Amsterdam: Prime Minister Mark Rutte at a press conference on August 2 (Monday) announced to extend the ban on one-day events and festivals without set seating until September 1. Outdoor events with a maximum of 750 attendees will be allowed to go ahead, so long as certain rules are in place.
According to the new rules, from August 14, certain small-scale events will be able to go ahead; non-seated ticketed outdoor events with a maximum of 750 people in attendance will be permitted, so long as all visitors present either proof of vaccination, proof of a recent negative test, or proof of recent recovery from COVID-19. By using the CoronaCheck system, event organisers will not be required to adhere to / enforce the 1,5-metre distance rule. Organisers are required to register the contact details of all visitors, and all attendees are urgently advised to get tested on the fifth day after the event.
Outdoor events with fixed seating can also go ahead with a maximum of 750 people in attendance, or two-thirds of the venue’s maximum capacity if this figure exceeds 750. Indoor events with fixed seating can also go ahead with two-thirds of the venue’s maximum capacity in attendance. For these events, requesting proof of vaccination, proof of a recent negative test, or proof of recent recovery from COVID-19 ensures visitors don’t have to maintain a 1,5-metre distance.
Last month, Rutte and Health Minister Hugo De Jonge announced stricter rules for events and festivals in the Netherlands, imposing a ban on all multi-day events and all non-seated events. This ban was initially expected to remain in place until August 13, but in light of the recent spike in COVID-19 infections and the number of patients being treated in Dutch hospitals, the government had opted to extend the ban until September 1.
