Dutch cultural industry protests lockdown rules The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.With data from other European countries suggesting that the Omicron wave does little to increase pressure felt by the healthcare system, the Dutch government is facing growing pressure from all sides to lift the remaining lockdown restrictions and reopen the hospitality and cultural industries. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor.

Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. (SOUNDBITE OF JOEY FEHRENBACH'S 'INDIGO ROAD')Ĭopyright © 2021 NPR. For example, with similar populations, Britain has around 89,000 infections a day and Italy fewer than 8,000. And they seem to be taking it really seriously.īEARDSLEY: Neimanstverdriet says the so-called efficient northern countries have fared poorly in comparison. NEIMANSTVERDRIET: I was in Italy over the summer, and they were very disciplined in wearing face masks and sticking to the rules. He says southern European countries have done a much better job. Neimanstverdriet says the government has handled the pandemic in a sloppy and erratic manner. And she was just shocked to see people walking around as if there was nothing going on, as if it were normal times, no pandemic.īEARDSLEY: In late November, the government made face masks mandatory again and put in place a curfew as cases began to explode.īEARDSLEY: That brought out violent protesters in several Dutch cities who set cars on fire and battled police. NEIMANSTVERDRIET: We had this friend from the States coming over visiting us. Neimanstverdriet says the Dutch government also let down its guard on face masks, which were completely dropped after the summer. And now it turns out we're almost back where we were at the beginning of the pandemic.īEARDSLEY: Eighty-six percent of adults are vaccinated in the Netherlands, though the country lags far behind its neighbors on booster shots. I mean, we were all promised that after the whole vaccination scheme, things would clear up and we would be more or less liberated. THIJS NEIMANSTVERDRIET: Frankly, there's quite a bit of despair in the Netherlands. Thijs Neimanstverdriet is a reporter for the Dutch daily newspaper NCR. Households are limited to two visitors, four on Christmas and New Year's Day. The lockdown will last at least through mid-January, with only grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations open as normal. 'We are in a somber mood,' he said, 'for once again, the Netherlands must go into lockdown.' Rutte said it was to avoid the worst, as omicron is spreading much faster than feared. PRIME MINISTER MARK RUTTE: (Speaking Dutch).ĮLEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke to his nation Friday night.

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley sends this report. Many are blaming what they say has been the government's knee-jerk handling of the pandemic. And coming right before Christmas, this measure has cast a shadow over the holidays. The Netherlands is in another strict lockdown, its third since the beginning of the pandemic.

Netherlands lockdown