Unis go back to online teaching only
Five-week lockdown in the Netherlands
Door Yelena Kilina
By Yelena Kilina
Although he acknowledged how harsh these new measures are for everyone just days before the winter holidays, Rutte said there is no leeway anymore. The number of patients with covid-19 keeps increasing. In order to minimise in-person contact, all public venues will be closed.
Online teaching
University buildings, schools, and daycare facilities will close as of this Wednesday, although exceptions are allowed for teens in their final year of school, vulnerable children, and those whose parents have essential jobs. That means unis will have to shift back to online classes only.
Libraries, gyms and museums must close their doors too. Outdoor sports with a maximum of two people are still allowed, and the libraries will remain open for people to exchange books.
Essential shops
All but essential shops, such as supermarkets, markets and drugstores, will also be shut down. It is not possible to visit hairdressers and other non-medical contact-based professionals until mid-January.
Hotels can remain open, but not their restaurants where many people started to eat out. In general, all catering establishments must stay closed. You can still order takeaway meals.
Christmas
This year, the need to be together around the Christmas tree is greater than ever, said Rutte. That is why you are allowed to receive a maximum of three guests on 24, 25 and 26 December. All other days, the maximum is two guests per day, with no exception for New Year’s Eve. The maximum group size outdoors was reduced from four people to two, again.
Foreign travel
Rutte pleaded with people not to travel or book any unnecessary trips until mid-March. If you arrive in the Netherlands from a non-EU country, you will have to present a negative covid-19 test result at the airport.