Mayor calls on A'dam residents' responsibility to adhere to coronavirus measures, hoping for more relaxation soon

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema hopes to be able to use police officers for other things than enforcing the coronavirus measures by the autumn. But for that to happen, more restrictions will have to be relaxed, and Amsterdam residents must take the responsibility to adhere to the measures themselves, she said on Op1.

"It cannot be the case that citizens will still be fined in six months. The only way that this can be reduced is if people themselves are motivated to comply with [the restrictions]," Halsema said. And this is more achievable if there is some more freedom of movement, especially for the groups struggling most under the measures, like growing children and lonely elderly. 

"People should be able to go outside a little bit more to see something beautiful, this lightens the loneliness and widens the horizon," Halsema said. "Many people are sad, lonely, miss others, or face insecurities." She suggested opening Artis and the Rijksmusuem, for example, and giving the elderly and children priority at certain times.

Halsema also called on residents to support local entrepreneurs. Where possible, the city will give room for their initiatives to keep their heads above water, she said. She called on the government to make this easier by removing barriers and bureaucracy.