Skip to main content
Netherlands News in English

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Justice Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus speaking in parliament with Health Minister Hugo de Jonge and Prime Minister Mark Rutte sitting behind him, 2 September 2020
Justice Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus speaking in parliament with Health Minister Hugo de Jonge and Prime Minister Mark Rutte sitting behind him, 2 September 2020 - Credit: Tweede Kamer / Tweede Kamer
Health
Politics
Coronavirus
Covid-19
vaccine
Mark Rutte
Hugo de Jonge
Ferd Grapperhaus
Sunday, 20 December 2020 - 15:00

Share this article:

Rutte not "particularly enthusiastic" about giving privileges to people with Covid-19 vaccine

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that he was not “particularly enthusiastic” about the idea of giving certain privileges to people who can show proof of vaccination against Covid-19. He made this clear on Friday during his weekly press conference. He said that we “should be extremely careful with coercion or compulsion,” as it can deter people from getting vaccinated.

Earlier on Friday, Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus also said that he did not think that it would be a good idea for the people to receive certain benefits upon showing a “vaccination certificate”. Health Minister Hugo de Jonge also shared this sentiment. According to him, an official decision from the cabinet will come early next year.

Grapperhaus asserts that it is more important to convince people instead of “starting right away with forcing people”. He said that he was pleased to see that the willingness to get vaccinated increased. I&O Research reported last Wednesday that 70 percent of the population now wants to get a jab. This was previously 60 percent.

The minister of justice wants to get that percentage above 90. “Then, the remaining 10 percent will see that things are going well, and that group will gradually become smaller.” As soon as 60 to 70 percent of a population has been vaccinated against coronavirus, one can speak of group immunity.

More like this

Image
Prime Minister Dick Schoof takes questions from reporters during his weekly press conference. 7 March 2025
Dutch PM: Quick decision on €3.5B for Ukraine was more important than Cabinet rift
Image
Vials of Covid-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. March 21, 2021
Dutch gov't did too little to prevent cronyism in buying Covid vaccines: Court of Audit
Image
New visualisation of the Covid-19 virus
Health minister not upset about rising Covid cases; Holiday parties could cause new wave
Image
Mark Rutte speaking during the parliamentary inquiry committee on COVID-19, June 12, 2026.
Former PM Rutte: Netherlands narrowly avoided “code black” during COVID-19 pandemic
Make NL Times your top Google source

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Woman gives birth on N44 highway in Wassenaar amid extreme heat
  • Netherlands records first regional super heatwave since 2020 as Ell hits 30.4 °C
  • Dutch government pushes EU ban on plastic-based chewing gum amid litter crisis
  • Video: 24-year-old man dies after drowning in Waal near Tiel
  • Another round of fierce Rotterdam celebrations after Cape Verde draw with Saudi Arabia

Top stories

  • Netherlands records first regional super heatwave since 2020 as Ell hits 30.4 °C
  • Dutch government pushes EU ban on plastic-based chewing gum amid litter crisis
  • Video: 24-year-old man dies after drowning in Waal near Tiel
  • Terschelling sets Wadden Islands heat record with 33.6°C; Events canceled in Rotterdam
  • Severe Code Red heat warning extended through Saturday in several Dutch provinces

© 2012-2026, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Change Privacy Settings
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partner Content