Netherlands – Pubs across the country are opening despite the gastro lockdown


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There is no longer a lockdown for large parts of the economy and society. However, gastronomy is excluded from this. Innkeepers across the country didn’t put up with that on Saturday and opened for a few hours out of defiance.

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In the Netherlands, several restaurants and bars opened on Saturday despite an applicable lockdown. (icon picture)

AFP

Other sectors, such as retail, have been open again since Saturday.  (icon picture)

Other sectors, such as retail, have been open again since Saturday. (icon picture)

AFP

Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government has been criticized for weeks for its handling of the corona virus.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government has been criticized for weeks for its handling of the corona virus.

AFP

  • The Netherlands has lifted the tough omicron lockdown for large parts of society.

  • However, gastronomy must continue.

  • Innkeepers across the country didn’t put up with that and opened up for a few hours out of defiance.

Almost everywhere in the Netherlands, restaurant operators flouted Corona regulations for a few hours on Saturday and opened their pubs, cafes and restaurants. The hosts were protesting that their industry was initially excluded from lifting the week-long, nationwide lockdown.

In many places, the one-time action was carried out with the consent of the municipal administrations, the ANP news agency reported. The reactions from the audience were therefore positive. “Reopening the catering trade in a controlled manner seems to me to be better than everyone having parties at home,” she quoted a visitor to a student café in Zwolle as saying.

Shops, hairdressing salons, sports clubs and universities open again

In Utrecht, Mayor Sharon Dijksma promised to continue to work to relax the corona regulations for restaurants. In the small town of Valkenburg, Mayor Daan Prevoo reacted to a similar action on Friday by classifying it as a permitted demonstration. “Demonstrating is a fundamental right,” he told TV station WNL. Therefore, the police will not intervene.

After almost four weeks, the government in The Hague – under strong pressure from entrepreneurs – partially lifted the strict corona lockdown on Friday. Shops, hairdressers and sports clubs as well as universities have been allowed to reopen since Saturday. However, restaurants, museums, theaters and cinemas must remain closed. In view of the dramatically increased number of infections, the lockdown cannot yet be ended everywhere, explained Prime Minister Mark Rutte. “Everything at the same time is not possible, the risk is too great.” There may be further easing at the end of the month.

In November 2021, the “Walliserkanne” restaurant in Zermatt gained notoriety because the operators refused to Enforce the Covid certificate obligation and the mask obligation. The Valais canton police then announced that the restaurant would be closed, which in turn prompted the operators to erect concrete blocks in front of their restaurant in the center of Zermatt. There were demonstrations and the two innkeepers lost their patents.

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(DPA/pme)





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