Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Mark Rutte in a parliamentary debate on the Covid-19 vaccination policy, 5 January 2021
Mark Rutte in a parliamentary debate on the Covid-19 vaccination policy, 5 January 2021 - Credit: Tweede Kamer / Tweede Kamer
Politics
Groenlinks
Jesse Klaver
CDA
Pieter Heerma
Gert-Jan Segers
ChristenUnie
Lilianne Ploumen
PvdA
curfew
lockdown
Coronavirus
higher education
education
catering establishments
terrace
SP
Lilian Marijnissen
PVV
Geert Wilders
VVD
Mark Rutte
Rutte III
Outbreak Management Team
Thursday, 11 March 2021 - 09:26
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

No chance of further lockdown relaxations at this time: Dutch PM

The coronavirus lockdown cannot be relaxed any further for the time being, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a parliamentary debate on the pandemic on Wednesday. "There is no room now," he said in the last debate before the parliamentary election next week, NOS reports. "It is not responsible. We first have to look at how things will turn out now."

Both coalition and opposition parties pushed for measures to be relaxed during the debate. GroenLinks wants higher education to reopen for some physical lessons, because students are increasingly struggling with mental health problems. The CDA wants terraces to reopen, raising concerns that people will go out in "uncontrolled groups" as the weather gets nicer. "I'm not saying just throw them open, but isn't it better to think about regulated opening?" CDA parliamentarian Pieter Heerma said.

ChristenUnie leader Gert-Jan Segers asked for more relaxation for the churches. And multiple parties - PVV, D66, PvdA, ChristenUnie, PvdD, DENK - had critical questions about extending the curfew. Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Justice and Security recently suggested that the curfew is not that bad. "Did you also talk to lonely people?" PvdA leader Lilianne Ploumen wanted to know.

SP leader Lilian Marijnissen warned that public support for the coronavirus measures is crumbling. "Who can still follow that you are allowed to exercise outside in fours, but are not allowed to visit your parents?" she said. The PVV wants people to be allowed more freedom to do things outside and for stores to all reopen fully. "It is incomprehensible that the Netherlands is completely locked up," party leader Geert Wilders said.

Rutte said that he understood where these questions were coming from, but stressed that the Outbreak Management Team does not find further relaxation possible at this time. "I understand the questions. They are good comments and I want to look at them. But it can't be done now." He said the cabinet is already taking risks by, for example, allowing up to 50 customers in large stores at once.

The parliamentary election will be held next week. The next debate on the coronavirus and the measures in place to curb its spread is only scheduled for March 23.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Record number of entries to represent Netherlands in Eurovision 2024
  • Speaking (in Dutch) about bikes & the weather: The Delft Method at NedLes
  • Twente solar car damaged ahead of World Solar Challenge race in Australia
  • New center-left coalition in The Hague presents its plans
  • Man sentenced to 5 years in prison for sextortion of dozens of underage girls
  • Sustainability plans for Amsterdam flats faltering over homeowner association fights

Top stories

  • Suspect in Rotterdam killings arraigned Wednesday; Was to be evicted before shootings
  • Gov't to compensate 3,000 families around Schiphol for noise pollution
  • Gender wage gap increases to 7.4% in Netherlands
  • Amsterdam preparing to lower speed limit to 30 kilometers per hour
  • Over €100,000 raised for Rotterdam shooting victims
  • RKC goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen regains consciousness after on-field collapse

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content