culture remains closedEntrepreneurs in the cultural sector are not happy, to say the least, with the new developments surrounding the relaxation of the corona rules. Shops will be allowed to admit people without an appointment from tomorrow, while there is no room for restaurants and cinemas. “We have our backs against the wall,” Gulian Nolthenius told this site.
The director of the Dutch Association of Cinemas and Film Theaters (NVBF) finds the cabinet’s decision ‘really incomprehensible’. Catering entrepreneurs and operators of cinemas and theaters must keep their doors closed until at least Tuesday 25 January. The cabinet wants to reassess the situation that day. If no strange things happen during that period, they can also open the doors again under certain conditions.
disastrous
The sectors find it disastrous that the cabinet is once again putting the cultural sector at the bottom of the list. “This is a big disappointment”, NVBF director Gulian Nolthenius reacts. “There is really no reason to keep us closed any longer. At the time, the cabinet was able to see with its own eyes how well we have arranged things here. We just want to open immediately, just like everyone else. If necessary with 1,5 meters away, mouth caps and a corona ticket. Unfortunately, the government thinks otherwise.”
The cinemas lack any form of customization, says Nolthenius. “It’s just blow after blow what happens to our industry. While we have shown every time that the chance of contamination is really minimal. Our protocol is rock solid and has even been adopted by other branches. Apparently it’s not enough, and that hurts the entrepreneurs and the thousands of people who work here. They stand with their backs against the wall. There is great disappointment and misunderstanding.”
Event Makers
There is now a loud call in the events sector that the cabinet must come up with a long-term plan within ‘a very short time’ with ‘agreements that can be fulfilled’. “Entrepreneurs no longer have any reserves and must be given stability,” Willem Westermann, chairman of the Association of Event Makers (VVEM) told this site.
In addition, it is very important for our industry to indicate the measures in the longer term instead of on this short, two or three weekly basis. The cabinet can only make this mistake once: saying on Friday evening what should happen on Saturday and later is unacceptable.”
Unrest at the catering industry
In the meantime, chairman Robér Willemsen of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland wonders why the space is not distributed fairly, as he said was agreed. “Why the shops now everything, and the catering industry and culture nothing,” said an irritated Willemsen.
“You think you can’t be surprised anymore with this stupid policy, and then it happens again,” Willemsen sighs. “Our supporters are really not going to take this. There is a lot of anxiety and anger. I suspect that what will happen tomorrow in Limburg will be followed nationally. We are not calling for civil disobedience, but we are supporting the entrepreneurs who will do so.
Hotel and restaurant chain Van der Valk may open all its restaurants if ‘no suitable perspective’ is offered. That is what the chain, good for approximately 75 locations in the Netherlands, says in a letter to the cabinet. “We respect the rules so far, but cannot guarantee that we will continue to abide by them without this perspective.” A number of restaurants will open tomorrow as a protest.
demolished
Chairman Ruud Kuin of the Dutch BOA Bond expects boas to act with restraint if catering and cultural institutions open their doors against the corona rules. Due to the unrest and dissatisfaction among entrepreneurs, it will remain information and warning on Saturday, Kuin thinks.
However, if entrepreneurs indicate that they do not care about the rules and say that they will remain open after Saturday or are provocative, “there is no other option than to act”, the chairman expects. “Then there will be sanctions.”
Mayors
The Security Council of the 25 mayors who chair a security region emphasizes that there will be no ‘general tolerance policy’ for the catering and culture sector tomorrow. The council reports that in response to the many municipalities and regions that turn a blind eye to allowing entrepreneurs to open their doors, while this is not allowed due to the applicable corona rules.
“In case of obvious and willfully committed violations, immediate action will be taken. Administrative enforcement can also be enforced,” said council chairman Hubert Bruls, mayor of Nijmegen. Earlier this week, Bruls announced that he will act in his own municipality against illegally opened cases. The mayors also enforce the law in the four major cities and in Arnhem.
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