Most nightclubs were able to re-open last weekend, with people required to show a negative test to gain entry
Translated by Thomas Ansell
Nightclubs across the Netherlands could re-open from midnight on Saturday, with revellers able to gain access with a negative test result displayed via their phone. This led to predictably jolly scenes across Groningen (check out this Sikkom video), whilst queues stretched across the party district of Leeuwarden.
Unfortunately, however, the two sticky-floored nightclubs on the Wadden Island of Ameland were unable to take part in the grand opening, due to there not being enough testing capacity, reports the Omrop Fryslân.
Mayor of Ameland, Leo Pieter Stoel (VVD) says that the clubs could have opened as a pub in the mean-time: “or as a normal café; that would mean everyone staying at a 1.5-metre distance, and no dancing. But it’s still their own choice.”
In any case, there won’t be anyone gracing the dancefloors of Ameland’s clubs without more test availability, although the island provides a unique challenge, says the Mayor. “Such centres that do these ‘tests for entry’ are run by the Foundation Open Netherlands, which has fewer people available to do tests than on the mainland. So we are looking at way to make it flexible, where everyone can get tested, but we won’t have extra capacity going unused.”
It is hoped that everything will be in place for the clubs to re-open in the middle of July.