The Dutch government announced on Tuesday the lifting on February 25 of most health restrictions in the Netherlands, the country recording a drop in hospitalizations and contaminations. Bars and restaurants will return to pre-pandemic opening hours, and announced the end of the mask-wearing requirement in most public places as well as the social distancing rule.
The Netherlands had imposed some of the strictest restrictions in Europe in December following a spike in cases due to the Omicron variant, before gradually lifting them. “The country is opening up once more,” Health Minister Ernst Kuipers told a press conference.
The remaining measures reassessed on March 15
From this Friday, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs and cultural venues will be able to open once more until 1 a.m., without masks or distancing, but entry will still be subject to the presentation of a health pass.
A week later, on February 25, these same places will be able to open once more at the opening hours before the pandemic. The Corona pass will also be repealed, except for travel, and gatherings of more than 500 people will be accessible upon presentation of a negative Covid-19 test. “Masks will only be compulsory in public transport and at the airport”, further indicated the Minister of Health.
On March 15, the rest of the sanitary measures will be reassessed, including the obligation to wear a mask on public transport, the mandatory test for access to events and the recommendation to work from home.
The pandemic is “not over”, warns the government
Ernst Kuipers, however, warned that the pandemic was “not over” and vulnerable people still needed to be careful. “Keeping your distance and wearing a mask remain prudent, but there is no obligation,” he recalled.
The health minister took office in Mark Rutte’s new government in January and was quick to signal that he wanted to bring society back to normal. The Netherlands has seen violent protests in 2021 once morest coronavirus restrictions, with police shooting and injuring several demonstrators in Rotterdam (southwest) in November.
