremely important for social cohesion.”
One of the longest-serving (and best-loved) mayors in Europe
In January this year, Aboutaleb was sworn in for his third term as mayor of Rotterdam — making him one of the longest-serving (and best-loved) mayors in Europe.
In addition to displaying “exceptional leadership” during the coronavirus crisis (that rollercoaster), Aboutaleb was recognised by the London City Mayors Foundation for “leading Rotterdam with courage, patience, and modesty since 2009.”
He’s also very aware of pressing social and environmental issues, and that cities need to be more resilient in order to withstand natural disasters — in these crazy times it’s so reassuring to know there’s a safe set of hands.
Whilst his official job description is “mayor” or burgemeester (master of citizens), many Rotterdammers refer to Mayor Aboutaleb rather as burgervader (father of citizens), as throughout his time in office Ahmed Aboutaleb has acted as a father of a very large family.
How did Aboutaleb respond?
In his response, Aboutaleb said that he feels very honoured and “speechless… that the people of Rotterdam have nominated me for this.” He continued that he feels very appreciated by the inhabitants of this beautiful city where so many different people live together.” Awww! We don’t even live in Rotterdam but we love you Mayor Aboutaleb.
What are your thoughts on Mayor Aboutaleb being elected the best mayor in the world? Tell us in the comments below!
For the past few days, sources from within the Dutch cabinet have been leaking various measures that are set to be announced during tonight’s press conference.
And what can we gather from these whispers? Quite a lot. Let’s run through what’s going, what’s staying, and what’s new with coronavirus measures in the Netherlands.
Goodbye 1.5-metres
If you were enjoying that extra bit of personal space while standing in line for your takeout coffee over the past 1.5 years, we’ve got some bad news.
It has been confirmed that, as of September 25, you’re going to have to wave goodbye to social distancing. In relaxing this measure, the Dutch cabinet hopes to make way for fuller capacities at large scale events.
Fuller capacity at large scale events
Speaking of, football fans can rejoice. It has also been confirmed that football stadiums in the Netherlands will be returning to full capacity. According to the KNVB, the 1.5-metre rule was already being broken with the current 2/3 capacity — so why not go all-out?
However, those who do want to stand shoulder to shoulder and spectate live will have to submit a vaccination certificate or a negative coronavirus test before being allowed entry.
Festivals, concerts and multi-day events possible under certain conditions
Grab your festival fits, according to sources in The Hague, the Netherlands will also welcome the return of festivals and multi-day events.
Sources tell the NOS that as of September 25, you can get your boogie on. Festivals and concerts will open with 75% capacity without fixed seating.
However, when it comes to multi-day events, the information is still a bit vague. While sources confirm that both indoor and outdoor multi-day events will be making a comeback, this will be under certain conditions.
One such condition is that attendees show a “corona pass” every 24 hours while in attendance — as for the rest, we will have to see at tonight’s press conference.
Work from home remains for now
While you may be able to bust a few moves, you’ll have to wait a while before demonstrating to your colleagues. For now, the cabinet is expected to announce that workplaces should continue to encourage working from home for the time being.
Sources even claim there will be a new slogan: “Working from home when possible, at work when necessary.”
Wear your mask when travelling
Another measure that will remain as a comforting constant is the requirement to wear face masks when travelling on public transport.
According to sources in The Hague, the cabinet doesn’t want to ease coronavirus measures completely in the Netherlands for now.
This is due to a large number of people remaining unvaccinated (two million.) The cabinet does not want to see Dutch hospitals become overwhelmed once again.
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