King Willem-Alexander expressed his appreciation for festivals in the Netherlands in a conversation with various festival organizations on Monday. Online, he spoke to directors of Oerol, De Parade, Wonderfeel, Holland Festival and Mojo Concerts about the cancellation of physical festivals due to the corona crisis.
Oerol reports in a press release that the conversation was about the “indispensability in the Dutch cultural landscape of festivals, which provide the necessary connection between people and provide inspiration to makers and the public”.
King Willem-Alexander expressed his concern about all people who are now out of work and hopes that meetings will be possible again soon.
“He feels it is positive that festivals are now exploring new paths and that new forms are being explored that can certainly also be used in the future,” says Oerol.
Wonderfeel said in a press release that the king and the festivals agreed that “today’s cultural desert” should not become the new normal. “The festivals are grateful for this royal commitment.”
Waiting for a vaccine
The entire festival summer has been canceled due to the government’s corona measures, and it appears that this trend will continue for the time being. In a letter to the chamber, Minister Hugo de Jonge of Health Care wrote: “For massive events with a rural appearance, we can not yet give a date. That can actually only be done if there is a vaccine and no one knows how long it will take. We of course hope for soon, but a year or more is very real. “
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