Tomorrow evening, Dutch Prime Minister Rutte and Health Minister De Jonge will once again hold a press conference on coronavirus measures in the Netherlands. Questions are arising over what measures will look like for the Christmas holidays.
Minister De Jonge expressed his hopes for allowing people to celebrate together, but noted that Christmas is still a long way away, reports RTL Nieuws. “I do not think we can give clarity about that tomorrow. The numbers are much lower than they were, but still much higher than they should be.”
Two weeks of stricter measures complete
As promised, the measures announced two weeks ago will come to an end, meaning that group gatherings will be expanded again. Public buildings like museums, libraries, zoos, concert halls and amusement parks will once again be open. They will have the same measures put in place prior to the stricter two weeks. However, measures are not expected to relax more than this.
Catering industry
The cabinet is discussing whether to open the catering industry again tomorrow, but this is unlikely. Clearer measures for the hospitality industry are expected to only be announced around the beginning of December. However, a potential experiment with 25 restaurants may go forward this week.
Downscaling plan
As of now, the government only has plans in place for reducing the spread of coronavirus as quickly as possible. There are no clear plans for how the Netherlands will ease out of coronavirus measures once a vaccine is available, or when numbers drop enough. It is unlikely that a downscaling plan will be announced tomorrow either.
What do you think of the two weeks of stricter measures coming to an end? Tell us in the comments below.
The Dutch and Vaccination – how are the Netherlands doing when it comes to vaccines and vaccination?
Vaccines prevent transmissible, or communicable, illnesses. Some of these illnesses can lead to disability or death, either in susceptible individuals (such as people, including children, who medically cannot take certain vaccines) or even healthy people, depending on the infection. So how are the Netherlands doing on the vaccination front?
The Dutch and Vaccination: Agoraphobic? Another reason to avoid crowds
Recurring news clips appear almost yearly about preventable outbreaks:
In Canada, measles outbreaks have fortunately been few and small, yet public health agency reports suggested that there was a “a sizeable outbreak in a non-immunizing religious community.”
In The Netherlands, measles outbreaks were also problematic in 2013-14 (and earlier as well). Conclusions from those investigations noted that “the vast majority of reported cases were unvaccinated (94%, n = 2,539), mostly for religious reasons (84%, n = 2,135).” In this study on the Dutch and vaccination, it was noted that orthodox Protestants (1% of the Dutch population) made up the majority of those both unvaccinated and affected by the outbreak. On the other hand, a survey of Dutch parents about a new childhood vaccination program suggested that higher education and a lack of religion were among risk factors for fully negative attitudes towards vaccination in the Netherlands.
Interestingly, a global survey of 67 countries showed that the European region has the lowest confidence in vaccination, with the French topping that list. On the opposite end, Bangladesh is the most accepting. The Dutch as a whole ranked reasonably well in this survey regarding confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness, and also ranked among the top European countries that responded that vaccination is compatible with religious beliefs.
Global vaccine confidence in 2016. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27658738
Looking back to 2002, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that the National Immunisation Program (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma, RVP) had a vaccination rate of more than 95%, but this was declining gradually over time. This would seem consistent with the observation that a drop in vaccination and more outbreaks were occurring. After all, the RIVM stated that a rate of vaccination over more than 90% of the population needs to be maintained in order to prevent vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.
Vaccination in the Netherlands – Believe it or not?
And, the controversy will probably never be completely resolved. Why? Because it boils down to a fundamental argument of which is more valuable to someone: individual choice, or benefit for society? Of course, the spectrum of beliefs is neither linear, nor is it black-and-white.
Screenshot from The Lancet
Admittedly, I’m all for vaccination. When it comes to a “quick fix,” I think vaccines qualify. I want to protect myself, my loved ones (including any future hypothetical offspring), and my community from transmissible illnesses. For example, I’m traveling to India this winter, and also visiting my newborn niece in the U.S. Basically if I don’t vaccinate, then either I potentially suffer (just say NO to acute hepatitis or typhoid, thank you very much) or someone else might (I definitely don’t want to give my baby niece the flu or whooping cough, when she is still too young to be vaccinated).
Vaccines for me personally are mandatory, and if the government is willing to provide them at no cost, then all the better. Learn more about the Dutch National Immunisation Program here.
The Vrouwen voor Vrijheid (Women for Freedom) group organised a demonstration on the Museumplein in Amsterdam on Saturday evening. Police say they ended the protest early, but the organisers disagree.
The group held the protest because they believe that their freedoms as individuals are under threat from coronavirus measures, reports AD. Approximately 1000 people attended the gathering, but police say that attendees failed to keep their distance from each other.
Permission was granted by the municipality for the protest to last until 7 PM, but it only went until 6 PM. While police claim that they ended the protest, attendees say it was the scheduled ending of the programme.
Diverging stories
Romy Quint, leader of the demonstration, insisted that the demonstration was brought to an early finish on purpose, “so that the police wouldn’t hurt us in the end.” Vrouwen voor Vrijheid planned a programme that would finish around 6 PM, but police understood that it would go on until 7 PM.
As a result, when police had to order the organisation to turn off the music around 6:20 PM, they saw it as “termination” according to a police spokesperson. The music and speech were causing unrest and participants were not adhering to corona measures, police said.
The police’s story caused outrage on social media, as demonstrators argued that the event was already over when police supposedly intervened. “That was just a farewell song that was used afterwards, as background music while people left,” says Quint.
Technicalities
Quint emphasizes that police contact during the demonstration went well, and is disappointed that the municipality is presenting the protest in a negative light. A spokesperson for the municipality says their information is based on that from the police. “We weren’t there, the police were. As far as we know, the meeting ended on the initiative of the police.”
A police spokesperson later tried to clarify the confusion. “The last speech ended at 6:05 PM, then music was put on. We then went to the group to say that it had been good, they agreed. That was around 6:20 PM. According to the request, the demonstration was scheduled until 7 PM, so that’s where the words ‘terminated’ come from.”
What are your thoughts on this corona protest? Let us know in the comments.
On Saturday, a 32-year-old Georgian man infected with coronavirus was arrested for attempted aggravated assault at Schiphol airport.
The man had flown into Schiphol from Georgia and wanted to board a flight to Malta. He was checked by an airline employee at the gate, who found he was carrying a letter stating he’d tested positive for coronavirus.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee wrote on social media, “The man was immediately quarantined and arrested by the police officer.” The Public Prosecutor North-Holland is currently leading an investigation into the case.
Due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in Curaçao, the government has announced stricter measures. As of today, restaurants and bars are closing early, non-urgent medical operations will be cancelled, and a curfew has gone into effect.
The popular holiday destination for Dutchies has been listed as “code yellow” for coronavirus — it’s one of the few places the Dutch cabinet has approved for holiday travel. This has led to a sharp rise in the number of flights booked to the island over the coming months, as Dutch holiday seekers try to make a break for it this Christmas.
But now, things have taken a turn for the worse on the small Dutch-Caribbean island. Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath told the public on Sunday that the record number of infections and the situation in the hospitals require that they take new measures.
New measures
Disappointed travellers will arrive at the island to find all shops and restaurants closing at 8 PM and a curfew from 9 PM to 4:30 AM.
A face mask mandate is also in place inside shops and other indoor public spaces for anyone over the age of 18.
Gatherings in groups of over four people are prohibited (including at the beach) and people are asked to stay home as much as possible. “If there is no reason to go outside, stay at home,” says Rhuggenaath.
For now, the country is remaining open for tourists, with restrictions. Visitors from lower-risk areas must submit a negative PCR test, while those from higher-risk countries will need to quarantine for fourteen days.
Do the new measures in Curaçao surprise you? Does this news interrupt any of your holiday plans? Tell us in the comments below.
On Saturday afternoon, a planned demonstration against Zwarte Piet in Maastricht was disrupted by counter-protesters. Tensions at the scene escalated, leading to violence and police intervention.
The action group Kick Out Zwarte (KOZP) had a permit from the municipality to demonstrate against the blackface character on the Vrijthof (a central square). But when counter-protesters gathered and the atmosphere became threatening, the police mobile unit had to intervene.
They used horses and dogs to keep the counter-protesters at a distance. The police were pelted with fireworks.
KOZP spokesperson tells NU that demonstrating at the second scene was impossible. “That place was almost next to the Vrijthof. There were a lot of threats and a lot of violence. People threw things and there was shouting. We, therefore, stopped our action prematurely.”
Violence at the second location
The demonstration was moved to a new secret location, a nearby shopping area, under police escort. But the effort was to no avail — the peaceful protesters were soon surrounded again by hundreds of counter-demonstrators.
About an hour and a half later, when Zwarte Piet protesters decided to end the demonstration, the police helped facilitate a safe ending.
Maastricht Mayor Annemarie Penn-te Strake is disappointed the police had to intervene. She says, “Demonstration is a fundamental right, so a demonstration cannot simply be prohibited. It is our duty to protect that fundamental right, even in this corona time, because demonstrations are an exception. It is hard to justify people who wanted to disrupt the demonstration.”
What do you think of the Zwarte Piet protests and counter-protests? Tell us in the comments below.
A whistleblower has revealed that the US intelligence agency, NSA, has been taking advantage of an agreement with Denmark for years to spy on the Netherlands and other surrounding allies.
Danish military service FE tapped Danish internet cables with the help of the Americans in 2008, for which they made an agreement. Through this agreement, the NSA was given access to cables running to Eastern Europe. FE collaborated with the NSA to process data in a data centre near Copenhagen Airport.
But unbeknownst to Denmark, the NSA used their access to these cables to spy on Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, reports NOS.
The whistleblower
A former employee of the Danish service FE was concerned about the Danish-American cooperations and wrote an internal report. When this report was ignored, he leaked the reports to a supervisory authority. An investigation was then launched and the whistleblower put several FE officials on temporary suspensions in the summer.
Sources at the Dutch secret service are reluctant to share how much they knew about the situation. “Everyone spies,” an employee told De Volkskrant.
What do you make of this dubious move by NSA? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
In mid-January, test situations of football matches, cinemas and concerts will be set up in order to see how larger audiences can once again become a possibility in the Netherlands.
The industries are looking to experiment with how events can be organised safely with larger groups of people. Fieldlab Events, who arrange business, public, cultural and sports events, initiated the program in collaboration with TNO and TU Delft, reports NOS. Their goal is to collect data on the risk of contamination in various group set-ups.
Performing the trials
The researchers will be carefully monitoring the behaviour of test subjects, the air qualities in the buildings, the use of masks, disinfectants, and the impact on vulnerable groups.
Program team manager of Fieldlab, Pieter Lubberts, said, “We can test in advance and take such security measures, so that we know that visitors to theater performances, cinemas, business seminars or concerts are not infected and meet all safety requirements.”
They plan to perform the first trials with people who have tested negative for corona, and the test subjects will be asked to stay out of contact from vulnerable groups for two weeks after the trials.
Conditions
However, none of the trials will go forward if certain requirements are not met. State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Mona Keijzer, made it clear that the trials must take place in a region with a risk level of one, and so far none of the Dutch regions have achieved this.
She has also specified that test subjects must be seated, which is why festivals and concerts where people can walk around will not be undergoing any trial tests yet.
However, Keijzer is optimistic about what these trials mean for the country. “This is good for the Dutch population,” she said. “They long to go to the movies or an event together again.”
What do you think of these trials? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
Test flights for emergency medical transport by drone will be starting in the coming months. The drone flights will take place over sparsely populated areas between Isalas hospitals in Meppel (Drenthe) and Zwolle (Overijssel).
According to a press release from ANWB (the Royal Dutch Touring Club), the drones will make transportation of emergency medical supplies “faster, safer, and cleaner than by road, and will contribute to supporting the right care in the right place.”
This work is made possible by a massive collaboration between Medical Drones Services Initiative, ANWB, and PostNL, along with medical partners Erasmus MC, Isala, Sanquin, and Certe, with technology partners Avy and KPN.
Together, the companies are investigating and investing in the use of drones to improve care and service to patients. Over the next three years, research will be conducted into how drones can safely and reliably improve the speed and delivery of such emergency medical shipments as blood, medicines, and diagnostic samples.
Plan
Testing will take place over the Meppel-Zwolle route until mid-2021. The flights will only take place on working days, flying a distance of 15 kilometres and landing in a meadow to the north of Zwolle. The test flights have been approved by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate.
The flights serve only to collect information for further development of the service, and will not be transporting medical items.
ANWB says safety is paramount in the flights. They will not fly over houses or farms, and all flights will be monitored.
Drone design
The quiet, electrically-powered drone has a wingspan of 2.5 metres and is controlled remotely by a pilot on the ground. It takes off vertically and flies horizontally at an altitude of around 100 metres. The drone flies at a speed of 75 kilometres an hour. The journey between Meppel and Zwolle takes 15 – 20 minutes.
What do you think of the Netherlands incorporating these new medical drones? Tell your thoughts in the comments.
This is when civilians attempt to take justice into their own hands by hunting down people they believe to be paedophiles.
The man was left badly beaten after being attacked by a group of youths on Wednesday, October 28. The attackers fled the scene and the man later died from his injuries.
To meet a 15-year-old boy
The group of teenagers who attacked the man apparently pretended to be a 15-year-old boy in a chat room for homosexuals. The man responded to a call to meet the boy for sex, however, it is unclear at this time whether or not the man was actually a paedophile.
Once the man arrived at the agreed meeting point he was met by the group of youths. Jamil Roethof, the lawyer for a 15-year-old suspect, tells AD that things then “got out of hand.”
“They wanted to confront him with the fact that he wanted to have sex with an underage boy. No more. Then it got out of hand. The victim also fell badly. I don’t think there was a preconceived plan to abuse him.”
The lawyer’s client was not involved in the assault, however, he was present when the group made the call to the man and when the man first arrived.
Police urge “pedo-hunting” to stop
The Police Chief Oscar Dros has urged the public to stop hunting down people they believe to be paedophiles, AD reports. “Our message to citizens is: stop pedo-hunting. Stop persisting. Stop provoking. Leave this to us.”
He says that while civilians may believe they have enough evidence to convict a person, in reality much more work is needed. “I don’t know of an example in my police unit that led to the conviction of a child molester,” says Dros.
A common occurrence
According to Dros, there have been 250 incidents involving “pedo-hunters” since July of this year. “That varies from underrun to assault, threats and publicly pillorying people on the internet. These are only the incidents of which we know. There are probably many more.” As a result, the police have had to help known paedophiles to go into hiding.
Dros says that the time spent investigating “pedo-hunters” should be put to better use. “We have hundreds of vice detectives who are passionate about their work. The criminal behaviour of “pedo-hunters” takes a lot of time, which we prefer to invest in preventing child abuse.”
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