January 27, 2022 · Team HG
Many will be pleased with the relaxations presented by the cabinet, but festivals and nightlife are once again being left out. This excludes an industry that has proven it can reopen in a safe and responsible manner. On behalf of festivals and the nightlife sector, the organization Unmute Us calls on the cabinet to present a comprehensive and realistic reopening plan within two weeks, as promised during previous consultations in December 2021. If this fails to materialize, the organization will take new action.
Unmute Us understands that society is being opened up step by step. However, she finds it unacceptable that relaxations that were announced somewhat triumphantly actually mean that the events and nightlife sector is the only one to remain completely locked down. After all, the announced relaxations stipulate that a maximum capacity of 1,250 visitors applies to indoor events (with mandatory seatingOutdoors, a location may have a maximum of (a third) to fill the capacity and the nightlife sector remains completely closed. The nightmare of ‘dancing the disco peak with Janssen’ from last summer, entirely attributable to the cabinet policy at the time, still hangs like a ‘sword of Damocles’ over the head of the entire sector.
Unmute Us finds this difficult and considers the easing of restrictions less than a proverbial ‘carrot being dangled’ for a sector that once belonged to the world’s leading industry, also the industry of which the with Fieldlab The results achieved by events, remarkably, formed a basis for the opening up of other sectors. Nightlife is on the verge of death and burial, and there seems to be no prospect of resuscitation. The lack of perspective is paralyzing and demotivating. Not only for the sector, but also for the visitors who are yearning for an outlet.
Throughout the Netherlands, people are forced to party in living rooms and remote locations, and are even traveling to neighboring countries to do so. However, celebrating in public in a controlled environment is still viewed as a danger to society, even though this is not the case. Last edition of ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) in October 2021, with hundreds of party venues and corona checks at the door, resulted in barely any new infections, and police unions and mayors are now also calling for controlled events rather than the growing number of illegal parties. For young people, the energy and social component of nightlife and festival life are essential; they are part of their social lives. In countries around us, you see the entire society opening up; there, perspective is being offered! Unmute Us therefore states that if no plans are presented within two weeks, large-scale actions will be taken.
