Netherlands extends public events ban to August 31st
The Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte announced the date change in a press conference Tuesday, the New York Times reports. The ban was previously set for June 1st on March 24th. The extension follows suit with other European countries like Germany and Denmark, which also now banned large-scale public gatherings through August 31st.
Tom Veldhuis, cofounder of Apenkooi Events which runs DGTL, told the New York Times the financial toll cancelling the Amsterdam festival over Easter weekend could have taken if it were not for an administrative “accident.” “When we renewed our insurance policies, one of my employees sort of accidentally ticked the ‘pandemic’ box on the insurance form. We’re getting our roughly $2.3 million investment back. Otherwise it would have been quite a blow.” DGTL hosted a virtual festival the same weekend the original event was set to take place.
The New York Times also spoke to Dutch DJ and producer Joris Voorn. “I’m pretty sure I won’t be doing any gigs this year,” he said. “No. 1: I fly around the world. No. 2: I play in front of tens of thousands of people. Unless there is a miracle, I don’t think these two things will be possible anywhere this year and perhaps not next year.”
Earlier this month, experts and officials in America said that it’s unlikely large public gatherings, like concerts, sports and conferences, will return before autumn 2021.
Photo credit: Jordy Brada
