Despite the beautiful weather, it remained quiet on Saturday in various nature parks and on beaches. In addition to the preventive measures that municipalities took to counter the crowds like last weekend, people also seem to respond to the call not to go to nature en masse.
Last weekend it was very busy in some places, which does not contribute to damming the corona virus. “The image that I get from all over the country today is that people adhere neatly to the rules and that it is a lot less busy in the nature reserves,” a spokesperson for Natuurmonumenten told NU.nl.
“We can see that there are people everywhere, but they walk neatly two-by-two and we see no groups. In the parking lots, which were bulging last weekend, it was a lot quieter today.”
It is also less busy on the beaches this weekend. Broadcaster West reports that few people can be seen on the beaches at Noordwijk, Katwijk, Wassenaar, Scheveningen and Kijkduin.
Preventive measures have been taken at various locations to prevent practices such as last weekend’s. For example, Natuurmonumenten closed out watchtowers and narrow footpaths in a few nature reserves, because it was impossible for visitors to take them 1.5 meters away. Several municipalities also closed preventive parking spaces in nature reserves and passages to beaches to avoid crowds.
Measures tightened on Monday after crowds
Last weekend, the municipalities of Zandvoort, Bloemendaal and Noordwijk announced stay away from the beach. Because of the crowds, it was then impossible to keep them 1.5 meters apart. It was also busy in other nature reserves in the country.
The previously announced measures were therefore tightened on Monday. In the press conference, Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasized that although the vast majority of the Netherlands already followed the rules well, he was irritated by the images where people flocked to nature, beaches or the construction market.
Among other things, the cabinet announced it was going to enforce. It is no longer allowed to go outside in large groups. Groups of three or more people who do not keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other and do not form a household can count on a high fine.
Follow the latest developments around the virus in us live blog.
The coronavirus in short
- The coronavirus mainly spreads from person to person via sneezing and cough drops. The chance of becoming infected through surfaces such as door handles is small. This chance decreases if you wash your hands often.
- You can considerably reduce the chance of spreading by keeping at least 1.5 meters away from others.
- An infected person infects two to three others on average. Precautions are necessary to contain this.
- The vast majority of patients have mild (flu-like) complaints.
- Almost all deaths involve the elderly or other vulnerable persons, such as heart, lung or diabetes patients. If everyone complies with the measures, this reduces their risks.
- Read here what precautions you should take.
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