About 15,000 people turned up for the protest: imagine if that many turned out to protest the state of Groningen’s housing market
The organisers behind the protest march ‘#unmuteUs’ is very satisfied with the turnout of their colourful demonstration through Groningen on Saturday afternoon. According to their own estimate, there were about 15,000 people on the streets, protesting for their ‘right’ to party.
Whilst the protest did raise the important, and sobering point that large numbers of hospitality and entertainment jobs and companies are being lost to a continued shut-down, most people took the opportunity to have a big party. As reported by the GIC.
The demonstrators believe that the event industry has done its bit in fighting the Coronavirus pandemic, and that it is now time for these sectors to be re-opened to support operators incomes.
On Tuesday, the Dutch government is expected to hold another Coronavirus press conference, with new rule changes to be announced. If the government doesn’t offer some slack for clubs, the #UnmuteUs team have threatened further protests.
According to Hague sources, the 1.5-meter rule will be dropped as of September 25, but limited opening hours will remain for the night-time industries and visitors will have to show their CoronaCheck app (and so vaccine/test status) at catering, cinema and theatres.
