Hoi! You! Yes, I’m talking to you. Avoid Amsterdam canals and parks this weekend ok?
This weekend the weather has been forecast to be sunny and 19 degrees. During the last bout of warm weather in the Netherlands, like lemmings jumping off a cliff, thousands of people flocked to the beaches, parks and forests. Acquiring leathery orange skin was far more important than avoiding catching or spreading the coronavirus. Natuurlijk!
I mean, I can just picture the scene. Lieke sends a text to Mieke and says, ‘hoi! shall we go to the beach at Bloemendaal?’ To which Mieke excitedly replies, ‘ja hoor, lekker zonnen, ik heb er zin in. Wat leuk!’ (Yes, nice sunbathing, I’m really in the mood for it).
Being a responsible person, Lieke suggests that they don’t tell too many people their plans, as one needs to be careful due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mieke agrees and only invites a couple of close friends from their sorority to join them:
- Lieve
- Madelief
- Neeltje
- Nienke
- Maritje
- Jopie
- Anouk
- Roos en Loes
The rest, as they say, is history. As thousands of Lieke’s and Jeroens flooded the beaches.
Doe normaal and stay home!
The Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is asking that all Nederlanders (and kut expats) obey the rules put in place to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. With this in mind, the Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema is asking people to avoid Amsterdam canals and parks this weekend.
All boats, both commercial and private are banned from the canals on Sunday. There’ll also be people supervising access to the parks in Amsterdam to restrict the number of visitors and to ensure that social distancing rules are followed. The authorities will also be doing checks to ensure that lycra-clad racing bike hobbyists don’t cycle too closely together.
To avoid a fine and the risk of catching or spreading the coronavirus this weekend, avoid the parks and canals this weekend.
No members of a Dutch sorority were hurt during the writing of this post.
Until next time. Hou je bek!
Who says you’re not infected? Carriers can be symptom free. It is not about being paranoid, it is simply a scientific fact. We are all responsible for each other and if it means avoiding crowded places, then we have to find somewhere else to get fresh air. Open your window and wake up to reality!
Dont be so selfish that you care nothing about other people’s health. Just because you don’t care if you get sick it doesn’t mean the rest of the world wants to!! Oh yeah, There are actually other people besides you in this world.
Why don’t you “doe normaal” and stop spreading propaganda.
Who the hell are you to insist people have no freedom, especially when they’re not hurting anyone?
Those at risk of becoming ill, or simply paranoid like you, are welcome to stay home.
Why should everyone be locked up, especially when fresh air and sunshine is absolutely essential to being healthy.
Do u prefer to have police outside your house to tell you to stay inside? That is what will happen in Holland as well cause of people like you who don’t listen! People dying my friend and i have a 5years old kid to raise! If you want to spread viruses is not much freedom for me either. So do what the whole world is doing dnt be such an arrogant. We want sun and fun as well! But we need to stay alive at the moment. Take care!
War is going on, severe shelling and bombing is taking place. (Coronavirus is like bombings here). And some people say, why should they stay at home.. You can enjoy freedom only when you are healthy and alive and the war is over. Till then, stay at home. Stop killing people by going out and spreading the viruses.