A summer of no restrictions is well and truly on the way, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge announcing relaxations of coronavirus measures virtually across the board.
“The Netherlands is taking a big step,” said Rutte. “Almost everything is possible at one-and-a-half meters.”
Let’s be honest: you’re here to find out what is being relaxed and when. Well, we aim to please, so here ya go! 🎉
The basics are this. From June 26:
- Almost everything is possible if people keep their distance and wash their hands.
- Events and parties can go ahead, but only with a negative test, proof of vaccination, or evidence of having had coronavirus in the past (a so-called “corona ticket” in the CoronaCheck app).
What does that break down to? This! 👇👇👇
No more face masks
Gone are the days of doing the walk of shame when you approach a store entrance only to realise your trusty face mask has gone missing. From next Saturday you’ll only be required to wear a face mask in public transport, at the airport, on airplanes, or in other places where you can’t keep distance, like secondary schools.
READ MORE | Netherlands says goodbye to face masks — and hello to working from the office
Late dinners and cocktails now possible
Prefer to take your dinners according to the Spanish clock? Dat kan! From next Saturday the catering industry can stay open as long as they would like.
There are also more people allowed in restaurants: as many as fit while still allowing one-and-a-half metres distance.
On a related note, the ruling that alcohol can’t be sold in supermarkets after 10 PM is also gone like the wind 💨.
Everybody: you can DANCE 💃
Start practicing those sweet moves, because clubs and discos can officially open for the first time in over a year — yeah, baby! 🕺 Of course, if you want to dance you need to pass the test — a coronavirus test, that is. Show your corona ticket at the door and you can bust a move!
No more rules on the amount of visitors
Currently, we’re advised to only group together as a maximum of four people — but not anymore! There is no more advice or rules about groups of people, provided distance can be kept.
Work from…office?
Let’s hope you still fit into your work pants, because for the first time since the pandemic began the advice to work from home as much as possible is being replaced with “work from home at least half the time.” Provided you can keep your distance from your colleagues you can return to the office! Mmm, office coffee…? 😬☕️
What’s happening? Everything!
Get out your agenda, because events are back on without mouth masks or keeping distance. All major events can go ahead provided visitors show their corona ticket.
Competitive sports make a return
For our competitive friends out there, amateur sports competitions will now be allowed — which is good, because we all need to take out our frustrations from the past year on something.
Coronavirus tests to travel are gratis
Got a holiday planned for July or August? You’ll be able to get tested for free, although the dates on this remain a little unclear.
But guys, keep your distance
At the office, on the street, in the house — the advice to keep one-and-a-half-metres from each other will last until at least mid-August. There are some exceptions for locations and events that require negative tests to enter.
Feature Image: Free-Photos/Pixabay
