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Unsold flowers are given to those that keep society running in times of coronavirus

Vedika Luthra
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Unsold flowers are given to those that keep society running in times of coronavirus

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus across the world has hit several sectors of society particularly hard, one of which is the flower industry. According to NOS, the buying and selling of flowers has come to an abrupt halt. But it isn’t all bad news, friends.

In difficult times, a little lightheartedness almost becomes a necessity: unsold flowers are being delivered to hospitals and care homes to workers for all that they are doing to keep society functioning in light of all the complications that have arisen.

It’s happening throughout the country:

And it’s so important for us to acknowledge everything that these people are doing- hopefully, you too took a moment to recognise their efforts yesterday at 8 pm.

Aside from gifting flowers, in the Netherlands, people have taken to Twitter with the hashtag #CoronaHulp, where you can make a call for help or offer it. So if you want to do something good, take a look on Twitter and see check out #coronahulp

So it’s not just hoarding toilet paper and frozen pizza. A little humanity always shines through in times like these.

More information about COVID-19 in the Netherlands

For more information, be sure to check out our guide to coronavirus in the Netherlands to stay up-to-date with the most recent information.

Feature Image: Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/Flickr

Rutte: lockdown is a possibility, but not needed at this moment

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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Rutte: lockdown is a possibility, but not needed at this moment

Prime Minister Rutte keeps the possibility of a temporarily halt public life in the Netherlands in the fight against coronavirus through a so-called lockdown. However, because the care capacity in our country is still sufficient, such a lockdown measure is not a priority right now.

Rutte responded tonight to criticism aimed at the Dutch policy to strive to build up ‘group immunity’ against the virus. Some say it is a risky approach that could lead to many deaths. Other countries, such as France recently, haven chosen for the lockdown approach Belgium also went in the direction of such a lockdown last night.

Not such a big difference in the Dutch approach to coronavirus

Rutte does not see that much difference in approach between the countries. “We don’t have a different strategy. This is the strategy that the whole world is following,” he said. According to Rutte, the capacity of IC departments is decisive in all countries. France and Belgium are now opting for a temporary lockdown, because their intensive care units are filling up rapidly. “That (ICU filling up) is also conceivable here, but we don’t have to do that (lockdown) now.”

In any case, what Rutte does not intend for a complete lockdown until a vaccine is available. “I don’t think we’re going to say to people, you can’t go out and that could take a year or maybe longer. Because it can take that long before there is a vaccine against corona.”

Don’t take any trips abroad

Last night it was also announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all unnecessary trips abroad, even if the destination is in the EU. “I say to people with travel plans: don’t do it, stay here. Chances are you will get stuck and cannot go back. We already have our hands full with bringing back the Dutch.”

Things are bad, heads are down, but the applause which sounded through the Dutch neighbourhoods at 8pm last night kind of touched us <3

Check out our coronavirus video

If you have any questions or want more information about the coronavirus, you can check out our guide. We also have a video format.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for all information about the coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: Minister-president Rutte/Flickr

NS cuts into train schedule: maximum of two trains per hour or less

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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NS cuts into train schedule: maximum of two trains per hour or less

Starting this Saturday, the NS will run considerably fewer trains, which have been considerably empty- a consequence of social distancing and the coronavirus. Almost all intercity trains will stop running and trains only run twice an hour in both directions from the stations. The situation will remain the same if a train now departs once an hour. It is not clear how long this so-called basic timetable will remain in effect.

Only the intercity trains Schiphol-Venlo, Arnhem-Den Helder, Maastricht-Eindhoven and Enschede-Utrecht will continue to run in the coming period. The other trains, the sprinters, will continue to stop at all stations. Night trains will not run in the coming period and international trains will have a highly adapted timetable.

“The current situation demands a lot from all of us. Especially now that we know that this virus will be present in our country for a longer period of time, we need to make every effort to ensure that doctors, emergency workers and people who really need to travel can take the train,” says NS CEO Roger van Boxtel.

Only 15% of the regular passengers take the train

Because fewer trains will run, the NS only has to deploy half of its staff. The number of train passengers has fallen to 15 percent in recent days compared to a normal working day. Under the new scheme, 35 percent of the normal number of seats is available. The NS expects passengers to be able to sit on the train at a sufficient distance from each other.

There was a time that this kind of news would surely break the site and cause havoc all week long, now it’s just another measure in our struggle. Stay safe folks! 

Dutch cabinet announces heavy economic support measures to counter coronavirus crisis

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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1
Dutch cabinet announces heavy economic support measures to counter coronavirus crisis

A heavy and elaborate set of measures was announced to counter the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic during a press conference held by the ministers Hoekstra, Wiebes and Koolmees at 6.45am. 

It’s going to cost billions (miljarden in Dutch) but ‘is intended for all of us’ says Wiebes (yes, also for ZZP’ers). It can roughly be divided into support measures and liquidity measures.

Let’s get going:

An emergency counter

Businesses who are directly impacted can report to this ‘noodloket’ where they can possibly get a sum of 4000 euro. Conditions for this will be relaxed. This applies to all sectors, such as the catering industry, but also the travel sector and the cultural sector.

New measures for freelancers (aka ZZP’ers)

Many freelancers are hit hard by the economy. And for these self-employed persons without personnel (ZZP’ers) who have run into problems, the government supplements the income to the social minimum.

The ZZP scheme will apply for three months. The money does not have to be repaid and the asset and partner test that normally applies will not this time around. This means that the self-employed do not have to dip into their savings (well, not completely) and can also receive benefits even if their partner still has income.

Extensions of tax deadlines

Companies do not have to pay taxes in the next three months. Affected entrepreneurs can apply to postpone payment of taxes without immediately sending evidence, and the collection will then stop immediately.

Workhoursreduction: the government will now cover 90% instead of 75%

The possibilities for employers to apply for less working hours for their staff are being expanded considerably and benefits are increasing.

Until now, the government has taken over a maximum of 75 percent of the salary, under the new scheme this will increase to a maximum of 90 percent. What this means is that employers have to pay much less than pre-coronavirus times. This will prevent companies from going bankrupt. The scheme also applies to employees with a zero-hour contract and on-call workers.

This does not change much for most employees. In most cases, the employer supplements the benefit to the full salary and will continue to do so.

Not every company can apply for part-time unemployment benefits. The condition is that turnover has decreased by at least 20 percent.

Alright, that was it once again for another coronavirus day. We’ll explain more about this in greater detail tomorrow, including what the consequences might be for you internationals folks. Stay safe and wash hands!

Feat image from left to right: Sign interpreter and ministers Koolmees, Hoekstra and Wiebes. (source: still of NOS press conference, by DutchReview)

Coronavirus in the Netherlands: number of cases reaches 1705, 19 new victims

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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0
Coronavirus in the Netherlands: number of cases reaches 1705, 19 new victims

The RIVM has published the latest count of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands, which now numbers 1705. This is an increase of 292 patients since the last count. Sadly, 19 people have also perished since yesterday (aged between 63 and 94 years as is reported).

There’s much talk about the Dutch strategy to counter corona, you can read more about that extremely difficult debate right here.

Since Sunday, the government has decided to close all restaurants, clubs, venues and other similar establishments. Supermarkets, pharmacies and other essential services are open.

Coffeeshops to remain open besides ban

It’s been decided by the government yesterday to keep coffeeshops open, and clients have the option to pick-up on their stash. The decision was made in order to curb potential illegal street dealing that started to happen after Sunday’s ban.

Applauses at 8 PM for the workers tackling the coronavirus

A social media trend started by three women with chronically ill children promotes that at 8 PM, we all take three minutes to applaud the people who are now working the hardest in this period of crisis, be it hospital staff, garbage collectors, supermarket staff or police officers. Similar movements happened in other countries affected by the virus, such as Bulgaria, Italy and Spain.

King’s Day in Maastricht is cancelled

Because of the outbreak, it’s been decided that King’s Day in Maastricht will be cancelled. Maastricht was the chosen city for this year’s tour with the Royal Family. While the current ban on events lasts until the 6th of April, the organizers considered that they do not have enough time to prepare the event, which happens 3 weeks after the ban is lifted. As of now it has not been confirmed if King’s day will be celebrated elsewhere.

A word from DutchReview to you, our concerned reader

These are tough times, tougher times than normally anybody born after WW2 has ever endured. We’re all concerned about the state of the country, world, our loved ones, our elderly neighbors and also not unimportant, our livelihoods. This all causes a lot of emotions. But we implore you to help us, yourself and your fellow reader out and respond in our comments with dignity. This is not the time to shout down others or to use profanity, no matter how much you disagree. We’re all in this together and want to find a way out, and all positive vibes and initiatives that have sprung up are truly heartwarming and offer a glimmer of hope. Let’s do this online as well and be kind and graceful in reacting as well (and wash your hands of course).

Check out our coronavirus video

If you have any questions or want more information about the coronavirus, you can check out our guide. We also have a video format.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for all information about the coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva

Applause at 8 PM tonight for the heroes who tackle the coronavirus in the Netherlands

Vlad Moca-Grama
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0
Applause at 8 PM tonight for the heroes who tackle the coronavirus in the Netherlands

A message has spread on social media calling upon people to applause at 8 PM tonight for those whose collective efforts allow society to continue to function in the times of the coronavirus outbreak.

The people who are working to keep society running and to tackle the outbreak include healthcare workers, supermarket staffs, garbage collectors and police officers. You know who they are, we should all support them.

#klapcoronadewerelduit

The moment spread through the media under the hashtag #klapcoronadewerelduit and was actually made by three women who have chronically ill children, reports RTL Nieuws. They wish to spread a message of solidarity between people and especially for those among us who have been working especially hard in the past few weeks to fight the virus and to help our society. You can find the Facebook event for it here.

The idea is to clap three minutes at 8 PM, be it from your balcony, window or garden. Events like this have already happened in other countries affected by coronavirus, such as Italy, Bulgaria and Spain.

Solidarity in society

Ever since the outbreak began, there’s been plenty examples, in the Netherlands and elsewhere, of solidarity and collective organization to support vulnerable people affected by the outbreak. For example, there’s the #coronahulp, where people either ask for help or offer help on social media. Other spontaneous volunteering groups have formed, so if you want to give or receive help, don’t hesitate to reach out. Now more than ever, it’s important that we offer each other support and solidarity so that we emerge out of this crisis more united.

Check out our guide on coronavirus

If you have any questions or want more information about the coronavirus in the Netherlands, you can check out our guide, which is updated daily. We also have it in video format.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for all information about the coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: jackmac34/Pixabay 

Group immunity or a total lockdown: which way to go for the Netherlands to counter coronavirus?

Vedika Luthra
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0
Group immunity or a total lockdown: which way to go for the Netherlands to counter coronavirus?

In his speech yesterday, Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated that many people in the Netherlands will be infected with the coronavirus, and that this is necessary to build  ‘group immunity’ but that this should be done in a controlled way. 

The rationale behind this is that those who get the virus will become immune as the body will be able to develop antibodies. Consequently, they will have a smaller chance of becoming re-infected. So essentially the more people that have it, the more immunity is built.

This type of ‘group immunity’ would result in an increase of the population that is no longer susceptible, which would allow the virus to slowly die out according to Menno de Jong, a virologist at the Amsterdam UMC who was interviewed by RTLNieuws.

De Jong continues that this would create a ‘shell’ around the susceptible people (the elderly, people suffering from heart conditions etc). In order for this to work, 60% of the population would need to be cured from the virus.

However, it should be noted that this strategy may not necessarily work. William Hanage, an epidemiologist, argues that it is vaccines that create this ‘group immunity’ – not allowing people to become infected, and that we should not treat the pandemic ‘which will make a very large number of people sick, and some of them will die’ lightly. However, his piece is based on the earlier approach by the UK which was a whole lot looser than the current Dutch tactic.

 

To lockdown or not to lockdown?

A lockdown, according to de Jong, would likely not work in the Netherlands since the virus will not completely be eradicated and when people do leave their homes, they are still susceptible. This means that a major epidemic is still possible.

It might be necessary if there is too much pressure on the healthcare system (if too many people are sick at once and the curve needs to flatten slightly), or if a vaccine is in sight- in which case public life should be put on halt till people can vaccinate themselves.

But the latter is not an option- any vaccine would take at least a year before it can be released to the public. Even so, a second wave of a pandemic is a real thing, and the ‘group immunity’ idea may not succeed in preventing it.

The Dutch government’s strategy

The Dutch government has opted for ‘maximum control’ whereby the country is not on complete lockdown yet the quantity of social interaction is diminished due to some restriction.

This spreads the infections out over a longer period and prevents an overload on the healthcare system.

But it is unclear whether this will actually be an effective strategy. Perhaps a total lockdown might not be a bad idea- but that too is highly difficult to impose in ‘a open country’ like the Netherlands, as Rutte stated yesterday.

The way that Europe is dealing with the coronavirus raises questions as to how prepared it is to deal with a pandemic in the first place. But then again, these are unprecedented times and nobody needs to envy those in charge…

A word from DutchReview to you, our concerned reader

These are tough times, tougher times than most of us (there are, sadly, exceptions of course) born after WW2 have ever endured. We’re all concerned about the state of the country, world, our loved ones, our elderly neighbors and also not unimportant, our livelihoods. This all causes a lot of emotions. But we implore you to help us, yourself and your fellow reader out and respond in our comments with dignity. This is not the time to shout down others or to use profanity, no matter how much you disagree. We’re all in this together and want to find a way out, and all positive vibes and initiatives that have sprung up are truly heartwarming and offer a glimmer of hope. Let’s do this online as well and be kind and graceful in reacting as well (and wash your hands of course).

Check out our coronavirus guide and video

We’ve created a guide with everything you need to know about the coronavirus in the Netherlands, answering most, if not all questions you might have about the virus. You can also check out our video on the topic.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for all information about the coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Feature image: Canva

Government allows pick-up of weed and hashish from coffeeshops

Vlad Moca-Grama
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0
Government allows pick-up of weed and hashish from coffeeshops

This weekend we received news that coffeeshops were to close due to the coronavirus outbreak, until the 6th of April. People scrambled to purchase their month’s supply, and lines popped up throughout the country on Sunday.

Thankfully, stoners need not worry- the government has decided to allow coffeeshops to stay open (kind of).

Pick-up only

The coffeeshops will remain open, but clients will not be able to sit inside. Rather, they can only pick-up their stash to take away, RTL Nieuws reports. Delivery is not allowed, as that is (still) illegal.

Coffeeshops must demonstrate the necessary hygiene requirements in order to prevent the spread of the virus. The decision was announced by the mayor of Nijmegen, Hubert Bruls, after debating and consulting the decision with the 25 security regions. The Minister of Justice was also present at the talks. Anyways, this also means that coffeeshops in Amsterdam are also semi-open again.

If you must, only go out when completely healthy, wash your hands before and after and keep 1,5-meter distance.

Measure against illegal street dealing

The decision to let the coffeeshops remain partly open happened because there was a spike of illegal street dealing after they were shut on Sunday. By keeping the stores open, criminality can be prevented in these complicated times.

Check out our coronavirus guide

If you have any questions about the coronavirus in the Netherlands, consider checking out our guide on the virus, which is updated daily. You can also check out our informational video on the topic.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for all information about the coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: DutchReview Reader/Supplied

King’s Day cancelled in Maastricht due to coronavirus

Vedika Luthra
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0
King’s Day cancelled in Maastricht due to coronavirus

Maastricht as well as the rest of Limburg have decided to suspend King’s Day celebrations this year, according to RTL Nieuws. These measures have been taken to combat the coronavirus COVID-19, which is spreading rapidly through the country. 

Although restrictive measures imposed throughout the country are meant to last until April 6, three weeks before King’s Day, they will hinder the preparation of events, the NOS reports.

Additionally, it is unrealistic to expect the virus to have stopped spreading by then- and given the crowds the events attract during the day, better to be safe than sorry.

Possibly Postponed

The municipality of Maastricht invites the royal family to celebrate King’s Day at a later stage. Whether the festivities will be cancelled in other areas of the Netherlands or will be adjusted is still unknown.

If things continue as they are, it is likely that King’s Day in Amsterdam and other big cities will also be cancelled or postponed for the same reasons. We’ll keep you posted on the latest.

Check out our coronavirus guide and video

We’ve created a guide with everything you need to know about the coronavirus in the Netherlands, answering most, if not all questions you might have about the virus. You can also check out our video on the topic.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for all information about the coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: Rok Hodej/Flickr

Rutte: Many people in the Netherlands will get the virus but the country won’t be locked down

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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0
Rutte: Many people in the Netherlands will get the virus but the country won’t be locked down

“I have no easy message for you tonight, a large part of the population will get this virus’

said Prime Minister Rutte during a special speech he gave at 7pm from The Hague. “The reality is that the coronavirus is among us, and will remain among us. There is no quick way out of this situation. The reality is also that a large part of the Netherlands will become infected with the virus, experts say.”

Rutte also stated that “our country will not be skipped over” by the coronavirus. That is why measures such as the ones that announced yesterday are urgently needed, he explained.

No complete lockdown for the Netherlands

Rutte mentioned that at the moment, all measures are aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. “Nevertheless the Netherlands is an open country” he added. And because of this reason, there will be no lockdown. Building better immunity was a further reason for a lack of lockdown. And the country would have to go on lockdown for perhaps a year or longer, only to be fearful of the virus returning instantly when lockdown would end.

The cabinet will do everything it can to support people and companies economically

He also had a message for all individuals and companies that are getting terribly hit by the coronavirus measures: the cabinet will do everything it can to soften the blow, more measures on that front will be announced in the coming time.

People, look after each other – Rutte

Just like you, we have many questions as to what this means in reality. And we’ll further analyze this speech tomorrow. Stay safe all, these are extraordinary times…

Feature Image: Minister-president Rutte/Flickr

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