Mayor Halsema wants international attention for crowds in Amsterdam: ‘It is mainly young people from surrounding countries’

It is busy in Amsterdam, too busy as regards Mayor Femke Halsema. With new measures, she wants to keep the bustle in the capital under control, thereby preventing a new corona wave. “This is extremely worrying.”

Too many people were walking in Amsterdam’s city center in recent weekends. Especially in the Red Light District and the shopping streets around the Dam, keeping a distance of one and a half meters was not possible. One-way traffic was introduced in the Kalverstraat and the Red Light District was even locked. Mayor Halsema finds the bustle in her city ‘extremely worrying’. “Especially in corona times, the chance of contamination is so much greater.”

More infections in Amsterdam

RIVM reported on Tuesday that the number of new corona cases in the Netherlands is rising again, also in the capital. This is also confirmed by the GGD Amsterdam. Last week, a corona test was administered to 5,416 residents of Amsterdam-Amstelland.

Since the beginning of June, the number of people who test positive for corona in Amsterdam has risen slightly from 1.9 to 2.2 percent.

Alcohol ban and more enforcers

It is astonishing Halsema that so many people take to the streets so soon after the lockdown. “It is mainly young people from surrounding countries who come to Amsterdam in large groups with their own transport or by bus, which cause the crowds,” she says. In any case, young people have the most difficult with the one and a half meters, also in the Netherlands, she adds.

This weekend there will be an alcohol ban in the Red Light District, Halsema says. She also wants more enforcers in the center. Previously, a ban was imposed on street artists in the city center, to ensure that people do not stand together in groups.

Local economy hit

Although extra enforcers are deployed, Halsema hopes that not many extra fines will have to be issued. “You can’t force a meter and a half away if people aren’t willing to protect their health and that of others.”

“Think about your own health, avoid crowds, avoid the city center when it is busy.” Halsema is also concerned about the local economy, which is just starting to pick up again. “Enforcing a meter and a half affects our economy. It presents us with very complicated dilemmas.”

Young people from abroad

For many young people from abroad, Amsterdam has the image of freedom and happiness, a city where everything is possible. Halsema realizes this. “A lot of young people think ‘I’m caught at home, at least my family doesn’t see it here’.”

That is why the municipality will also draw international attention to the situation. In this way she wants to ensure that young people – when they come – at least avoid the crowds.

European measures

If it turns out in the coming week that the measures are not having enough effect, Halsema wants to consider measures again. Halsema does not yet see anything in areas closed to tourists.

“Amsterdam is not an island, has no drawbridge. That does not fit with the free movement of people in the European Union. European agreements will have to be made about it,” she says.

Moon cape duty

Together with her Rotterdam colleague Ahmed Aboutaleb, Femke Halsema makes an urgent appeal to the cabinet. The mayors demand that additional measures be prepared if the number of corona infections continues to increase. They want the cabinet to consider a mouth mask obligation in several places.

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