Dutch PM Mark Rutte said that if the ‘R-rate’ falls to below 1 and if IC admissions fall then bar and cafe terraces could be re-opened from March 31
“Great news! It’s great that we can have hope again”, says Jan Bas van Aalderen of Het Pomphuis in response to the announcement by Prime Minister Rutte and Minister De Jonge last night that if we can keep the Coronavirus under control, the terraces in the Netherlands can open again after 31 March under certain conditions. As reported by the GIC.
According to Van Aalderen, it is not yet known exactly under what conditions terraces may be reopened in April. “But what’s great is that hope is now being given again. There is light at the end of the tunnel for many catering entrepreneurs ”, he says.
Much will depend on the number of hospital admissions at the end of March, Van Aalderen says. But if that is not too bad, terraces can open again.
“It would be great for everyone if that could be done again. Although we as entrepreneurs have to think about other things. Because you have to know how many personnel you want to deploy. Nor is it to be hoped that rents will immediately go up again. ”
Van Aalderen and his wife run café-restaurant Het Pomphuis and bistro Bommen Berend themselves. “We are lucky that there is a lot of space for terraces there. I realize that there are also catering entrepreneurs in Groningen who have less terrace space. But at least it seems positive to us. ”
Many entrepreneurs now hope that the virus will be contained and that the vaccination will proceed quickly. “In any case, we have hope again. The cabinet’s ruling looks like a good start to a new start for many catering businesses, ”says Van Aalderen.
