The Netherlands is to ease some of its Covid-19 restrictions and introduce a corona pass for entry to large events as it looks to further reopen the country.

Prime minister Mark Rutte said yesterday that social distancing requirements will be dropped next week, on September 25.

brussels belgium 21 Feb.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte: Easing coronavirus restrictions

This includes the removal of the 1.5 metre social distancing rule which will allow all events to take place, while restaurants and bars will be able to open to maximum capacity.

Also, the rules on self-quarantining for people travelling to the Netherlands will change as of 22 September.

Vaccinated travellers from the United Kingdom, the United States and other areas deemed “very high-risk” by the Dutch government no longer have to self-quarantine on arrival in the Netherlands.

According to the Dutch government, nearly 13 million people in the Netherlands have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine and more than 11 million are fully vaccinated, paving the way for the removal of the 1.5 metre social distancing rule.

A coronavirus entry pass system will be introduced for locations that the government feels will be busy when the social distancing rules are removed.

The entry pass will be for those who are fully vaccinated, have valid proof of recovery or a negative result from a coronavirus test taken less than 24 hours before entry.

It will apply to events such as festivals, concerts and professional sports matches, cultural venues such as cinemas and theatres and bars and restaurants. Events held indoors without fixed seating can receive up to 75% of the maximum number of visitors.

According to the government of the Netherlands, whether people have a fixed seat or not, and whether the location is indoors or outdoors, everyone aged 13 and over will have to show a valid coronavirus entry pass to gain admission. Everyone aged 14 and over will also have to show their ID along with their coronavirus entry pass.

Face masks will still be mandatory in airports, on aircraft, trains, buses, trams and metros, in taxis and on other commercial passenger transport. However, face masks will no longer need to be worn in train stations and at bus, tram and metro stops.

A further assessment of coronavirus measures by the government will take place in November.

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