Though the final plans will be announced this evening in a press conference, trusty ‘Hague Sources’ have confirmed that the Netherlands will be moving to ‘step two’ of the opening plan
Translated by Thomas Ansell
It is looking increasingly likely that Coronavirus restrictions will be loosened again from early next week, say Hague leaks via the NOS. The plan is reportedly to move to ‘step two’ of PM Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge’s re-opening plan.
This following step would include opening outdoor leisure places, like theme parks and zoos, and also the re-opening of indoor swimming pools and sports clubs. It is likely that restrictions on outdoor sports will also be lessened, and indoor music and theatre practices could also resume.
Pub, café, and restaurant terraces could be able to extend their opening hours (to 07:00-20:00): it is possible that this change will go into effect earlier than next week.
It was initially intended that the changes would be brought in for May 12, however the Dutch government put its plans back by a week following a huge number of new hospitalisations in the Netherlands.
With hospital admission figures now falling again, and the Dutch vaccination campaign up to over 6 million people, the Dutch government has decided to consider further loosening of regulations. The current ‘negative travel advice’ will not be extended, with it likely that travel to yellow or green-list countries being allowed again. However, due to the still-high infection figures, and a sluggish overall vaccination campaign, people travelling from the Netherlands are subject to travel restrictions in lots of other countries.
Step three of the re-opening plan could come into effect from May 26, which would see the battered Dutch cultural sector able to open, as well as fewer restrictions on the hospitality industry.
